Preview:Wigan Athletic vs Northampton Town - prediction, team news, lineups

Wigan Athletic and Northampton Town meet on the opening day of the League One campaign this Saturday in a repeat of a fixture from the final day of last season.

Two Scouse managers in Ryan Lowe and Kevin Nolan will face off here, taking charge of clubs hoping to improve on bottom-half finishes in the third tier.

Match preview

For former Premier League participants Wigan, vast improvement is expected from their 15th-place finish last season.

The Latics did not lose any of their final eight matches in 2024-25, but only two of those ended in victory, as their toothless attack cost them from ascending up the table.

Wigan’s tally of 40 goals was the lowest of any club in League One, and they were thankful for their strong defensive record, which was only bettered by the top two, because otherwise they would have been in trouble.

Since dropping out of the Premier League, Wigan have bounced between the Championship and League One at will, winning the third-tier title on three occasions, but they are not as fancied this time, being priced at 25/1 prior to the start of the campaign.

Preseason has gone well results-wise for Lowe’s men, playing against numerous north-west opponents; beating Chorley, Accrington Stanley and Tranmere Rovers, before drawing with Curzon Ashton.

First up for the Latics is Northampton, a team they beat 2-1 here last season, before drawing 1-1 with them on the final day of the 24-25 campaign, thanks to Dale Taylor’s 96th-minute equaliser.

After finishing 19th last season, Northampton are currently second-favourites to be relegated this season, despite avoiding the drop two years running.

This is the first time Northampton have survived for a third season in League One since the late-2000s, and Nolan’s job is to ensure they extend it further.

Town’s pre-season preparations improved as time went on, beating a youthful Birmingham City XI 3-0 last weekend, after drawing with West Ham’s Under-21s.

Those results came after defeats to Millwall, Norwich City and Cambridge United, as well as a draw with non-league Brackley Town, but scorelines are often taken with a pinch of salt at this stage of the season.

Wigan Athletic Preseason form:

W D W W

Northampton Town Preseason form:

D L L L D W

Team News

Wigan have made a big move to bring Paul Mullin in from Wrexham, after he fell down the pecking order at the newly-promoted Championship club, and he could be in line for a competitive debut.

Dara Costelloe is another player who has arrived at Wigan this summer, signing on loan from Burnley, and his debut could come here against the club where he spent last season plying his trade.

Tyrese Francois, Stephen Sessegnon and Matt Smith have all returned from respective injuries during preseason, but Dion Rankine remains sidelined.

Northampton will be without Tom Eaves, Jon Guthrie and Liam Shaw for the opening game of the season due to injury here, but Jordan Willis is back from a setback, along with club icon Sam Hoskins, who missed the final month of last season.

Michael Forbes is set to make his debut after arriving on loan from West Ham, with manager Nolan pleased to recruit the defender from his former club.

Wigan Athletic possible starting lineup:

Tickle; Carragher, Kerr, Mellish, Sessengnon; Smith, Weir, Francois, Darcy; Mullin, Costelloe

Northampton Town possible starting lineup:

Burge; Burroughs, Forbes, Thorniley, Wormleighton; McGeehan, Campbell, Perkins; Hoskins, Jacobs, Fornah

We say: Wigan Athletic 1-1 Northampton Town

Wigan have made notable moves in the transfer market, and they will be keen to get off to a fast start, especially against opponents who are favoured for the drop, and if they can get Mullin firing, eyes could be drawn further up the table, but their recent finishes have done little to inspire.

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