2018-19 Sky Bet Championship: Week Nine – Wigan vs Bristol City

After a dramatic midweek of Championship football, attention now quickly switches to this weekend as Wigan kick things off at home to Bristol City.

Both sides experienced contrasting fortunes last time out but victory here will see one side move into third ahead of the weekend’s games?

 

Team news

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Wigan could be “short” on player availability after Callum McManaman withdrew from Tuesday’s win over Hull with an injury. 

Gavin Massey (hamstring) is still sidelined but Dan Burn is close to returning from a foot injury. 

Bristol City face possibility of spending a fourth game without injured defender, Eros Pisano who is nursing a hip injury. 

Frank Fielding (hip), Bailey Wright (thigh), Mo Eisa , Korey Smith (knee) and Hakeeb Adelakun (ankle) are all ruled out of this match. 

 

Form

Wigan have been inconsistent so far this season, taking three wins from last five but saddled with two defeats in between each loss after having taken four points from opening three games. 

The Latics however are yet to lose at home, with three wins and a draw so far despite keeping just one clean sheet. 

After a slow start in which they drew two of their opening three, Bristol City have won four of their last five with three clean sheets during that run.

Their only defeat in this period came on Tuesday when they lost 4-2 at West Bromwich Albion but have scored in each of last five matches since a 2-0 home defeat by Middlesbrough mid August. 

Top scorer, Andreas Weimann is yet to find the net this month in three appearances after scoring five goals in August.  

 

Stat Attack

• Wigan are unbeaten in three of last five against Bristol City (W2, D1, L2). 
• Bristol City have won two of their last three trips to the DW Stadium, losing 2-0 in August 2002. 
• In only two of last five meetings had both teams scored (2-2 January 2002, 2-1 August 2016 with both coming at Aston Gate). 

 

Prediction

This match hasn’t seen many thrillers since 1987-88 season with just six matches in 16 meetings featuring goals from both sides. 

This time around, I can’t see neither team leaving without at least one goal because both sides are strong when it comes to scoring. 

A draw wouldn’t surprise me but Wigan’s home form is impressive so I reckon that they will just have the edge here. 

Prediction: Wigan 2-1 Bristol City

Result: Wigan 1-0 Bristol City