Wigan Athletic looking to find scoring touch ahead of Charlton Athletic visit

Wigan Athletic will be aiming to get their automatic promotion push back on track on Saturday when they welcome Charlton Athletic to the DW stadium.

Leam Richardson’s side have stuttered somewhat in recent weeks and have gone three matches without a win, the longest such streak they have embarked upon all season.

It should not be a cause of widespread panic among the Latics faithful but, with MK Dons breathing down their necks, a positive result would be welcome to restore some confidence.

Goals have been in short supply with just two coming in their previous five games across three competitions. Josh Magennis has yet to score since joining from Hull City with the club still missing Charlie Wyke.

The deadline day arrival of Jamie McGrath should help give everyone a lift. The Irishman had been having a great season with St Mirren up in Scotland and will be aiming to continue that form south of the border. Wigan beat a host of clubs to the former Dundalk man’s signature who will be hoping to make his home debut.

The midfielder’s creativity and goalscoring threat should aid and also ease the burden of whoever gets the nod to start up front, whether it be Magennis or top scorer Will Keane.

There is now only a four point gap between Wigan and Sheffield Wednesday who sit outside the play-off positions in seventh place. This is a lot closer than many would like although Richardson’s men have the luxury of at least three games in hand over their promotion rivals.

On a points per game basis, Wigan would currently sit top of the table alongside current leaders Rotherham United. Those extra games do have to be won and Richardson would much rather build the gap up once again rather than relying on some tiring midweek matches.

Johnnie Jackson’s Charlton come into the game with three wins from their last four league matches and are scoring goals to go with it. Fortunately for Wigan, the Addicks have only kept two clean sheets since the turn of the year.

A play-off push looks a distant if not impossible prospect but Jackson’s men need to start picking up wins. A top-half finish looks to be a more realistic goal and they could climb as high as tenth with a win on Saturday.

It appears to be an open game in prospect and one which Wigan will be looking to grab all three points to keep the other clubs vying for promotion at bay.

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