Stevenage make the 388-mile round trip to Wigan this weekend for a huge League One clash with The Latics…
Boro have twenty matches remaining in the league as they will be looking to finish the campaign strongly. The side are already in a superb position, sitting just three points outside the play-off places, having played one less game than Oxford United, who are in sixth place.
It has been two weeks since Stevenage’s last game, after last weekend’s postponement against Barnsley. It was a 1-0 victory over Shrewsbury Town last time out, with Jamie Reid grabbing the late winner to take his tally up to 19 for the season.
This Saturday marks a first trip to the DW Stadium for Stevenage, having never played Wigan away from home in the past. This season’s reverse fixture ended positively for Boro at The Lamex Stadium, thanks to Aaron Pressley scoring the game’s only goal.
The Opposition
Despite receiving an eight-point deduction ahead of the campaign, Wigan have been able to enjoy a decent run so far. The Latics currently sit 11th in League One, having won twelve of their first 28 league games. It’s the 10 league defeats that have stopped Wigan climbing the table even further.
Wigan should be going into this match full of confidence, having remained unbeaten in their last five league games. On Tuesday night, they hosted Wycombe Wanderers and walked away the victors, with Charlie Hughes scoring in the 20th minute of injury time. Their home form has been mightily impressive this season, as they have won nine of their 14 league games at the DW Stadium so far.
The danger man for the Latics is 26-year-old, Stephen Humphrys. The forward, capable of playing on both wings as well as through the middle, has scored nine goals and assisted four already this campaign.
The Manager
Shaun Maloney is the current Wigan boss, and has been in that role for exactly a year on Sunday. The former Scotland international is a popular name at the DW Stadium, having featured 79 times as a player, and helping his side win the FA Cup in 2013, assisting the game’s only goal.
The Stadium
Wigan have called the DW Stadium their home since it opened in 1999. The ground’s current capacity is 25,133, and its record attendance was set in May 2008, when a full house watched the Latics face Manchester United in the Premier League. Away supporters are typically allocated a section of the North Stand, behind one of the goals.
Officials
Ben Toner has been appointed Match Referee for Saturday’s clash, with Alistair Nelson and Ryan Williams as his Assistants, and Martin Coy as Fourth Official. Toner has dished out 90 yellow cards and just one red in 19 games so far this season.