Relegation threatened Wigan head to Elland Road.

Leeds United take Wigan Athletic on the Championship in one of this weekend’s top-meets-bottom clashes.

Leeds United will be hoping to build their victory over Millwall on Tuesday night. After being down 2-0 in the first half, The Yorkshire put on a remarkable display in the second 45 to secure a 3-2 win.

It has been a dismal period for Marcelo Bielsa’s side, which has seen their firm grip on the automatic promotion places loosen. But the Argentine will be hoping that vital victory will put them back on track and help them towards ending their 16-year absence from the Premier League.

It should be mentioned that their opponents Wigan, were in the Premier League not so long ago, as recent as 2013. That same year, they won the FA Cup.

But those days are long gone. The Latics are currently sat in the bottom three, four points from safety and are in danger of a potential relegation to League One.

But a 90th-minute goal from their Summer signing Jamal Lowe secured Wigan a crucial 2-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday. And Paul Cook will be hoping his side can put in a performance in Yorkshire which could give his side valuable points.

Cook will also be pleased that left-back Antonee Robinson’s move to AC Milan fell through on deadline day. And will be hoping that the youngster plays a pivotal role between now and the end of the season.

Leeds were victorious last time these two met, securing a 2-0 win away at the DW Stadium. But arguably the last time these two faced off at Elland Road was most memorable. Wigan won 2-1, coming from a goal down, with only ten men on the pitch. That defeat saw Leeds drop out of the top two, a place to which they would not return too.

 

Team news

For Leeds – Kalvin Phillips is suspended. Barry Douglas is still unavailable. Adam Forshaw, out with a hip injury. Gaetano Berardi is available for selection following a calf problem.

For Wigan – Kieran Dowell was stretchered off following an ankle injury in midweek. Joe Gelhardt also suffered from a dead leg against Sheffield Wednesday. Tom Pearce could make his debut for the Latics.

Marcelo Bielsa warns that it will be a difficult fixture against Wigan

“Wigan don’t have a good position in the table, but they are in a positive moment of the competition.

“They have a regular base and a lot of players continued with them from last season.

“They have won important matches and we know we are not going to face an easy or simple match.

“We respect them and know that we will have to work a lot in the match to impose ourselves.”

Paul Cook reminisces their victory at Elland Road in April 2019.

“That was a day we genuinely believed we could stay up. When you look back, everything in the game went our way because we had no right to win it when you consider all of the statistics, but we take great credit because it goes down as one of the best days we’ve had.

“I must pay Leeds a big compliment because, although the Leeds fans might not always think it, they’re going up. They’re such a strong team, from the mindset of the manager into the players and again into the supporters.

“I hope they don’t take any frustrations out on our team because we were desperate for the win last year.

“I think Leeds might look at us tomorrow and consider last year in their game plan because they might think we stopped them from going up last year.

“The reality is that we’re both fighting very different battles.”

Head-to-head

Leeds United wins – 5

Draws – 3

Wigan Athletic wins – 6