The closing EFL Trophy fixture in Group B of the Northern Section sees League Two highfliers Crewe Alexandra play host to League One strugglers Wigan Athletic, and there is plenty on the line.
Wigan are already assured of their place in the knockout stages following wins over Aston Villa under-21s and Blackpool, while Crewe need a positive result in their bid to join them.
A draw would see Crewe leapfrog Blackpool into second while maximum points would see them advance to the knockout stages as group winners at Wigan's expense.
Crewe come into this having claimed the League One scalp of AFC Wimbledon in Saturday's FA Cup first round and will be hoping to repeat the feat against Wigan, who also reached round two with an emphatic victory at runaway National League leaders Boreham Wood.
Crewe Alexandra v Wigan Athletic Tips Summary
Best Bet - Crewe Alexandra to win @ 10/11
Alternative Bet - Adrien Thibaut anytime goalscorer @ 15/8
Bet Builder - Crewe or draw double chance, Both teams to score & Adrien Thibaut anytime goalscorer @ 13/4
Crewe Alexandra v Wigan Athletic Prediction
Best Bet: Crewe Alexandra to win @ 10/11
Crewe's 2-1 win over AFC Wimbledon in the FA Cup on Saturday shows that they have what it takes to overcome League One opposition and they have made a super start to their League Two campaign.
The Railwaymen sit fourth after losing only two of their 14 games and they have been a formidable force at Gresty Road, where they are yet to taste defeat in ten attempts this season.
Wigan will be wary that a defeat would see them slip to second in the group, but that is hardly disastrous and Saturday's League One clash with Barnsley should be top priority.
The Latics are in the League One relegation places after 14 games, having suffered nine defeats, and that makes Saturday's fixture against Barnsley hugely important, as they are second-bottom but only two points behind with two games in hand.
That could leave the door ajar for Crewe, who have won four of their last five at home and should be confident after Saturday's FA Cup triumph.
Alternative Bet: Adrien Thibaut anytime goalscorer @ 15/8
Adrien Thibaut has found starts hard to come by for Crewe in League Two, but he has taken his chance in cup competitions and looks a leading goal candidate.
The 22-year-old still has plenty to improve upon, having joined Crewe from the non-league scene in 2024, but last season's successful loan spell at Southport, where he scored four goals in ten National League North appearances, may have done some good.
Thibaut scored Crewe's second goal in a 4-1 win over Aston Villa under-21s in their opening EFL Trophy fixture, while he also netted the opener in a 3-2 loss to Barnsley when starting in the first round of the EFL Cup.
Likely to be entrusted with leading the line again, he could get on the scoresheet against what should be a weakened Wigan.
Crewe Alexandra v Wigan Athletic Bet Builder Tip
Crewe are yet to taste defeat in ten matches at home this season and motivation should be high as they need a positive result to reach the knockout stages.
Wigan should ring the changes given that they are through with such an important fixture upcoming in League One, but Crewe have seen both teams score in their last eight home matches and it should be entertaining.
Thibaut, regularly a substitute for Crewe in League Two, should be primed to stake his claim for more minutes. Both of his goals this season came when starting in cup competitions and he can bolster that tally here.
Learn more about how Bet Builders work in our Bet Builder guide.
Key Match Stats
Crewe are unbeaten in ten home matches this season
Wigan have picked up only one point from seven away games in League One
Crewe have won two of their last three meetings at home to Wigan
Both teams have scored in Crewe's last eight home fixtures
Five of Wigan's last six matches have gone over 2.5 goals
The Latics have scored in three of their last four away games
Read more football betting tips and predictions on site.
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.
