Preview: Wigan Athletic v Fleetwood Town

22 January 2021

Fleetwood Town face Wigan Athletic on Saturday 23 January at the DW Stadium in Sky Bet League One, and we have all you need to know ahead of the 3pm kick-off in our match preview.

Fixture: Wigan Athletic v Fleetwood Town

Competition: Sky Bet League One

Date: Saturday 23 January 2021

Kick-off: 15:00

Venue: DW Stadium, Loire Drive, Robin Park, Wigan, WN5 0UZ

Match officials: Declan Bourne (Referee), Graeme Fyvie & Steven Rushton (Assistant Referees), Bradley Hall (Fourth Official)

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FLEETWOOD TOWN

Town are looking to get back to winning ways after falling to defeat to MK Dons at Stadium MK on Tuesday evening.

The hosts started the game the stronger with Joe Mason scoring a hat-trick in the opening 30 minutes. Fleetwood seemed to grow into the game after the half-time break, creating multiple chances, with substitute Sam Finley managing to find the net from 25-yards late on.

Before that, Fleetwood narrowly lost 1-0 to Portsmouth at Highbury Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Town seemed to be on top for large portions of the game, but it was a John Marquis header from close range that broke the deadlock. Simon Wiles’ side continued to press but couldn’t find a way through the Portsmouth defence.

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WIGAN ATHLETIC

Wigan come into the game on Saturday on the back of a six-goal draw with Rochdale at the Crown Oil Arena..

Both sides found the back of the net inside the first ten minutes of the game and carried on adding to the scoreline throughout the game. Will Keane thought he had scored the winner for the Latics 13 minutes from time but a last-minute goal from Stephen Humphrys meant the points would be shared on the day.

In the game before, Wigan picked up all three points when they were on the road to Burton, as Kyle Joseph bagged a hat-trick on the day, with the last of his three goals bringing Leam Richardson’s side back into the game. They found a winner late on as Keane beat Kieran O’Hara in the Burton goal.

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ONE TO WATCH: KYLE JOSEPH

One player to watch in Town’s league clash against Wigan Athletic is Kyle Joseph. The 19-year-old has been in good form over the last month and has scored four goals in the last two league games for the side.

Joseph – who is a youth international for Scotland at Under 18 and Under 19 levels – signed his first professional contract in the 2018/19 season, in which he finished second top goal scorer for the Under 18s behind Charlie Jolley.

The forward carried on his goalscoring form for the Under 18s at Wigan in the 2019/20 season and bagged crucial goals in their FA Youth Cup run, including four in Latics' third-round victory over Croydon FC and a further goal in the fourth round 2-0 win against Tottenham Hotspur at the DW Stadium.

The 19-year-old progressed to make his senior debut in October 2020 as a second-half substitute against Northampton Town, before making his first start in Sky Bet League One away at Blackpool in November 2020. Since starting in the first team, Joseph has scored five goals in 14 appearances.

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WATCH TOWN ON iFOLLOW

Supporters can now purchase video match passes for Fleetwood Town’s Sky Bet League One clash against Wigan Athletic on Saturday.

With fans still unable to attend games, the iFollow match pass is your best option to watch the Cod Army play.

Simon Wiles' side are set to face Wigan in a league clash at the DW Stadium on Saturday, with Town looking to get back to winning ways - and you can watch the game for just £10!

If you'd like to purchase your match pass, click HERE.

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Match Previews

Match Reports

Report: Town held to a stalemate by Wigan at the DW Stadium

23 January 2021

Fleetwood Town’s Lancashire derby against Wigan Athletic ended in a goalless draw on a cold Saturday afternoon at the DW Stadium.

A game dominated by Fleetwood chances but with no reward for the hard work and persistence shown by the Cod Army the points were shared.

It was the Town who started the game better as the first chance of the came to the Cod Army as Danny Andrew found Callum Camps in the middle of the park who drove forward, found Paddy Madden in half a yard of space but his snapshot went wide of the post.

The hosts’ first attack of the game fell just short of the ten-minute-mark where Tom Pearce whipped a ball in from the left-hand side, but it was brave defending from Callum Connolly to bravely put his body on the line to deny Callum Lang a goal-scoring opportunity.

Ten minutes passed where both sides were trying to get a foothold of the game, but it was a huge chance for the Latics as a through ball from Corey Whelan found Pearce behind Fleetwood’s defence, but his effort flew past the post.

A golden opportunity to open the deadlock fell to captain Madden - it was the brave determination of Jordan Rossiter to win the ball back as possession fell to Madden who spread play wide to Shayden Morris who crossed the ball in with such speed but Madden’s header went just over the bar from six yards out.

It was the Cod Army who started to work their way up the gears as they teased Wigan’s defence with a few successive chances and crosses in from the right: the best chance of them all was Madden’s half-volley from the left-hand side which Jamie Jones saved.

Just short of the half-hour mark Wigan had a chance to react to the visitors’ constant pressure as Dan Gardner found himself in a yard of space but his drilled effort went wide of the post.

The following ten minutes Town tried to take control of the game, dominating the ball but lacking the cutting edge in the final third, with an ambitious strike from Rossiter from distance not changing the score-line.

A few moments after, a lapse in concentration from Town’s defence as Wigan posed a threat in a form of a short corner but Zach Clough couldn’t find the back of the net with his snapshot 12 yards out.

Fleetwood started the second half the better side, not allowing the home-side room to breathe with the ball but there was no reward to show for the hard work as Town’s first effort of the half came in a form of a header from Madden as he peeled off his man, but his header was tame for Jones to claim.

After a variety of Town chances, it took the Latics 22 minutes to work their way into Fleetwood territory as Lang found himself at the back post where Alex Cairns had to make himself big to deny Lang’s touch as it proved vital save to keep the hosts at bay.

With ten minutes to go, Town started to up the tempo, a swift counter-attack as Madden’s clever flick opened up play to introduce Josh Morris but the substitute’s driven ball was only blocked out for a corner.

Town XI: Cairns (GK), Andrew, Connolly, Camps, Mulgrew, Rossiter (Whelan 65’) (Duffy 71’), Madden (C), Vassell, Donacien, Finley, S.Morris (J.Morris 65’)

Subs not used: Coleman (GK), Sa, Holgate, Rydel

Wigan XI: Jones (GK) (C), Darikwa, Pearce, Johnston, Whelan, Clough (Aasgaard 76’), Lang, Gardner, Joseph, Merrie, Perrie

Subs not used: Evans (GK), Crankshaw, Obi, Robinson