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League One | Gameweek 3
Aug 24, 2024 at 3pm UK
The DW Stadium
Crawley Town

Wigan
1 - 0
Crawley

Mukena (30' og.)
Tickle (83'), McManaman (89')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Flint (3'), Darcy (88')

Preview: Wigan Athletic vs. Crawley Town - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's League One clash between Wigan Athletic and Crawley Town, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Wigan Athletic will attempt to claim their first points of the season when they welcome Crawley Town to the Brick Community Stadium on Saturday.

Meanwhile, newly-promoted Crawley will be looking to continue their impressive start to the League One campaign after taking maximum points from their first two matches.


Match preview

Wigan Athletic manager Shaun Maloney after the match on January 8, 2024© Reuters

Wigan have experienced a disappointing start to the campaign, having failed to win any of their opening three competitive matches.

They conceded an 81st-minute goal to lose 1-0 to Charlton on the opening weekend, before their EFL Cup campaign ended with a first-round penalty shootout defeat against Barnsley.

Shaun Maloney's side endured another unsuccessful outing last Saturday, slumping to a 2-0 away loss against Reading following goals from Charlie Savage and Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan.

Having lost back-to-back league games, the Latics are currently one of six teams yet to pick up a point in League One this season.

They will be desperate to get on the board this weekend when they face Crawley for the first time since recording a 2-1 victory in an FA Cup tie in November 2017.

Crawley Town's Joy Mukena during the Pre-Season Friendly match between East Grinstead and Crawley Town at VISTAVIS COMMUNITY STADIUM, East Grinstead, United Kingdom on 20 July 2024 [on August 8, 2024]© Imago

Crawley are competing in their first League One campaign in 10 years after they successfully negotiated their way through the League Two playoffs last term.

The Reds have seemingly carried the momentum built from their playoff success into the new season, having begun the campaign with an impressive four-game unbeaten run in all competitions.

Scott Lindsey's side got up and running with a 2-1 win over Blackpool, before Swindon Town were dispatched via a 4-2 scoreline in the first round of the EFL Cup.

After beating Cambridge United 1-0 last weekend, the Reds went on to play out a 2-2 draw in Tuesday's EFL Trophy meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion Under-21's before winning the subsequent shootout to clinch a bonus point.

Crawley may now have their eyes on Tuesday's EFL Cup clash against Brighton's senior side, with the second-round tie representing the first competitive meeting between the two clubs since 1992, and they will hope to carry momentum into that contest by claiming their first-ever win over Wigan.

Wigan Athletic League One form:


Wigan Athletic form (all competitions):


Crawley Town League One form:


Crawley Town form (all competitions):



Team News

Ronan Darcy of Crawley Town in action against Blackpool on August 10, 2024© Imago

Wigan are still unable to call upon the services of Tyrese Francois, Michael Olakigbe and Jonny Smith due to injury.

Maloney could be tempted to make a couple of changes in a bid to find his team's first points of the season, with Calvin Ramsay and Jordan Jones among those who could be considered for a starting spot.

Callum McManaman is likely to provide a useful option off the bench after returning from injury to feature as a substitute last weekend.

As for the visitors, they are expected to be without the injured trio of Harry Forster, Dion Conroy and Gavan Holohan.

Lindsey has confirmed that Ronan Darcy is available for Saturday's away trip despite picking up a knock in Tuesday's EFL Trophy outing.

After making changes to his side in midweek, Lindsey could revert back to the lineup that started the opening two league games of the season.


Wigan Athletic possible starting lineup:
Tickle; Ramsay, Kerr, Aimson, Chambers; Adeeko, Smith; Rankine, Aasgaard, Jones; Hugill

Crawley Town possible starting lineup:
Wollacott; Mullarkey, Mukena, Flint; Malone, Williams, Anderson, Kelly; Darcy, Quitirna, Hepburn-Murphy


SM words green background

We say: Wigan Athletic 1-1 Crawley Town

Wigan may view Saturday's contest as a great opportunity to claim their first win of the season against a newly-promoted side, but we think that they may have to settle for a draw when they face a Crawley team that are unbeaten in their first four competitive matches.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.




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Written by
Ben Sully

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Game History

How you voted: Wigan vs Crawley

Wigan Athletic
16.7%
Draw
33.3%
Crawley Town
50.0%
12
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Wycombe WanderersWycombe20135243222144
2Birmingham CityBirmingham18133234161842
3Wrexham21126331141742
4Huddersfield TownHuddersfield20123534181639
5Stockport CountyStockport21106534221236
6Lincoln CityLincoln218762825331
7Reading209473030031
8Bolton WanderersBolton199462829-131
9Barnsley208662926330
10Blackpool197572931-226
11Mansfield TownMansfield187472222025
12Stevenage187471517-225
13Peterborough UnitedPeterborough2073103837124
14Charlton AthleticCharlton196671819-124
15Exeter CityExeter197391721-424
16Wigan AthleticWigan196581716123
17Rotherham UnitedRotherham186571920-123
18Leyton Orient196491920-122
19Bristol Rovers2064101829-1122
20Northampton TownNorthampton205692129-821
21Crawley TownCrawley1954102032-1219
22Cambridge UnitedCambridge2045112035-1517
23Burton Albion1926111630-1412
24Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury1932141939-2011


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