Twitter Handle: @kieranmaksports
Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic meet at the Macron Stadium this Saturday, in a tasty FA Cup third round derby.
These two local rivals last met on 7th November 2014, where Bolton ran out 3-1 winners over the Latics. Wigan will want to regain local pride via a much needed win, as it has been a turbulent season so far.
Aspirations of promotion have turned into relegation dogfight for the Latics, sitting 20th in the SkyBet Championship table and three points from safety. Since Malky Mackay took the reins he only has one victory and a draw from his first seven matches.
On the other hand, Bolton’s form is a complete contrast to Wigan’s. Since Neil Lennon’s appointment as manager, the Trotters have lost just three in 13; including seven victories.
The two teams have only been paired together in the FA Cup just once before, in the fourth round back in 2011. They played out a goalless draw in Bolton before meeting in a replay, where Ivan Klasnic’s goal was enough for Bolton to win 1-0 at the DW Stadium. Wanderers would make the semi-finals that season.
Since winning the FA Cup in 2013, Wigan are unbeaten in their last 13 matches in the competition (W13 D10). The semi-final defeat to Arsenal in 2014 doesn’t count as it was decided 4-2 on penalties at Wembley.
In terms of team news, Wigan will be without Callum McManaman, the winger is serving the first of a three match ban for his straight red card against Sheffield Wednesday. Grant Holt is out for nine months with a knee ligament injury.
Bolton themselves will have key players missing; winger Chung-Yong Lee is representing South Korea in the Asia Cup and Matt Mills has a knock and is also a doubt.