MX23RW : Saturday, December 28 12:19:51| >> :120:4440:4440:
[monks data]
Brighton logo
Championship
Feb 22, 2014 at 3pm UK
 
Wigan logo

1-2

Ulloa (78')
FT(HT: 0-1)
McArthur (21'), McCann (50')

Preview: Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Wigan Athletic

Sports Mole previews Saturday's huge Championship encounter between playoff-chasing pair Brighton and Wigan at the Amex Stadium.

Two playoff-chasing teams will go head to head in the Championship on Saturday as Brighton & Hove Albion host Wigan Athletic at the Amex Stadium.

The pair are level on points and goal difference in the table, with both sitting just four points behind sixth-placed Reading with a game in hand.

It is Brighton who will take the home advantage into the match, playing at the Amex for the fourth consecutive game having won two and drawn against Hull City in the FA Cup in that run so far.

The Seagulls have lost just once in their last six matches in all competitions, although they have found goals hard to come by of late.

They have scored just three times in their last five outings, and the last time that anybody other than Leonardo Ulloa found the net for them in the league was way back on January 11.

Ulloa's last two goals have sealed valuable 1-0 victories over Doncaster Rovers and Leeds United, ending a three-match winless streak that threatened to derail his side's playoff charge.

It is a curious fact that the away team have not scored in Brighton's last six games in the Championship, and they will be hoping to extend that record to seven with a third consecutive league clean sheet - something they have not managed all season.

They have only lost three times at home in the current campaign and are unbeaten in their last eight, although their fans have not been treated to a bagful of goals during that time.

Oscar Garcia's side have not scored more than one goal in a home game since December 7, with their seven matches since then yielding just eight goals in total.

They have kept four clean sheets in their last five home league outings and only Queens Park Rangers have conceded fewer goals than the Seagulls this season.

Garcia would like to rotate his side with an FA Cup replay against Hull coming up just 48 hours later, but the importance of the match means that he is likely to field his strongest possible side, with Andrew Crofts the only long-term injury concern.

Wigan currently possess the position just above Brighton, and they also face the problem of a potential fixture pile-up.

Their elimination from the Europa League is certainly a blessing in disguise as their defence of the FA Cup has taken them all the way to the quarter-finals, where they will face Manchester City.

The Latics have shot up the table under Uwe Rosler and now stand as good a chance as any of occupying the final playoff spot at the end of the season.

They have lost just twice in 12 league matches since Rosler took over, keeping an impressive seven clean sheets in that time.

They suffered a minor blip in terms of away form with a three-match winless streak without scoring, but bounced back emphatically with a 3-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough before shocking Premier League Cardiff City away in the FA Cup.

Ben Watson will miss the rest of the season with a broken leg, joining long-term absentees Shaun Maloney and Gary Caldwell on the sidelines, while Nick Powell is also a doubt.

Recent form

Brighton: WDLWWD

Wigan: DWLWWW

Possible starting lineups

Brighton: Kuszczak; Bruno, Upson, Greer, Ward; Ince, Andrews; Lua Lua, Stephens, Orlandi; Ulloa

Wigan: Al-Habsi; Boyce, Barnett, Perch, Beausejour; McArthur, Espinoza; McClean, McCann, Waghorn; Maynard

Sports Mole says: 1-1


ID:139660: cacheID:139660:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6141:
Written by
Barney Corkhill
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:
New manager of Wigan Athletic, Uwe Rosler, looks on during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield Wednesday and Wigan Athletic at Hillsborough Stadium on December 18, 2013
Read Next:
Preview: Wigan vs. Charlton
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool17133140172342
2Arsenal18106235161936
3Chelsea18105338211735
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest1810442419534
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle188553021929
6Bournemouth188552721629
7Manchester CityMan City188463026428
8Fulham187742623328
9Aston Villa188462629-328
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton186842726126
11Brentford187383232024
12Tottenham HotspurSpurs1872939261323
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham186572330-723
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd186482124-322
15Everton173861522-717
16Crystal Palace183871826-817
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1843112940-1115
18Leicester CityLeicester1835102240-1814
19Ipswich TownIpswich1826101633-1712
20Southampton1813141137-266


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!