Wigan Athletic face a stern test of their League One survival credentials this Saturday when they travel to second-placed Huddersfield Town. Their record of two wins, one draw and seven defeats has yielded only seven goals while conceding fifteen.
Their recent form has been inconsistent, with a pattern of win-loss-win-loss-win over their last five outings, a sequence that translates to two wins and three losses. That sequence includes a 2-1 defeat at Oxford United last Tuesday, where Christian Saydee scored a second-half equaliser before the hosts netted a late winner. The Latics' only victory in that run was a 1-0 home win over Reading, secured by Scott Hogan's 71st-minute strike. Prior results include a 1-0 loss at Stevenage, a 3-2 victory over Blackpool, and a 1-0 defeat to Wycombe.
Huddersfield, under Darren Moore, are in formidable form. They are unbeaten in their last four league games, a run featuring convincing wins over Peterborough, Plymouth and Burton Albion. That streak has propelled them into the automatic promotion places, making them one of the division's toughest opponents. Their 4-4-2 setup has proven effective, providing a solid base from which to attack.
The challenge will be to finding a balance between shoring up a defence that has conceded 15 goals this season and providing enough threat to trouble a Huddersfield side full of confidence. The full squad will need to be at their best to get a result.
With the gap to safety already a concern, points are urgently needed. A trip to the John Smith's Stadium represents one of the season's most difficult assignments. The next fixture is away at Huddersfield on Saturday 24 October.
