Wigan Athletic dey find demsef for serious battle to escape relegation from League One dis season. Di team wey dem dey call “The Latics” dey currently occupy 19th position for di table, with just three points separating dem from di relegation zone. Dis na di third consecutive year wey Wigan dey play for England third tier football, after dem fall from Championship for 2023.
Di club recent form don show small improvement, with two wins, two draws, and one loss from dia last five league matches. Di most recent victory na 2-0 win against Exeter City for DW Stadium, wey dem get for home ground. Wigan home form don dey better pass away performance, as only two of dia eleven wins dis season come from away matches.
Big change for di club happen last month when Gary Caldwell return as manager, replacing Ryan Lowe. Dis na Caldwell second time to dey in charge of Wigan, after im first stint from 2015 to 2016. As player, Caldwell spend 14 years as defender, play for clubs like Newcastle United, Hibernian, Celtic, and Wigan where im become captain. Im coaching career include management roles at Chesterfield and Partick Thistle, plus minor roles at Newcastle United, Manchester City, and Hibernian before im manage Exeter City for close to three and half years.
Since Caldwell return, Wigan form don improve significantly with four wins from eight matches under im leadership. Di Scottish manager style dey involve aggressive, front-foot football and im dey give opportunities to younger players. Di team tactical approach don change under im guidance.
For transfer business, Wigan sign four players during winter window. Defender Jack Hunt join permanently on free transfer from Stockport County. Three loan signings include midfielder Owen Moxon from Stockport County, forward Caylan Vickers from Brighton & Hove Albion, and striker Joe Taylor from Huddersfield Town. Midfielder Callum Wright dey return from suspension for dis weekend match.
Key player for Wigan na defender Jason Kerr, wey join di club for August 2021 from Scottish side St Johnstone. Di 29-year-old Scottish defender start im career at St Johnstone but make professional debut at East Fife during loan spells from 2015 to 2017. Im later spend season on loan at Queen of the South before breaking into St Johnstone first team for 2018. Kerr become club captain at St Johnstone and make 147 appearances with nine goals before moving to Wigan, where im don make over 100 appearances. Im also get six caps for Scotland under-21 national team.
Player wey dey impress well-well na striker Joe Taylor, wey join Wigan on loan from Huddersfield Town during winter transfer window. Di 23-year-old forward start im youth career at Norwich City and Kings Lynn Town before making professional debut at Kings Lynn for National League. Im join Peterborough United for 2021, make EFL debut for March 2022, then move to Luton for 2023. After loan spells at Colchester United and Lincoln City, im join Huddersfield Town permanently last January. Since coming to Wigan, Taylor don score nine goals from just 13 appearances.
For Scottish football news, Raith Rovers beat Ayr United for Scottish Championship match at Stark’s Park. Innes Cameron, wey join on loan from Barrow for February, score two goals for di match while Richard Chin add third goal. Di victory move Raith Rovers to fifth position for table, one point above Ayr United.
Wigan next match dey against Reading, di team wey beat dem 2-1 last month with goals from Jeriel Dorsett and Paudie O’Connor. Di outcome of dis match go significantly affect Wigan fight against relegation as di season dey enter final stages.
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