Blackpool will look to get back to winning ways at strugglers Wigan

Neil Critchley’s Blackpool will be hopeful of a first win in League One since mid December against Wigan at the DW Stadium.

Following a brave performance in the FA Cup against Premier League Brighton at the weekend, the Seasiders will look to claw back the increasing gap to the playoff places in a bid to eradicate mid-table obscurity.

Leam Richardson’s side have improved significantly since their 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Rochdale. They are unbeaten in five league games including a vital 4-3 away victory at Burton Albion.

Blackpool’s squad has been picked apart by positive coronavirus tests and injuries alike, with CJ Hamilton, Dan Ballard, Grant Ward and Daniel Gretarsson a few of the many missing this one.

Wigan, with their ongoing off the pitch troubles aside, have basically a fully fit squad to choose from. Striker Will Keane will miss the game following his positive COVID test. Their trio of new signings Zach Clough, George Johnston  and Corey Whelan all started against Fleetwood last time out and are expected to start again.

This is a big game for both sides with Wigan potentially being able to escape the relegation zone with a win, the visitors on the other hand will see this as a must win if they want to keep their season alive.

Blackpool invested in a complete revamp of their squad in the summer and, although a mid table finish to cement their place in the division following such upheaval would be acceptable to many, the noise coming from the club sees their aspirations much higher than that.

Jordan Thorniley was told he was free to leave the Fylde Coast club this window but with so many out of contention, he was thrown into the side against Brighton and performed well. He will be expected to retain his place if the Seasiders continue with a 3-5-2, however a return to 4-4-2 would be more considered for this one.

Gary Madine will be the key to unlocking the Wigan defence as he continues his reinvigoration under new management. His hold up play, bringing others into the picture on an attacking front has produced the main forward moments for a side that gave only scored 21 goals in 21 league games.

On a Latics front, they will hope to see another fine performance from young starlet Kyle Joseph who has offered them encouragement in their survival bid since his arrival in the team. The Seasiders were linked with the forward earlier in the window, but it is believed they have been priced out of a move for a player that isn’t expected to stay at the DW much longer.

Tom Pearce has given some much needed experience to Richardson’s side at left back and he is another who has been linked with a move away from a club that is seeing its playing staff stripped bare week in week out.

They will see this fixture as a winnable game and, given the financial constraints, they will look to get a run of results now whilst their key men still remain in the side, before they move on and leave the general quality of the squad much lower than it is now.

Wigan have an expected goals against (xGA) of 1.62, compared to just 1.12 for the visitors and they have shipped a mountain of goals this season, but they will take hope from a perceived lack of creativity from Critchley’s side that has resulted in a low scoring season so far for his men.

Blackpool could easily run away with this one if they play the game they know they are capable of, but with so many absentees and a frustration in attacking play in recent weeks, a tight affair is the more logical prediction for this one.

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