Tranmere Rovers will be hoping to bow out of the EFL Trophy with a positive result when they host Wigan Athletic on Tuesday.
The visitors, who have already booked their place in the knockout stages, would leapfrog Fleetwood Town into top spot in Group D with a victory.
Match preview
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Given that Tranmere appear to be fighting against relegation out of the Football League this season, their premature exit from this cup competition may not turn out to be the worst turn of events for them in the long term.
After only 19 matches in charge, Ian Dawes was relieved from his position as Rovers' manager in early September, with former Southampton head coach Nigel Adkins drafted in as his replacement. The Birkenhead-born boss has taken time to stamp his ideals on his local club, with six defeats from nine league games seeing them occupy the relegation places ahead of their home game against Forest Green on Saturday.
However, they secured a hugely important 3-0 victory, leapfrogging their opponents in the table and moving outside of the bottom two on goal difference in the process. Tyrese Omotoye's early own goal sent the hosts on their way, with second-half strikes from Kristian Dennis and Rob Apter helping calm any potential nerves at Prenton Park.
There will be no such emotions from the attending crowd or players on the pitch on Tuesday, with their game against Wigan having nothing riding on it beyond personal pride. With a trip to rock-bottom Sutton United ahead of them at the weekend, it could be a chance for some fringe players to prove they are worthy of receiving more opportunities in the coming weeks and months.
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Wigan, on the other hand, will be keen to beat their lower-ranked opponents and finish top of Group D in the process. In theory, this would give them a kinder draw in the first knockout round, as they would face a group runner-up as opposed to a group winner.
Despite receiving an eight-point deduction for financial irregularities following their relegation from the Championship last season, Wigan have managed to move outside of League One's relegation places by winning eight and drawing two of their 17 league games.
Indeed, their 1-1 draw away to Cheltenham Town on Saturday was only the second time Shaun Maloney's side have had to share the spoils so far this season, with Liam Sercombe's penalty cancelling out Lewis Freestone's early own goal in the first half. Despite enjoying 53% possession, Wigan mustered just four shots across the course of the encounter at Whaddon Road.
Maloney, who is something of a club legend having won the FA Cup with the Latics in 2013, will be hoping to add more silverware to both his and the club's trophy cabinet this season. As such, with promotion back to the Championship likely to prove a tall order, the EFL Trophy could prove to be a nice distraction for them across the course of the campaign.
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Given that they have already been eliminated from this competition and they are facing another relegation rival in League Two on Saturday, Adkins could make 11 changes against Wigan for what is essentially a dead rubber for the hosts.
As such, the likes of Kieron Morris, Harvey Read Saunders, Sam Taylor and Dan Pike will all be confident of receiving starting berths after appearing from the bench during their side's comfortable win against Forest Green.
Wigan, meanwhile, will remain without the services of Gary Kerr as the defender continues his long recovery from a cruciate ligament injury.
Maloney could opt to make several changes himself given that his side have already booked their place in the knockout stages, with the likes of Callum McManaman and Josh Magennis capable of freshening up the visitors' attack.
Tranmere Rovers possible starting lineup:
Murphy; Starbuck, Yarney, Belehouan, Norris; Lewis, Merrie, McAlear; Jolley, Saunders, Taylor
Wigan Athletic possible starting lineup:
Amos; Clare, Hughes, Watts, Pearce; Smith, Balagizi; McManaman, Magennis, Smith; Wyke
We say: Tranmere Rovers 0-1 Wigan Athletic
Although Wigan will be fighting to finish top of Group D, in reality there is little at stake in this game, meaning we are likely to see a low intensity encounter play out in Merseyside.
Wigan should have enough about them to earn all three points and leapfrog Fleetwood in the process, with Tranmere having much bigger fish to fry in League Two this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Brett Curtis
