Wigan Athletic will be looking to drag Middlesbrough into the Championship relegation mix when the two teams lock horns at the DW Stadium on Tuesday night.
The Latics are currently 22nd in the table, four points from the safety of 21st position, while Boro sit in 18th spot, seven points clear of their opponents in this match.
Match preview
It would be fair to say that it has been a tough season for Wigan, with Paul Cook's side only picking up 29 points from their 31 Championship matches during the 2019-20 campaign.
Their situation is far from terminal, though, as they are only four points off Charlton Athletic in 21st and have picked up six points from the last nine available.
Indeed, they recorded back-to-back wins over Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United between January 28 and February 1 but could not build on those results as they lost 2-1 at home to Preston North End on Saturday.
Beating Boro on Tuesday night would drag Jonathan Woodgate's side into the relegation mix, but Wigan have only won one of the last 10 league meetings between the two teams.
Boro's form throughout December was excellent as they continued to put victories on the board, and they actually went unbeaten in six straight matches in all competitions between December 20 and January 11.
Woodgate's team are now without a win in their last five in the Championship, though, including a 3-2 loss away to Brentford on Saturday afternoon.
A record of eight wins, 12 draws and 11 defeats has seen them collect 36 points, leaving them seven points clear of Wigan ahead of the next round of fixtures in England's second tier.
There is no question that a defeat at the DW Stadium would leave them vulnerable, though, particularly considering that they have matches against the likes of Leeds United and Nottingham Forest on the horizon.
That said, the former Premier League club performed impressively at Brentford last time out and were close to securing a point before Ollie Watkins came up with an 87th-minute winner for Thomas Frank's side.
Wigan Championship form: WLLWWL
Wigan form (all competitions): LLLWWL
Middlesbrough Championship form: WDLDDL
Middlesbrough form (all competitions): DLLDDL
Team News
Wigan will again be without Kieran Dowell, Dujon Sterling and Daniel Fox for Tuesday's contest.
Cook's squad is in relatively good shape overall in terms of injuries, though, and the manager certainly has options for change in the final third of the field.
Joe Gelhardt, who is now being linked with Everton, is pushing for a start in the final third, although Jamal Lowe and Kieffer Moore are both expected to keep their spots.
As for Boro, Patrick Roberts, Daniel Ayala, Anfernee Dijksteel and Sam McQueen remain unavailable for selection through injury, but Woodgate has no fresh concerns ahead of the clash.
Ashley Fletcher, who has eight Championship goals this season, is again expected to keep out Britt Assombalonga and Rudy Gestede in the final third, while Lewis Wing's goal against Brentford should see him feature once again.
Ravel Morrison, though, is still waiting to make his debut for Boro having arrived on loan from Sheffield United during the January transfer window.
Wigan possible starting lineup:
Marshall; Byrne, Kipre, Dunkley, Naismith, Pearce; Williams, Morsy, Evans; Lowe, Moore
Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Pears; Howson, Moukoudi, Fry, Coulson; McNair, Saville; Tavernier, Wing, Johnson; Fletcher
We say: Wigan 1-1 Middlesbrough
The desire not to lose this contest could create a cagey and tight affair at the DW Stadium. Wigan will enter the match in the better form, but we fancy Boro to pick up something for their efforts on Tuesday night.
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