Preview: Wigan Athletic vs. Bolton Wanderers - prediction, team news, lineups

Promotion-chasing Bolton Wanderers will attempt to bounce back from a defeat to Blackpool when they make the short trip to the DW Stadium for Tuesday's meeting with Wigan Athletic.

The Latics will head into the midweek fixture in 13th place, while the Trotters currently occupy third position in the League One table.

Match preview

Despite having to deal with an eight-point deduction, Wigan are well-placed to extend their stay in the third tier into a second straight season.

Having won 14, lost seven and drawn 13 of their 34 league matches, the Latics are currently sitting in mid-table with an eight-point buffer to the relegation zone.

Shaun Maloney's side played out a 1-1 draw against relegation-threatened Cheltenham Town on Saturday, with an own goal cancelling out Matty Taylor's opener to ensure that Wigan added a useful point to their tally.

Although they managed to avoid defeat at the weekend, the result has left Wigan without a win in their last three home matches.

A home victory would give the Latics a league double over the Trotters after they cruised to a 4-0 win in August's reverse fixture thanks to braces from Charlie Wyke and Stephen Humphrys.

Bolton boss Ian Evatt will be tasked with lifting his players after their seven-game unbeaten league run came to an end with a heavy defeat to Blackpool at the weekend.

Although Bolton took the lead through George Thomas, Jake Beesley and Marvin Ekpiteta swiftly found the net to turn the game in Blackpool's favour.

Matters got worse for Bolton when Ricardo Santos was sent off for giving away a penalty, which was dispatched by Beesley, before Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel rounded off the scoring to condemn the Trotters to just their second league defeat of 2024.

Despite experiencing a disappointing outing, the promotion contenders remain in third position and level on points with Derby County, who have played a game more.

Having failed to win any of their last seven competitive head-to-head meetings, Bolton go into Tuesday's contest with hopes of beating Wigan for the first time since an FA Cup victory in January 2015.

Wigan Athletic League One form:

• L
• W
• L
• L
• W
• D

Bolton Wanderers League One form:

• D
• D
• W
• D
• W
• L

Team News

Wigan are expected to be without Steven Sessegnon and Liam Shaw, while Jordan Jones and Charlie Goode are both doubts due to adductor and knee issues.

Full-back Sean Clare will miss out again as he serves the second game of a two-match suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards.

Forward Josh Magennis could return to the starting lineup after dropping out of the side for Saturday's draw with Cheltenham.

As for the visitors, they are unable to call upon the service of goalkeeper Nathan Baxter and defender Caleb Taylor due to wrist and ankle injuries.

Randell Williams and Dion Charles are closing in on a return to fitness, but Tuesday's contest may come too soon for the pair.

Although Santos is currently set to miss out through suspension, Evatt has revealed that the club will appeal the defender's red card.

Wigan Athletic possible starting lineup:
Tickle; Hughes, Kerr, Chambers; J. Smith, Adeeko, M. Smith, Pearce; Godo, Aasgard, Magennis

Bolton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Coleman; Jones, Toal, Iredale; Dacres-Cogley, Thomason, Sheehan, Dempsey, Ashworth; Bodvarsson, Collins

We say: Wigan Athletic 1-3 Bolton Wanderers

After falling to defeat at the weekend, Bolton will be determined to get their promotion bid back on track in Tuesday's meeting with one of their local rivals, and we think that the visitors will have the extra quality required to pick up all three points.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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