MX23RW : Tuesday, November 5 14:00:41| >> :120:13624:13624:
[monks data]
Blackburn logo
Championship
Sep 13, 2014 at 3pm UK
 
Wigan logo

3-1

Marshall (53', 82'), Rhodes (56')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Perch (51')

Preview: Blackburn Rovers vs. Wigan Athletic

Sports Mole looks ahead to Saturday's Championship clash between playoff rivals Blackburn and Wigan at Ewood Park.

Things are beginning to look up for Wigan Athletic, who have finally found some form after a poor start to the new Championship season.

They will go into Saturday's match away to Blackburn Rovers on the back to consecutive victories having started the campaign with a four-game winless streak.

A narrow victory over troubled Blackpool would not have done too much to inspire the fans that they could go on to fulfil their pre-season predictions of automatic promotion, but a 4-0 win over Birmingham City before the international break certainly will have done.

Manager Uwe Rosler will be hoping that the latter result is a platform for them to build off for the rest of the campaign as he looks to recapture the sort of form his side showed when he first took over from Owen Coyle last season.

There have been matters to get excited about off the field during the international break as well, with Wigan enjoying a busy and successful transfer deadline day.

The departure of James McArthur was undoubtedly a blow to the Latics, but Andy Delort, Adam Forshaw and William Kvist all arrived at the DW Stadium to strengthen the squad, while loanee Emyr Huws made his move from Manchester City permanent.

All of the new arrivals are in contention to start this weekend, while James McClean has also returned to training and could play some part.

Blackburn, meanwhile, have begun the season with the same problem that cost them a real playoff push last time around - inconsistency.

Two wins, two defeats and a draw from their opening five games will not exactly have Gary Bowyer at panic stations, but he will know that his side need to start stringing results together if they are to challenge for the top six this season.

A 3-1 defeat at the hands of Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out has left Rovers 14th going into this weekend's match and, although it is still very early days, Bowyer will be wary of falling too far behind the leading pack.

Blackburn weren't the busiest of clubs in the transfer window, with Shane Duffy's arrival from Everton their only piece of deadline-day business in terms of incomings.

However, perhaps the most important deal they struck was keeping striker Jordan Rhodes at the club despite heavy interest from the Premier League, and the Scot is expected to start up front once again this weekend.

In-form partner Rudy Gestede will likely rejoin Rhodes up front having missed the Wolves match, while Matt Kilgallon is nearing a return to full fitness.

Recent form

Blackburn: DLWLWL

Wigan: DLLLWW

Possible starting lineups

Blackburn: Robinson; Lowe, Hanley, Duffy, Olsson; Conway, Evans, Cairney, Marshall; Gestede, Rhodes

Wigan: Carson; Perch, Ramis, Kiernan, Taylor; Cowie, Forshaw, Huws; McClean, Delort, McManaman

Sports Mole says: 2-3


ID:176132: cacheID:176132:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6888:No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Manager Jose Riga of Charlton Athletic looks on during the Sky Bet Championship match between Charlton Athletic and Huddersfield Town at The Valley on March 12, 2014
Read Next:
Blackpool chairman blasts Riga
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sunderland139222391429
2Leeds UnitedLeeds137512281426
3Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd138321661025
4Burnley136521761123
5Watford137152221122
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom13562148621
7Millwall135441612419
8Blackburn RoversBlackburn135441614219
9Bristol City134721717019
10Norwich CityNorwich134632318518
11Middlesbrough135351415-118
12Swansea CitySwansea13445109116
13Coventry CityCoventry134361717015
14Derby CountyDerby134361617-115
15Hull City133641517-215
16Stoke CityStoke134361518-315
17Cardiff CityCardiff134361319-615
18Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds134361524-915
19Oxford UnitedOxford Utd133551617-114
20Preston North EndPreston133551420-614
21Luton TownLuton133371521-612
22Plymouth ArgylePlymouth133371325-1212
23Queens Park RangersQPR131751119-810
24Portsmouth131661326-139


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!