Bolton Wanderers v Wigan Athletic: Prediction, Tips and Odds

A key period of the season is coming up for seventh-placed Bolton Wanderers, who are anxious to push into the League One play-offs and stay in touch with the race for automatic promotion.

Ian Evatt’s side were 3-1 winners at home to Mansfield Town in their last league fixture and they sit one point outside the top six and ten adrift of second-placed Wrexham, who have played two games more.

Wigan Athletic had also hoped to feature in the promotion battle, but they lost 2-0 at home to Leyton Orient last weekend to leave themselves only a point above the relegation zone.

Bolton Wanderers v Wigan Athletic betting tips and predictions

Bolton -1 on Asian handicap - 5/4

Bolton have reeled off six successive home wins across all competitions and are likely to secure a routine victory over injury-hit Wigan at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.

The Latics did the double over Bolton last season, including a remarkable 4-0 victory on Trotters’ territory, but they are approaching Saturday’s clash with a lack of confidence and a depleted squad.

Shaun Maloney’s side bowed out of the EFL Trophy on Tuesday with a 3-2 defeat at League Two Chesterfield, extending their losing sequence to three games.

The Latics have sustained back-to-back third-tier losses and appeared toothless for large parts of last Saturday’s 2-0 reverse at home to Leyton Orient which left them contemplating a potential battle to avoid the drop.

Injuries have hindered the Wigan cause and there were three bits of bad news last weekend, with left-back Steven Sessegnon and wingers Dion Rankine and Silko Thomas suffering varying issues which forced them off the pitch.

Rankine’s hamstring problem has been diagnosed as severe enough to rule him out until next April, while doubts persist over Thomas and Sessegnon, who were not involved in the midweek EFL Trophy loss.

Maloney will be looking for other players to step up, but his squad’s worsening health is a major problem going into such a difficult encounter.

While Wigan seem to be on the slide, Bolton are eyeing a strong finish to the year.

Wanderers have taken seven points from their last three games and a change of mentality was evident in their opening December league fixture at home to Mansfield, when they conceded the opening goal but stormed back to win 3-1.

Each of Bolton’s last two wins have been by two goals and another comfortable victory is on the cards.

Dion Charles to score any time - 7/5

Dion Charles came off the bench to bag the first of Bolton’s goals in their recent 3-1 victory at home to Mansfield, but he should feature in the starting XI this weekend and is a solid 7/5 shot to get on the scoresheet.

Charles is Bolton’s top scorer with seven league goals and his xG (8.91) is the second highest in the division.

The 29-year-old’s goal against the Stags was a match-turning moment and there should be more to come from him this weekend.

Bolton to score over 1.5 goals - 4/5

Wigan were defensively disciplined in the early part of the season, but they have gone five games without keeping a clean sheet and may struggle to cope with Bolton, who have one of the strongest attacks in the division.

The Trotters have netted at least two goals in five of their last six home league fixtures and their free-scoring ways look set to continue.

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Bolton Wanderers v Wigan Athletic odds

Bolton Wanderers - 4/6
Draw - 14/5
Wigan Athletic - 15/4

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.