Blackburn Rovers vs Wigan Athletic | Championship Preview
A new Manager, a new set of players, and another big challenge for Wigan Athletic as we embark again on the road to survival, with Shaun Maloney's first stop being Ewood Park for a Lancashire Derby.
Match Overview
Wigan Athletic are back, after a two-week break from football and another managerial change, to face Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park under the lights on a Monday night.
Shaun Maloney will make his debut in English Football Management and as a very popular Latics player during his time here between 2011 and 2015, the positivity flowing throughout the club and fanbase seems to be at the highest levels we have had all season. We are still yet to kick a football under his leadership, however, we seem to have been preparing well for this fight.
Rovers are managed by Jon Dahl Tomasson, since July 1st 2022, and so far this season they have played 28 matches in the League, winning 14, drawing 1, and losing 13. With 31 goals scored, and 35 conceded, Blackburn are the only side in the Championship top 10 with a negative goal difference, which is -4.
At home this season, they have played 13, won 9 drawn 0 and lost 4, scoring 20, conceding 13, and keeping 6 clean sheets. Overall, they have picked up 27 of their 43 points at Ewood Park, where they have been much more in form than they have on the road.
Rovers have picked up 10 clean sheets this season, which ties them alongside Millwall with the fourth-highest total in the League.
Over their most recent six League matches, Blackburn have won 2, drawn 1, and lost 3. In that same period, they scored 6, conceded 9, and kept 2 clean sheets.
January 21st / Bristol City 1 - 1 Blackburn Rovers
January 14th / Rotherham United 4 - 0 Blackburn Rovers
January 1st / Blackburn Rovers 1 - 0 Cardiff City
December 29th / Blackburn Rovers 1 - 2 Middlesbrough
December 26th / Sunderland 2 - 1 Blackburn Rovers
December 17th / Norwich City 0 - 2 Blackburn Rovers
For the Latics, our story this season has been very different. Wigan are managed by Shaun Maloney, since January 28th 2023, and so far this season they have played 28 matches in the League, winning 6, drawing 7, and losing 15. We sit 24th in the Sky Bet Championship with 25 points.
Overall, Wigan Athletic have scored 27, conceded 49, creating a goal difference of -22, and kept 4 clean sheets.
Away from home this season, they have played 13, won 4 drawn 4 and lost 5, scoring 16, conceding 19, and keeping 2 clean sheets. Overall, we have picked up 16 of their 25 points on the road, where our form has been considerably better than at the DW Stadium, albeit much earlier in the season than of late.
Over their most recent six League matches, Wigan Athletic have won 0, drawn 1, and lost 5. In that same period, they have scored 5, conceded 17 and kept 0 clean sheets.
January 21st / Wigan Athletic 0 - 2 Luton Town
January 14th / Cardiff City 1 - 1 Wigan Athletic
January 2nd / Wigan Athletic 1 - 4 Hull City
December 29th / Wigan Athletic 1 - 4 Sunderland
December 26th / Middlesbrough 4 - 1 Wigan Athletic
December 19th / Wigan Athletic 1 - 2 Sheffield United
The Reverse Fixture
On October 11th 2022, Wigan Athletic hosted Blackburn Rovers at the DW Stadium, where a Nathan Broadhead goal secured the full three points for the Latics.
Ben Amos’ clean sheet on this day remains our most recent in all competitions, with 15 games being played between then and now. Latics have also won just one game since our victory against Rovers at the DW.
You can read all about our reverse fixture via the article linked below:
Who to Watch: Blackburn Rovers
Despite Rovers having a rocky season so far, they still have a wealth of players chipping in with goals and assists.
Most notably is Ben Brereton-Diaz. The 23 year-old Chilean International has scored 9 and provided 4 assists in 27 Championship matches, however, his last goal came against Huddersfield on November 11th 2022, with just three assists since. His overall G/A’s tally in the second division now sits on his 69 in 197 matches. Diaz has reportedly signed a pre-contract agreement with La Liga side, Villareal, which means he will leave the Lancashire side in the summer.
Our second one to watch, is 21 year old English forward, Tyrhys Dolan. After beginning his youth career at Manchester City, before joining Preston North End’s Academy, Dolan made the switch to Rovers and has been impressing throughout his time there. With 3 goals and 4 assists in 23 games this season, and recording an average of 1.70 points per game in the process, there is no doubt that Dolan is going to be a handful. He does look to have been dealing with an injury of late, after missing Sunderland, Boro, and Cardiff, however, he was back for the 4-0 defeat to Rotherham and an unused sub against Bristol City.
Ryan Hedges is our third and final one to watch, with 2 goals and 4 assists in 25 games this season, averaging 1.60 points per game in that time. The 27 year-old Welshman began the season with 3 assists in the opening 2 games, however, his numbers have been sporadic since. Hedges first goal came on September 13th in a tie with Watford, then the second on December 29th against Middlesbrough. Having played 25 games so far, it is likely that he will be involved at Ewood Park also.
Team Selection
It is difficult to predict how Maloney will set this side up, however, one thing we know for sure is that Miguel Azeez is suspended due to picking up a flare at Cardiff during the last-minute equaliser.
Ben Amos could be given the start, having conceded 21 to Jamie Jones’ 28, and keeping 3 clean sheets compared to our Number 1’s single clean sheet.
Steven Caulker is in fact still a Wigan Athletic player, despite false reports on Friday, and could be in line to start his third consecutive game. If we set up in a back three, I would like to see Charlie Hughes, Jack Whatmough, and one of Martin Kelly or Caulker. I feel the game is a little too soon for Omar Rekik to get a start, and Curtis Tilt could drop to the bench.
Should we play a 3-4-2-1, I would select Ryan Nyambe at LWB, and usually I would say James McClean, however, the Irishman has just welcomed his new baby daughter to the world on matchday. This could mean that Tom Pearce, Joe Bennett, or another could start in place.
The midfield duo I would like to see is Christ Tiéhi and Tom Naylor, however, I feel that Max Power is likely to be given the nod and the captains armband.
For the forward three, I would be surprised if Will Keane is not selected, and if we can provide support through Thelo Aasgaard and Danel Sinani I will be very happy. Callum Lang could be utilised off the bench, along with Anthony Scully who has been training with the squad last week.
Whatever Maloney chooses, I am excited to see how his style of play has been implemented and I want to see us look attacking.
My thoughts on Blackburn Rovers v Wigan Athletic
I am not exactly sure what to expect at Ewood Park, however, I will say that I am very excited at the thought of a long-awaited “new manager bounce” that we did not get under Kolo Touré.
There seems to be a real positivity in training and amongst the fanbase and so I will be watching this game hoping to see that translated onto the field.
My prediction, given on the Progress with Unity podcast, is a 2-1 victory to the Latics, which would mean we pick up the full six points against Rovers this season. Bring it on.
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Up the Tics.
Thank you for reading!
Charlie Keegan / Central Wigan
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