Two of the Championship's bottom-three sides meet at the DW Stadium on Saturday afternoon as Wigan Athletic clash with Huddersfield Town in a relegation six-pointer.
Wigan are winless since November and have collected just two league points in 2023, whereas Huddersfield are themselves without a victory in the new calendar year.
Match preview
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Kolo Toure's short reign at the DW Stadium ended a fortnight ago with a 2-0 loss at home to Luton Town, the ex-Liverpool man's ninth-straight match without a win since taking over - that record was deemed unacceptable by the Latics hierarchy.
The club have turned to a successful figure from their past to guide the squad through a relegation battle for the remainder of this campaign, with 2012-2013 FA Cup winner Shaun Maloney appointed as the side's new manager.
The 40-year-old's tenure began with a difficult fixture at Ewood Park - against an admittedly out-of-form Blackburn Rovers side - with the Latics returning to Greater Manchester with a share of the spoils.
January signings such as Danel Sinani, Martin Kelly and Omar Rekik were involved from the start and helped secure a first clean sheet since the reverse fixture way back in October.
That statistics highlight the key issue for the division's bottom side, with Wigan having conceded 49 goals in just 29 Championship matches, more than any other outfit in the second tier.
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Huddersfield's winless run does not stretch as far back as their hosts', although the form the Terriers have shown in 2023 to date suggests there will be a considerable struggle to maintain their second-tier status.
Last year's beaten playoff finalists are yet to taste success in the Championship or the FA Cup in the new calendar year, leaving them 22nd in the Championship standings and now managerless after the sacking of Mark Fotheringham on Wednesday.
The Terriers were incredibly close to all three points on Tuesday night when they visited Bloomfield Road, with the visitors leading twice courtesy of goals from Matty Pearson and Josh Koroma, however a 90th-minute equaliser from Blackpool's Josh Bowler denied the Yorkshire side a much-needed maximum.
Huddersfield were denied a win by a 98th-minute Oscar Estupinan goal for Hull City near the start of January, with Town possessing a clear weakness of being unable to see out games in the latter stages.
A 2-1 loss in the reverse fixture back in September was the final match of ex-boss Danny Schofield before the club decided to part ways with the 42-year-old - Terriers fans will be hoping for a happier time against the Latics this weekend.
Team News
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Wigan suffered a huge blow in the draw at Blackburn last time out, with the aforementioned Kelly suffering a knee injury that will require surgery, keeping the defender out for the remainder of the campaign.
Fellow backline option Rekik also picked up a knock at Ewood Park, and although his injury was less serious, the player is a doubt for Saturday's match against the Terriers.
Jason Kerr is a long-term absentee for the Latics due to a cruciate ligament injury, with the defender not expected back until next season.
Huddersfield have a host of injury issues to contend with ahead of Saturday, with Danny Ward among those doubtful to be fit for selection on Saturday.
Patrick Jones made his return from a lengthy hamstring injury for Huddersfield's B team in the last week - the 19-year-old's most recent appearance for the first team was all the way back in September.
Yuta Nakayama is sidelined for the rest of the season after picking up an Achilles tendon injury before the World Cup break, shortening the list of defensive options for Town.
Wigan Athletic possible starting lineup:
Amos; Caulker, Whatmough, Rekik; Darikwa, Tiehi, Power, McClean; Sinai, Keane, Lang
Huddersfield Town possible starting lineup:
Vaclik; Turton, Lees, Pearson, Lowton; Kasumu, Hogg, High; Knockaert, Waghorn, Rudoni
We say: Wigan Athletic 1-0 Huddersfield Town
Despite only managing a point at Blackburn, Wigan looked an improved side under Maloney and will be confident in building on that clean sheet when they face a relegation rival this Saturday.
Huddersfield are in further turmoil after sacking Fotheringham in the build up to this match, and we feel it would be a surprise to see the Terriers earn anything from their trip to the DW this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
