Wigan Athletic and Barnsley have endured difficult starts to the League One season and their attention for the next few months looks destined to be concerned with dragging themselves away from relegation trouble.
The Latics are in the stronger position in League One and will hope they can rediscover the resolve that led to them claiming three home victories when the Tykes head across the Pennines on Saturday.
However, while the visitors have won just once on their travels in the league this term, they should be galvanised by an encouraging 7-2 win over National League Aldershot Town in their most recent outing.
Wigan Athletic v Barnsley Tips Summary
Best Bet - Barnsley to win @ 9/5
Alternative Bet - Cameron McGeehan to score at any time @ 21/10
Bet Builder - Both teams to score, over five Barnsley corners and over one Barnsley goal @ 23/5
Wigan Athletic v Barnsley Prediction
Best Bet: Barnsley to win @ 9/5
Barnsley have been unable to claim a league win since a 2-1 home success over Blackpool on 2nd September, but this could be the week that they put that right against fellow strugglers Wigan Athletic.
The Tykes have taken just two points from their last eight games, but there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel, despite the fact that Wigan have won three times at home this term.
The Latics are unbeaten in three games, but, at the prices, it is worth backing the visitors, who earned a draw against a strong Oxford United side despite being reduced to ten men after just nine minutes, and then registered a morale-boosting 7-2 FA Cup win over Aldershot Town last week.
Alternative Bet: Cameron McGeehan to score at any time @ 21/10
Experienced midfielder Cameron McGeehan has scored eight times for Barnsley this season and it would not be a surprise if he added to that tally on Saturday.
He was on target when these two met in the EFL Cup at Oakwell at the start of the season, a game which the Tykes won on penalties, and while three goals have come in the league, he was the star of the show against Aldershot.
McGeehan scored a hat-trick in that FA Cup success and can make his mark again this weekend, especially as he has had ten attempts on goal in his last three games when he has played in a more advanced role.
Wigan Athletic v Barnsley Bet Builder Tip
Both teams to score
Over five Barnsley corners
Over one Barnsley goal
Pays @ 23/5
There have been eight occasions in their 14 League One matches this season when Wigan Athletic have failed to find the net, including their last league outing against Mansfield Town, which ended goalless.
However, they scored three against another struggler, Bromley, in their previous home match, and there looks to be a strong chance that both teams will find the net in this one, something that has happened in 11 of Barnsley’s last 12 matches.
There have been plenty of goals in the Tykes’ recent outings and, despite the fact they are second from bottom in the table, they have managed to generate plenty of corners too.
The Yorkshire outfit’s average of 7.58 per game is the highest in the third tier and it drops to only 6.33 per away outing, so it is worth chancing that the visitors will earn at least six in this clash.
They should also have their shooting boots on as they build on the confidence produced by their emphatic FA Cup win over Aldershot, so expect them to find the net more than once.
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Key Match Stats
Barnsley have lost six of their last eight League One matches
Eight of the Tykes’ last ten league games have featured more than two goals
There have been at least four goals in three of Wigan Athletic’s seven home league matches this term
Both teams have scored in five of the last seven meetings
Barnsley have been defeated in each of their last four away league outings
Wigan have scored more than once in just two of their last 13 League One assignments
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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.
