Welcome once again to the latest edition of IN FOCUS where we take a look at our opposition for the game ahead. This week it throws up a stat some of us might have forgotten, or more likely wanted to forget because we got an absolute pasting once when we played Wigan losing 5-1, and current Don Will Grigg did the damage scoring three, I can tell you it was a miserable day, I was there.
Wigan are in a bit of a desperate situation, and don’t forget it wasn’t all that long ago they won the FA Cup. The have been in administration that aided their exit from the Championship with the points deduction. The fans have basically kept them afloat by paying for match tickets they can’t attend, and a similar scheme paying for coach travel, and you can’t deny it is a noble effort from their loyal fans who probably deserve better. The club is up for sale and only a month or so ago a deal to take the club over seemed to be on the horizon but for one reason or another it fell through.
They have had 22 managers since 2000, and currently they have an interim in charge with no prospect currently of getting a fully appointed gaffer, probably because they cannot afford to offer any sort of a contract.
Makes you think how lucky we are with the stable structure we have, everyone might not be a fan of Pete, but be careful what you wish for and look at the many clubs like Wigan that have been run poorly and fallen through the trap door.
THE STORY SO FAR – Wigan are currently in 24th place with a record of PLAYED 32, WON 7, DRAWN 6, LOST 19, GF 32 & GA 60 and 27 POINTS.
CURRENT FORM – LLLWLL
LEAGUE RESULTS
Wigan 0 Charlton 1
Wigan 1 Lincoln 2
Wigan 0 Hull 5
Wigan 2 AFCW 3
Wigan 0 Blackpool 5
Wigan 0 Fleetwood 0
Wigan 1 Shrewsbury 1
Wigan 0 Rochdale 5
Wigan 4 Accrington 3
Wigan 0 Bristol Rovers 0
Wigan 1 Oxford 2
Wigan 2 Northampton 3
Wigan 1 Plymouth 1
Wigan 0 Peterborough 1
Wigan 1 Doncaster 0
Wigan 2 Gillingham 3
Home record of Played 15, Won 2, Drawn 3, Lost 10, GF 15 & GA 35.
GROUND – DW Stadium (25,138)
NICKNAME – The Latics, the Tics.
THE MANAGER – Leam Richardson aged 41, born in Leeds.
Richardson is the Interim / Caretaker Manager a position he has held since November 2020 after the administrator appointed John Sheridan decided to up sticks and move to Swindon Town after just 15 games in charge.
Richardson was a right back by trade serving his youth days at Blackburn Rovers, He never played senior football for Rovers but made his debut after moving to Bolton Wanderers, He has also played for Notts County, Blackpool, and Accrington Stanley. In his career he played just 237 matches and scored 2 goals.
Richardson has been a caretaker manager and a full time manager for Accrington Stanley, and this is his second stint as caretaker for Wigan.
His managerial stats make for difficult reading standing at a lowly WIN RATIO of just 27% and a playing record of GAMES 59, WON 16, DRAWN 16, LOST 27.
PLAYED FOR BOTH James Tavernier, Scott Wootton, Alex Revell, Sanmi Odelusi, Josh Murphy, Craig Morgan, Paul Mitchell, Nicky Maynard, Jack Hendry, Drewe Broughton, Jimmy Bullard, Will Grigg, Ryan Colclough, Jack Hendry, Alex Gilbey, and MK stopper Lee Nicholls made his league debut for Wigan.
SHOOTERS BOOTS – Joe Garner with 6 goals (Now left by mutual consent)
FORMER MANAGERS Wigan have had an incredible 22 managers since 2000, most notable are Gary Caldwell, Malky Mackay, Uwe Rosler, Roberto Martinez, Paul Jewell, Steve Bruce, and Bruce Rioch, John Sheridan, Paul Cook.
CURRENT MATCH ODDS – WIGAN 11/4 DRAW 2/1 MK DONS 15/13
CELEBRITY FANS It was once rumoured that former Russian leader Mikhail Gorbachev was a Wigan Athletic fan, but it was just an internet rumour, the only one I can find is Richard Ashcroft of Verve fame.
LAST TIME AROUND – 27th Oct 2020 – MK Dons 2 Wigan 0
Team – Fisher, O’Hora, Keogh, Lewington, Poole, Sorenson (Freeman), Houghton, Fraser (Gladwin), Sorinola, Jerome, Walker (Mason)
Unused Subs – Nicholls, Williams, Harvie, Bird.
Goals – Fraser 48’, Walker 52’
Referee – Charles Breakspear (3 Yellows)
Attendance – Behind Closed Doors.
HEAD 2 HEAD
2020/21 – MK Dons 2 Wigan 0 – Fraser, Walker
2017/18 – Wigan 5 MK Dons 1 – Brittain
2017/18 – MK Dons 0 Wigan 1
2014/15 – MK Dons 1 Wigan 3 (FA Cup Replay) – Chadwick
2014/15 – Wigan 3 MK Dons 3 (FA Cup) – Reeves 2, Bamford
