Preview: Wigan Athletic vs. Accrington Stanley - prediction, team news, lineups

With eight games left to play in the race for promotion in League One, Wigan Athletic will aim to strengthen their position in the top two when they host Accrington Stanley on Tuesday.

The hosts' lead over third-placed MK Dons was cut to two points at the weekend as they drew with Bolton Wanderers, while their visitors have dropped to 14th following a four-game winless run.

Match preview

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Having enjoyed a strong season in League One, Wigan Athletic have given their automatic promotion hopes a major boost in recent weeks, going six games unbeaten in England's third tier.

After a disappointing defeat to Sunderland at the end of February, Leam Richardson's men bounced back with consecutive wins over Fleetwood Town and AFC Wimbledon before keeping third-placed MK Dons at bay with a 1-1 draw at Stadium MK.

The Latics then continued their fine form, recording comfortable wins against Crewe Alexandra and Morecambe, with the latter being a 4-1 thrashing with Josh Magennis, Jason Kerr, Will Keane and Stephen Humphrys on the scoresheet, before being held to a 1-1 draw at home to Bolton Wanderers at the weekend.

James McClean's early goal looked to have made the difference and sealed a 25th league win of the season for Wigan, only for Jon Dadi Bodvarsson to draw their Lancashire rivals level in the 83rd minute.

While that did see MK Dons, who picked up a win at the weekend, move within one point of the Latics in second place, Richardson's men boast two games in hand on the chasing team, meaning they would move further clear and even overtake league leaders Rotherham United with a positive result on Tuesday.

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Their opponents will arrive at the DW Stadium desperate for a surprise victory, having failed to win any of their last four league outings.

With 49 points to their name from 36 matches, John Coleman's men looked set to again impress and replicate last season's top-half finish, but their standing has taken a major hit recently, as a commendable draw away at Sheffield Wednesday was followed by a 4-0 thrashing at the hand of Plymouth Argyle.

Panutche Camara, Joe Edwards, Niall Ennis and Ryan Hardie all helped themselves to goals in a rampant display at Home Park, before Stanley suffered a damning 2-1 home defeat to relegation-threatened Gillingham, with Colby Bishop's goal coming too late to trigger a turnaround.

Coleman's men looked to have stopped their rot with a win in a dramatic encounter at home to Cheltenham Town at the weekend, as a Tommy Leigh brace, a Sean McConville finish and an Ellis Chapman own goal saw them lead 4-2 heading into injury time, only for the visitors to salvage a point with late goals from Callum Wright and Will Boyle.

On the back of that disappointment, the Merseyside outfit will be keen to bounce back on Tuesday but face a difficult test as they make the short trip to the DW Stadium.

Team News

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Wigan Athletic are set to remain without Jordan Cousins, Thelo Aasgaard and Scott Smith due to injuries, while forward Charlie Wyke is another long-term absentee.

Richardson's squad took another hit at the weekend, as James McClean was injured after scoring the opener against Bolton, and the experienced Irish international will miss out on Tuesday.

Gwion Edwards may take his place on the left-hand side, while Stephen Humphrys will battle to displace Josh Magennis at the top end of the pitch.

Accrington Stanley are set to be without defender Ross Sykes, who will serve a one-game suspension on Tuesday after he was sent off in the eventual draw with Cheltenham.

However, they did welcome first-choice goalkeeper Toby Savin back to action in that game after a sending off of his own, and he will again line up between the sticks.

Colby Bishop should continue to lead the line, having contributed nine goals and four assists in league action this term, while Tommy Leigh will venture forward from midfield with confidence after his brace last time out.

Wigan Athletic possible starting lineup:

Amos; Kerr, Whatmough, Tilt; Darikwa, Power, Naylor, Edwards; Lang, Keane; Humphrys

Accrington Stanley possible starting lineup:

Savin; Rich-Baghuelou, Nottingham, Amankwah; Clark, Coyle, Hamilton, McConville; Leigh, Pell; Bishop

We say: Wigan Athletic 2-0 Accrington Stanley

Given their contrasting runs of form, we can only envisage a home victory on Tuesday.

Wigan will come in with plenty of confidence, and, with the chance to move top, we do not expect them to slip up against an Accrington side devoid of any momentum on the back of Saturday's late disappointment.