Wigan Athletic host Reading at the DW Stadium this Saturday in a key League One fixture, with the Latics desperate to find form and goals. Sitting 24th in the standings with just four points from eight games, Gary Caldwell's side must improve after a 1-0 loss at Stevenage last weekend, a match where they failed to score for the sixth time this season.
Caldwell offered a mixed review of the performance at Stevenage. "I thought we were very good in most aspects of the game," he said, noting his team restricted the hosts to very few chances. However, he felt the side was "a little bit safe in play and lacked speed and intent". He pinpointed a specific need for quicker movement, stating his team must be "connected when in possession and move quickly in a five-second fury when losing the ball" to deny the Royals counter-attacking opportunities.
The manager has identified these quick transitions as the key against a Reading side that leads the division with 22 goals. Caldwell added that the focus in training has been on finishing, a critical area given Wigan's return of only five goals from their eight matches, which is detailed in the team's stats. This poor output has left them with a negative goal difference of minus nine.
Forward Christian Saydee returned to the bench at Stevenage after a calf injury but is only fit for limited minutes.
Reading have won five of the last six meetings between the sides, with Wigan's sole victory coming in early 2024. After this match, Wigan face a tough run of away games at Oxford United, Huddersfield Town and Leicester City, a sequence that makes finding attacking form at home even more urgent.
