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West Brom and Wigan have resurged under new management, but still find themselves in the last chance saloon. Here is the West Brom vs Wigan betting preview for the 8pm GMT kick-off on Tuesday evening in the Championship.
Albion’s return of 34 points from 18 games since Carlos Corberan took charge in late-October, suggests they would be 2nd had the Spaniard been in charge all season, while the Latics’ seven points from six league games under Shaun Maloney is form that would put them 19th in the Championship table.
Instead, the Baggies are still 11th, seven points off the play-offs with a game in hand, while Wigan, also having played one fewer than the teams above them, are six adrift in 23rd place.
Only a win will suffice for the hosts, and even for the visitors from Lancashire, a sole point wouldn’t do them much good, however hard it would be to earn – it’s getting to desperation point.
West Brom’s drop-off
The Baggies shot up the league table when Corberan first took charge, winning 9 of his first 10 league games, but injuries to goalkeeper Alex Palmer, centre-back Kyle Bartley, midfielder Tom Rogic, wide men Matt Phillips and Grady Diangana, plus forward Brandon Thomas-Asante have since held them back with four defeats in seven matches.
Meanwhile, the January additions of Nathaniel Chalobah and Marc Albrighton haven’t yet delivered a meaningful improvement. If anything, the latter’s arrival has seen Jed Wallace take on a central role, in which the summer recruit from Millwall has been less effective.
Friday’s 2-0 loss at Hull showed the West Brom can still create chances, and their performance on Humberside merited more, but perhaps the team of two months ago might have had the devilment to make the big moments pay.
It’s clear, though, that Corberan is an excellent coach who can maximize his resources, which will be incredibly valuable to the West Midlanders, at a time where due to mismanagement, they rely on loans – of financial and footballing descriptions – to get by.
Wigan solidified
Had Shaun Maloney taken charge when Leam Richardson left, Wigan would have given themselves a good chance of getting out of trouble.
The 40-year-old is a club legend in these parts – it was him who put in the corner for Ben Watson’s 2013 FA Cup-winning header against Manchester City – and his presence has galvanized the club.
Of course, this alone won’t make Maloney a great ‘Tics manager, but there has been improved organisation since he took charge, with just 4 goals conceded in six games – only Blackburn, Burnley and Coventry have shipped fewer.
Jack Whatmough has been outstanding under the new gaffer, fellow centre-back Charlie Hughes has come to the fore, too, after impressing for the under-21s, while Christ Tiehi – brought in under Kolo Toure – has proved a real dynamic presence in midfield.
Despite this, the West Lancashire outfit are still 6 points off safety with a game in hand – and that’s to a Cardiff side who are resurgent under Sabri Lamouchi – they are in fact 7 points off Birmingham and QPR, whose form suggests are more catchable.
The tactics board
Wigan will have to attack the game at the Hawthorns at some stage, but that might not be in the first half. Maloney’s side may intend to keep things tight in the opening 45 minutes, then press further up after the interval as the stakes raise. Three of the Latics’ four goals under Maloney have come in the second half.
An attacking trio, though, of Danel Sinani, Ashley Fletcher and Thelo Aasgaard, though, is capable of causing problems at certain moments, with the right support.
Plus, Fletcher’s athleticism could be a problem for an Albion defence that can be vulnerable from crosses and set pieces, with a defensive pairing of Dara O’Shea and Erik Pieters, neither of whom being aerially dominant.
The betting tips
Half-Time/Full-Time: Draw/Wigan looks an appealing outside shout at 11/1 with PaddyPower, while Ashley Fletcher to score in a 1-0 away win is as big as 67/1!
Fletcher has scored two in his last four games and has brought an impeccable work ethic to the Latics: after a tough few seasons through injury, the 27-year-old looks well and truly back to his best.
Draw HT/ Wigan FT @ 11/1 with Paddy Power
Ashley Fletcher to Score Anytime & Wigan to Win 1-0 @ 67/1 with Paddy Power
All odds correct at time of writing.
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