Wigan vs Norwich prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-02-17 15:00.
Still unbeaten with Shaun Maloney at the helm (W1, D2), things are looking up for Wigan in their battle to avoid an instant return to League One. The Latics displayed some true fighting spirit in midweek, battling back from a goal behind, which was interestingly their only goal conceded under Maloney, to claim a third consecutive away league draw and mark three Championship games without defeat for the first time since September.
Draws on the road arenât too bad if you can win your home games, and thatâs just what Wigan did last time out at the DW Stadium, beating Huddersfield 1-0 in a relegation âsix-pointerâ to end a run of four successive home league losses. Wigan now look to enter uncharted territory, as they bid for maiden back-to-back Championship home wins this season in a bid to climb out of the bottom three for the first time since October!
After over three months without a home league win, Norwich finally gave the Carrow Road faithful something to cheer in midweek as they came from behind to beat an in-form Hull City 3-1. Sitting two points from the play-off spots ahead of the round, Norwich will want to follow up their âbest performanceâ under new boss David Wagner with another win on the road given theyâve won four of their last six away league games (L2).
A visit to Wigan hasnât been one that's been particularly fruitful for Norwich down the years though, with four of their last six visits ending in stalemate (W1, L1). It was similarly tight in Wagnerâs only previous managerial visit to Wigan, a 1-0 victory whilst in charge of Huddersfield, but considering Norwichâs last two away league wins came with four accompanying goals, itâs hard to see that 1-0 scoreline being repeated here.
Players to watch: Despite arriving in August, it took Wiganâs Ashley Fletcher until February to open his Latics account, netting their equaliser against Bristol City. Born not far away from Wigan, Norwichâs Kieran Dowell has struck three of his last four goals in the opening half-hour.
Hot stat: Wigan are the only Championship side not to have led a home league game at half-time this season (HT: D9, L7).