Preview: Derby County vs. Wigan Athletic

Derby County will be hoping to maintain their lead at the top of the Championship when they host Wigan Athletic on Saturday afternoon.

A 1-0 win over Blackpool earlier this week moved the Rams back to the top of the table, and leaves them without a defeat since their third game of the season.

Steve McClaren will continue to be without Lee Grant and Jamie Ward, with the duo expected to miss the next six weeks with ankle and thigh injuries respectively.

Jack Butland is likely to continue in goal after joining on a one-month loan as cover for Grant, and keeping a clean sheet on his Derby debut earlier this week.

Meanwhile, a run of eight matches without a win has left Wigan 19th in the table heading into the trip to the iPro Stadium this weekend.

Uwe Rosler's side have drawn their last four matches, including their goalless match with Millwall earlier this week, which was their third 0-0 in the last month.

The Latics are likely to be without defender Ivan Ramis after a hamstring problem forced him off early in the second half earlier this week, but Emmerson Boyce and Emyr Huws are both thought to be nearing a return to fitness.

Both sides secured away victories when they met last season.

Recent form

Derby: WWWDWW

Wigan: LLDDDD

Possible starting lineups

Derby: Butland, Christie, Keogh, Shotto, Forsyth, Hendrick, Mascarll, Hughes, Russell, Martin, Best

Wigan: Carson, Tavernier, Kiernan, Barnett, Figueria, Maloney, Kvist, Boyce, McManaman, Huws, Fortune

Sports Mole says: 2-0