Struggling Wigan Athletic will take on high-flying Middlesbrough at the DW Stadium this Saturday, but most of the attention is likely to be focused on the dugout.

A new era has begun for the Latics, with chairman Dave Whelan sacking Uwe Rosler and controversially appointing Malky Mackay, who is still the subject of an FA investigation into his behaviour during his time in charge of Cardiff City.

The decision has drawn mixed opinions throughout the game, while Whelan himself has since been accused of anti-Semitism to add more fuel to the fire.

Such is the storm of controversy off the field that matters on it have almost been temporarily forgotten at the DW Stadium, where Wigan are in dire form approaching the halfway point of the season.

The Latics, who were expected to challenge for automatic promotion to the Premier League, dropped into the bottom three courtesy of a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Bolton Wanderers before the international break, a result that saw Rosler sacked following a rollercoaster spell in charge.

Now, Wigan will be hoping that Mackay can do a similar job to the one that Rosler did when taking over from Owen Coyle at a similar stage last season and shoot them up the table.

The new boss arrives at a club that has only won one of their last 12 games in the Championship, although that victory did come away to league leaders Derby County.

Three points this weekend could see Wigan climb out of the bottom three, but Mackay could not have wished for many tougher games than the one he faces on his return.

Middlesbrough sit just one point off the top of the table following a goalless draw with Bournemouth last time out, a result that gave Aitor Karanka's side a third consecutive clean sheet.

Indeed, Boro boast the best defensive record in the Championship this season having conceded just 12 goals in their 17 outings so far.

It is now just one defeat in 12 for the visitors, who also have the best away record in the division with 16 points from their eight matches on the road.

As if those statistics weren't daunting enough for the hosts, Boro are unbeaten in their last five matches against Wigan, while the Latics have failed to score in four of those meetings.

Karanka is unlikely to want to make too many changes to his starting lineup, but the likes of Kike and Albert Adomah could return to the side having come off the bench in the draw with Bournemouth.

Wigan:

Recent form: DDWDLL

Possible starting lineup: Carson; Perch, Barnett, Kiernan, Figueroa; Forshaw, Huws, Maloney, Espinoza, McManaman; Fortune

Middlesbrough:

Recent form: WLDWWD

Possible starting lineup: Konstantopoulos; Fredericks, Ayala, Gibson, Friend; Clayton, Leadbitter, Adomah, Tomlin, Reach; Kike

Sports Mole says: 1-1

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