Match Preview: Everything you need to know ahead of Sunderland’s trip to Wigan Athletic!

---

Tuesday 13th April 2021

(21st) Wigan Athletic v Sunderland (3rd)

Sky Bet League One

DW Stadium

Kick-Off: 6.00pm

---

Match Coverage

TV/Stream: Full live match coverage available via www.safc.com.

Radio: Full live match commentary available via BBC Radio Newcastle (not online)

Don’t forget to follow the blow-by-blow account of the game on the Roker Report Twitter feed (@RokerReport) and check out the player ratings after the full-time whistle at www.RokerReport.com!

---

Sunderland’s 14 game unbeaten run came to an end at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, and it could have so easily gone the other way. The big moments didn’t go our way and the squad will no doubt be happy that they have an immediate opportunity to get back to winning ways.

We also still boast one of the best records away from home in League One, only suffering one defeat on our travels so far and winning 5 of the last 6.

People might point to the magnitude of the games coming up against the likes of Blackpool and Hull City, but it’s victories in these type of fixtures tonight that will set up those fixtures to have the meaning we’d like them to.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

Leam Richardson has performed wonders to give Wigan Athletic a fighting chance of survival in League One this year, but one win in the last five has dragged them back into the bottom four.

Just as Sunderland could make ground tonight, this is also the game in hand for Wigan that could possibly see them climb out of the drop zone.

Their 4-1 victory last time out at Doncaster Rovers will give them confidence for this evenings game, but they return to the DW Stadium where their form hasn’t been great this term. Only three of their ten victories this season have come at home and it’s their away from currently keeping them afloat.

Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images

---

League One Form Guide

Last five games...

---

Sunderland Team News

It might still be too soon for Denver Hume to be included in the starting XI, and after an improved performance by Callum McFadzean last time out, it’s likely Hume will feature on the bench once again.

Bailey Wright is also pushing to be included in a matchday squad and could possibly begin a push for a place on the bench as well.

Other than that it will be for Lee Johnson to select from the same pool of players, which is likely to feature rotation from the side that started Saturday’s defeat to Charlton.

Possible XI: Burge, McLaughlin, Sanderson, O’Nien, McFadzean, Power, Leadbitter, Jones, McGeady, O’Brien, Wyke

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

---

Wigan Athletic Team News

Will Keane came in for Callum Lang last time out and after the 4-1 over Doncaster Rovers it would be a surprise if any changes were made ahead of tonight’s clash.

Kyle Joseph and Christopher Merrie are still ruled out through injury.

Possible XI: Jones, Darikwa, Tilt, Johnston, Robinson, Evans, Ojo, Solomon-Otabor, Aasgaard, Dodoo, Keane

---

Last Time We Met... at the DW Stadium

Saturday 19th January 2013

Barclays Premier League

Wigan Athletic 2 - 3 Sunderland

(Vaughan (OG) 4’, Henriquez 79’ - Gardner (pen) 17’, Fletcher 20’, 42’)

Sunderland: Mignolet, Gardner, O’Shea, Bramble, Colback, Larsson, N’Diaye, Vaughan (Elmohamady), Johnson (McClean), Sessegnon (Bardsley), Fletcher Substitutes not used: Westwood, Kilgallon, McFadden, Wickham

Wigan Athletic: Al Habsi, Boyce (Henriquez), Figueroa, McCarthy, Caldwell, McArthur, Stam (Espinoza), Gomez, Di Santo (Boselli), Maloney, Beausejour Substitutes not used: Robles, Golobert, Jones, McManaman

Attendance: 19,219

Photo by Martin Rickett/PA Images via Getty Images

---

Played For both

Titus Bramble

Made his breakthrough at Ipswich Town in 1998, Bramble would eventually join Bobby Robson’s Newcastle United in 2002 for around £6 million.

Five years and over one hundred appearances later, Steve Bruce would take Bramble on a free transfer to Wigan Athletic before leaving for Sunderland and taking Bramble to Wearside from Wigan in a £1 million move in 2010. He would retire after three years and fifty appearances.

GRAHAM STUART/AFP via Getty Images

David Connolly

Signed from Wigan Athletic as one of Roy Keane’s deadline day signings to kick start our magic carpet ride in 2006, Connelly played an integral part in our promotion campaign scoring 13 goals in 37 appearances.

Due to new signings Connelly didn’t appear in a red and white shirt much after promotion making just five more as substitute over the next two years. Three years later he signed for Portsmouth scoring 11 in 38 games between 2012 and 2015.

Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images

---

Head to Head... at the DW Stadium

In all competitions...

Played: 10

Sunderland wins: 3

Draws: 4

Wigan Athletic wins: 3

Goals for Sunderland: 12

Goals for Wigan Athletic: 12

---

Match Betting

The bookmakers make Sunderland heavy favourites this evening at 3/4, while strugglers Wigan are priced at 4/1, and the draw 12/5.

There’s not too much difference Sunderland to win with the only goal of the game at 5/1 and a more convincing 2-0 at 13/2, and while a 3-0 victory for the away side is 12/1, a reverse result for Wigan Athletic to win 3-0 would be a cool 55/1.

Combining Charlie Wyke to find his scoring boots at anytime tonight and Sunderland to win by three goals to nil bumps it up to a tempting 18/1.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

---

Match Prediction

After the weekend I think we’ll be back on it from the off, and an early goal will make it a comfortable evening.

Wigan Athletic 0 - 3 Sunderland