Preview: Wigan Athletic vs. Exeter City – prediction, team news, lineups.
By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter.
Date published: September 26, 2024 | 12:00 Last update: September 26, 2024 | 11:31.
On Saturday afternoon, Wigan Athletic and Exeter City will compete to advance to the League One playoffs.
Currently, they rank 14th and 12th in the rankings, respectively.
Wigan supporters believe Shaun Maloney has the potential to lead the team back to the Championship.
Despite being ranked in the bottom part of the standings, the Latics have maintained four clean sheets in their first seven league matches in 2024-25.
Three of those have come in a row, with a 4-0 triumph over Bristol Rovers followed by goalless draws against Lincoln City and Stevenage.
Maloney will no doubt be concerned that all but two of their league goals this season have come in the same encounter, but there is potential for things to click in that area.
So yet, just two goals have been scored in the three games played at the Brick Community Stadium.
Exeter’s manager, Gary Caldwell, previously won the FA Cup with Wigan and began his managing career there.
The Scot had been absent from the key seat in the dugout for nearly three years before taking over at Exeter in 2022, and he has helped the Grecians establish themselves in the third tier.
This season, Exeter has won and kept clean sheets against Rotherham United, Bolton Wanderers, and Stevenage, placing them in mid-table.
Furthermore, Exeter has surrendered just six goals in as many games, matching the defensive record of Wrexham and Birmingham City.
Wigan Athletic’s League One form
- L
- W
- L
- W
- D
- D
- W
- L
- L
- W
- D
- D
- W
- L
- L
- W
- L
- W
- L
- W
- W
- L
- W
- W
Team News
James Carragher, who replaced Luke Chambers at half-time during the Stevenage encounter, might return to the Wigan XI.
If Joe Hugill recovers from a dead leg, he may have an advantage against Dale Taylor in the attack.
Caldwell saw no need to change the Exeter team that began the game over Stevenage, unless there were any fitness difficulties.
Millenic Ali has the possibility to return in the final third, but may have to settle for a substitute position.
Wigan Athletic’s potential starting lineup: Tickle; Carragher, Kerr, Aimson, Chambers; Smith; McManaman, Adeeko, Weir, Thomas; Taylor.
Exeter City’s likely starting lineup: Whitworth; Sweeney, Crama, Yfeko; Niskanen, Woods, Francis, McMillan; Doyle, Aitchison; Magennis.
Read more on sportupdates.co.uk
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