Preview: Wigan Athletic vs. Cardiff City

Malky Mackay is still searching for his first home win in charge of Wigan Athletic as he prepares to face former club Cardiff City on Tuesday night.

The Latics' winless streak at home under Mackay stretched to eight games - they haven't won at the DW Stadium at all since August - as they were beaten 3-0 by Charlton Athletic on Friday.

That leaves Wigan still in 23rd place, but now nine points adrift of safety with 14 games of the season to go.

It has gone worse than Mackay surely could have ever imagined, but he can point to the fact that he has been desperately unlucky with injuries.

Against Charlton two more players had to come off injured and both Leon Clarke and William Kvist will have to sit out Cardiff's visit.

Clarke might not play again this season after returning to parent club Wolverhampton Wanderers for a second scan on a shoulder injury after he fell awkwardly three days ago.

Wigan are horribly out of form having won just two of their last 19 games and scored just twice in their last six outings, but visitors Cardiff are also stuck in a rut with just two goals in five games.

Russell Slade's men are without a win in seven league games and have won just one of their last 13 games to tumble towards the bottom three.

Saturday's stalemate at Huddersfield Town made it four draws in a row for the Bluebirds, who are just seven points above the drop zone.

Scott Malone is Slade's only new concern and the left-back will miss out at Wigan after coming off in the first half against Huddersfield.

Cardiff have won just one of their last 11 games against Wigan in the league, but that was in the reverse when they claimed a 1-0 victory at home.

Wigan:

Recent form: LDLLWL

Possible starting lineup: Al-Habsi; Perch, Maguire, Pearce, Taylor; Ojo, Kim, McCann, McClean; McKay, Waghorn

Cardiff:

Form in Championship: LLDDDD Form in all competitions: LLDDDD

Possible starting lineup: Marshall; Peltier, Morrison, Ecuele Manga, Connolly; Noone, Whittingham, Gunnarsson, Kennedy; Doyle, Jones

Sports Mole says: 1-1