Preview: Sheffield Wednesday vs. Wigan Athletic - prediction, team news, lineups

Sheffield Wednesday will have the chance to claim a fourth consecutive win when they play host to Wigan Athletic on Tuesday.

The Latics head into the midweek contest in second place, and they will be aiming to extend their current unbeaten league run to 13 games.

Match preview

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Sheffield Wednesday's playoff push has gained speed in recent weeks with the Owls winning three successive games without conceding.

After home back-to-back home victories over Ipswich Town and Morecambe, Darren Moore's side made the trip to the Pirelli Stadium on Saturday to face Burton Albion.

George Byers struck in the 33rd minute to give the visitors a half-time lead before Sylla Sow wrapped up the encounter with less than 10 minutes to play to give the Owls a 2-0 victory.

The victory over the Brewers leaves Sheffield Wednesday just three points adrift of the playoff places ahead of a run of fixtures that will see the Owls enjoy the privilege of three consecutive home games.

Tuesday's visitors are one of only four sides to have beaten Wigan in League One this term, and they will be looking for a repeat of the 2-1 win that they achieved over the Latics back in August.

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Meanwhile, Wigan saw a 20-game unbeaten run in all competitions come to an end at the weekend as they suffered FA Cup elimination at the hands of Stoke City.

Goals from Josh Maja and Jacob Brown condemned the Latics to a 2-0 defeat, and they will now turn their attention back to their promotion challenge, with the Latics currently one point clear of third-placed MK Dons with four games in hand. As well as looking over their shoulder, Wigan will be aiming to close the six-point gap between them and the league leaders Rotherham United, especially as they have three games in hand over their title rivals.

Despite losing at the weekend, Leam Richardson's troops still have an unbeaten league run to defend, having avoided defeat in their previous 12 League One outings.

The visitors currently hold the best away record in the league having won 10 of their 13 away games, while they have only lost once on the road in the league this season, which will leave Wigan feeling supremely confident ahead of the midweek encounter.

Team News

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Harlee Dean, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Josh Windass all missed Sheffield Wednesday's trip to the Pirelli Stadium on Saturday, and they are all unlikely to feature in midweek.

The Owls are also expected to be without the services of Lee Gregory, Chey Dunkley and Dominic Iorfa due to injury issues.

Following an impressive performance at the weekend, the hosts could name an unchanged side for Tuesday's encounter.

As for the visitors, they are expected to be without Will Keane, Jordan Cousins and Tom Pearce due to injury problems.

After being sent off in the FA Cup at the weekend, Gwion Edwards will be suspended for the midweek contest.

Graeme Shinnie was cup-tied for the trip to Stoke at the weekend, but the 30-year-old is expected to return to the starting lineup on Tuesday.

Sheffield Wednesday possible starting lineup:

Peacock-Farrell; Storey, Hutchinson, Palmer; Hunt, Byers, Bannan, Luongo, Johnson; Paterson, Mendez-Laing

Wigan Athletic possible starting lineup:

Amos; Power, Whatmough, Tilt, Darikwa; Naylor, Shinnie, McGrath; Lang, McClean, Humphrys

We say: Sheffield Wednesday 2-2 Wigan Athletic

Wigan have avoided defeat in their 12 league matches, but Sheffield Wednesday will not be intimidated by that run having won their last three games.

Tuesday's contest will see two of the better sides in League One come to blows, and we think that both managers may be content with a point apiece.