Next Up: Exeter City vs Wigan Athletic
There seems to be an irony that no sooner had the news broken of potential off-field issues, form on the pitch has turned upwards with City recording their third successive victory in three different competitions at Halifax last Saturday. Attention turns (briefly) back to the league on Saturday with the visit of a club close to Gary Caldwell’s heart having played for and managed them previously. None of the recent absentees have yet returned to contention although several are thought to be close to a return. However, even if some are ready to return, it remains to be seen whether Caldwell will make changes for changes sake given recent form.
While City have tended to deal in just wins and losses this season, Wigan’s record is more varied with four wins, five draws and five defeats to see the Latics currently in 14th position in what is an extremely congested League One table. Ryan Lowe is now in charge at Wigan, tasked with pushing the Lancashire side back up towards the second tier as they emerge from the financial problems that saw them receive points deductions in the recent past. His key signing was probably Paul Mullin on loan from Wrexham, but although he has chipped in with four goals he hasn’t scored since netting a consolation in a 4-1 defeat at Bolton in mid-September. Fraser Murray is top scorer with five in all competitions, while former City skipper Will Aimson will expect a frosty reception when he takes the field. One player who won’t be featuring is Ryan Trevitt – the midfielder who had two injury-hit loan spells at City from Brentford is again on the sidelines in his current loan spell.
Last season’s fixtures ended in two stalemates – the corresponding fixture took place in April and finished 1-1, the visitors taking the lead from the spot through Taylor before Reece Cole equalised. That was one up on the very forgettable 0-0 at the DW Stadium back in September. Wigan have a healthy lead in league head to heads with 11 wins to City’s four, five matches finishing level.
The match officials for this game will be:-
Referee: Stephen Parkinson
Assistant Referees: Marvyn Amphlett and Ryan McILravey
Fourth Official: Isaac Searle
This will be Parkinson’s first time in charge of City. So far this season he’s charge of 12 games, showing 47 yellow cards and sending off one player.
Interview with Gary Caldwell
Interview with Akeel Higgins