Wigan Athletic will hope to climb towards the top half of the League One table when they travel to Weston Homes Stadium on Tuesday to play relegation-threatened Peterborough United.
The home side are sixth last in 19th place with 27 points and are two places and six points above the relegation zone after their 5-1 defeat against Lincoln City on Sunday, while Wigan beat Bristol Rovers 2-0 on Saturday and are 16th with 33 points.
Match preview
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Peterborough conceded three set-piece goals against Lincoln City – a penalty, corner and throw-in routine – and more than half of their own xG total of 0.66 came from their solitary goal, highlighting their struggles in the final third that day.
Manager Darren Ferguson has so far failed to address his side's weaknesses when defending against dead-ball situations, and no other team in the league have conceded more than their 18 goals from set-pieces.
Ferguson's side were beaten 3-0 by Wigan in the reverse fixture on October 1, conceding three times despite only facing a total of 0.69 xG.
The Posh's form is concerning given they have only triumphed in one of their last 10 in all competitions – losing six - and are winless in eight league games, losing five and drawing three.
Peterborough's home record is somewhat better, but they have only won once in their past five matches at Weston Homes Stadium, though they are at least unbeaten in their three most recent fixtures at home, winning one and drawing two.
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Opponents Wigan were deserving victors against Bristol Rovers, as while they faced two big chances, both efforts came in the same passage of play from a corner around the hour mark, and the winners were otherwise dominant.
The third-tier side are only four points from 12th-placed Mansfield Town, and manager Shaun Maloney will believe that his team can climb the table in the second half of the season given they boast the division's joint sixth-best defensive record having conceded 26 times.
The Latics' return of 26 goals scored makes them the league's joint fifth-worst offensive club, though they have scored 11 of their 26 goals in their last eight League One outings, whereas they had only netted on 15 occasions in their first 18 fixtures.
Wigan come into the clash in strong form, with the club emerging victorious in three of their past four games in all tournaments, but it should be noted that they have been beaten in three of their last five matches in the third tier.
The visitors' showings on the road have been excellent in recent weeks considering they have won four of their five most recent games away from home, as well as three of their last four away matches in League One.
Team News
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Peterborough United centre-back Emmanuel Fernandez was forced off due to injury last time out, so perhaps Jadel Katongo will partner Sam Hughes in the heart of defence.
Mahamadou Susoho was substituted on at half time for midfielder Archie Collins, and he could come into the starting lineup in a double pivot alongside Hector Kyprianou.
In attack, striker Gustav Lindgren may be supported by Cian Hayes, Ryan De Havilland and Malik Mothersille.
As for Wigan, they could name a similar starting XI to the one that beat Bristol Rovers, so expect James Carragher and Jason Kerr to feature in defence.
Oliver Norburn and Scott Smith played in a double pivot together on Saturday, and they are likely to do so again on Tuesday, while strikers Dale Taylor and Thelo Aasgaard could lead their side's attack.
Peterborough United possible starting lineup:
Bilokapic; Johnston, Hughes, Katongo, Edun; Kyprianou, Susoho; Hayes, De Havilland, Mothersille; Lindgren
Wigan Athletic possible starting lineup:
Tickle; Sibbick, Carragher, Kerr, Robinson; Hungbo, Norburn, Smith, Thomas; Taylor, Aasgaard
We say: Peterborough United 0-2 Wigan Athletic
Wigan have been in better goalscoring form of late, and it would not be surprising to see them take the lead on Tuesday.
Additionally, Peterborough have struggled to secure positive results, and it is difficult to see them overturning a deficit given the visitors' strong defensive record.
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Lewis Nolan
