Preview:Wigan Athletic vs Salford City - prediction, team news, lineups

Wigan Athletic and Salford City will get their EFL Trophy campaigns underway when they meet on Tuesday evening in Northern Group A.

The hosts are unbeaten in their last three matches coming into Tuesday's encounter, while the visitors are without a victory in their last two games.

Match preview

Wigan Athletic have consistently slipped down the English football standings since being relegated from the Championship in 2022-23, recording a 12th-placed League One finish in 2023-24, followed by a 15th-placed result last term.

Ryan Lowe, who was appointed in March 2025, will be hoping to improve upon their league position this season, but the Tics have had a mixed start to the new term.

Wigan have won two, drawn two and lost two in their first six League One fixtures, leaving them 13th in the table with eight points, while they have managed to win each of their EFL Cup matches, securing their place in the third round.

Lowe's side have looked strong in their most recent encounters, with Wigan now undefeated in their last three matches across all competitions, including a win and draw with Stockport County in back-to-back fixtures.

Now set for their third domestic competition of the campaign, Wigan will take on Salford City in the first game in the EFL Trophy Northern Group A.

Salford City enjoyed a brilliant 2024-25 season in League Two, climbing from a 20th-placed finish in 2023-24 to placing eighth last year, though they did heartbreakingly miss out on a spot in the playoffs.

A draw on the final day allowed Chesterfield to move above Salford and into seventh, finishing the campaign with just one more point than Karl Robinson's team.

Aiming to push for promotion once again this time round, Salford have had a reasonable start to the campaign, currently sitting 11th in the standings with 10 points, after three wins, one draw and two losses.

The Ammies are without a win in their last two matches, though, having suffered a 1-0 loss to Walsall before drawing 1-1 with Cheltenham Town, only snatching a point in the 93rd-minute thanks to Kadeem Harris's equaliser.

Salford will be hoping to snap that streak when they take on Wigan on Tuesday, while they will also be hoping to improve upon their cup form this term, having been eliminated in the EFL Cup first round after a penalty defeat to Rotherham United.

Wigan Athletic form (all competitions):

Salford City form (all competitions):

Team News

Wigan Athletic are now without defeat in their last three matches heading into Tuesday's encounter, meaning Lowe may name a similar 11 with ambitions of maintaining that streak.

Some changes are anticipated in the midweek match, meaning the likes of summer signing Paul Mullin could come into the starting team for this one.

As for Salford, Robinson may look to name a strong side against the Tics as he looks for his side to end their two-game winless run.

As a result, last season's top scorer Cole Stockton could come back into the starting side, while the likes of Ben Woodburn, Harris and Luke Garbutt are all likely to start.

Wigan Athletic possible starting lineup:

Tickle; Aimson, Kerr, Fox; Murray, Trevitt, Smith, Wright, Hungbo; Mullin, Saydee

Salford City possible starting lineup:

Young; Turton, Oluwo,Garbutt; Longelo, Woodburn, Grant, Butcher, Harris; Stockton, Siri

We say: Wigan Athletic 2-0 Salford City

Wigan play a division higher than their visitors, while the hosts are also formidable when playing at home, having avoided defeat in their last eight home matches, leading us to expect a win for the hosts.

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