PREVIEW: Argyle vs Wigan Athletic
After two challenging defeats on the road, Ryan Lowe’s Pilgrims return to home comforts for the visit of Wigan Athletic on Tuesday evening.
The Greens were on the wrong side of losses at Northampton Town and Doncaster Rovers in the past week, despite controlling both fixtures for large periods, and they will look to carry those positives into the clash with the Latics.
Despite sitting second from bottom in the Sky Bet League One table, Tuesday’s visitors will arrive at Home Park in reasonable form, having won two of their last five fixtures.
In Leam Richardson’s men’s last outing, they secured an eye-catching 3-0 victory over mid-table Milton Keynes Dons.
George Johnston gave Wigan the lead with his first goal in senior football on 23 minutes, heading home Viv Solomon-Otabor’s cross the far post.
It was Callum Lang, Wigan’s top goalscorer so far this season, who doubled the Latics’ lead in the 64th minute, with another header.
Joe Dodoo put the game to bed on 70 minutes as he slotted home another Solomon-Otabor assist, after a defensive lapse exposed the Dons defence.
In our reverse league fixture at the DW Stadium in October, the points were shared between the two sides.
Scottish striker Ryan Hardie put the Greens ahead with just over 10 minutes remaining with his first goal of the season, with a cool lob. Wigan struck back in the second half through Will Keane.
For the Latics, midfielder Lee Evans and forward Keane are both likely to miss out on Tuesday night through knee and groin injuries respectively, although they are set for a return to training this week. Tom Pearce, Chris Merrie and Kyle Joseph are all long-term absentees for the Latics, while Argyle loanee Scott Wootton is not eligible to play.
For the Pilgrims, Sam Woods, Gary Sawyer, and George Cooper are the only players unavailable, with mid-term absentee Lewis Macleod having made his return to first-team action off the bench at Doncaster Rovers on Saturday.
ARGYLE AT HOME TO WIGAN ATHLETIC IN THE EFL
The record: P 10 W 5 D 1 L 4 F 14 A 14
The first time: 19 April, 1983. Division Three. Argyle 0 Wigan Athletic 2
Bobby Moncur’s eighth in the table Argyle had little left to play for other than pride in the days before the end-of-season play-offs. Wigan, on the other hand, in their first season in the third tier, were just three points above the relegation zone with only five games to play. Eamonn O’Keefe, who spent a spell at Home Park during Tony Waiters’ time as manager, gave the Lancastrians a 70th minute lead. John Butler added the second two minutes later.
The last time: 20 January, 2018. Sky Bet League One. Argyle 1 Wigan Athletic 3
Argyle’s eight game undefeated run in League One came to an end against top-of-the table Wigan.
Derek Adams’ men took a 27th minute lead through a penalty from Graham Carey. Will Grigg equalised for our visitors two minutes later and Gavin Massey gave them the lead on the stroke of half-time. Dan Burn completed the scoring on 69 minutes.
Biggest win: 9 December, 1995. Endsleigh Third Division. Argyle 3 Wigan Athletic 1
Martin Barlow gave Neil Warnock’s Argyle an eighth minute lead, turning in a cross from Adrian Littlejohn. Athletic were level four minutes later through Andy Farrell. Littlejohn restored our lead on 75 minutes and settled the crowd’s nerves with his second on 88 minutes.
Most goals in a single game: Five, in a 3-2 win for Mick Jones’ Argyle on 24 January, 1998, in Nationwide Division Two. The Latics led 2-0 at half-time thanks to goals from Ian Kilford on 37 minutes and David Lee on 41.
Mark Saunders pulled a goal back on 52 minutes and Martin Barlow equalised on 77 minutes. Simon Collins won it for the Greens from close range on 86 minutes.
Tuesday night’s game kicks off at 7pm, and is available to stream live on iFollow Argyle. Click here to purchase your pass.