Birmingham City make the trip to the Brick Community Stadium to face Wigan Athletic on Saturday afternoon looking to reclaim top spot in the League One table.
At a time when Blues sit in second place on goal difference, Wigan are down in 16th spot having played at least one fewer game than the majority of the teams around them.
Match preview
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Having put together an eight-match unbeaten run that has included six victories, Birmingham supporters cannot be too discouraged by their recent form.
Nevertheless, successive draws with Blackpool and Stockport County where they have netted just one goal is hardly the end to the Christmas and New Year period that they craved.
Chris Davies's team remain in the box seat for automatic promotion, though, with a two-point advantage over third-placed Wrexham having played two games fewer.
Leaders Wycombe Wanderers have also shown vulnerability of late and that can only encourage everyone associated with Birmingham as they bid to step up a gear.
The big negative of the recent streak of results is Birmingham's failure to score more than twice across their last 12 games, regardless of just two goals being conceded in eight outings.
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Wigan are no strangers to keeping things tight at the back with just 20 goals being conceded in their 22 league games, the joint-fourth best return in the division.
However, Shaun Maloney's team have prevailed in only four of their last 13 matches in the third tier of English football, losing six times.
The most recent reverse came at the hands of Wrexham on December 29, conceding in the last minute to see their three-match undefeated run come to an end.
Maloney's team have not been in action since that trip to North Wales courtesy of the New Year's Day encounter versus Huddersfield Town being postponed.
Team News
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Silko-Amari Thomas and Joe Hugill came off the substitutes' bench to combine for Wigan's goal versus Wrexham, putting them in contention for an opportunity here.
Jenson Weir could also be introduced in central midfield with three alterations a realistic possibility.
Davies may look to freshen up with Birmingham XI with a number of players pushing for a recall.
Marc Leonard and Lyndon Dykes are options in midfield and attack respectively, while Ethan Laird may return at full-back.
Emil Hansson and Keshi Anderson both miss out through injury.
Wigan Athletic possible starting lineup:
Tickle; Sibbick, Kerr, Aimson, Sessegnon; S. Smith; J. Smith, Weir, Aasgaard, Thomas; Hugill
Birmingham City possible starting lineup:
Allsop; Bielik, Klarer, Davies, Cochrane; Iwata, Paik; Gardner-Hickman, Leonard, Stansfield; Dykes
We say: Wigan Athletic 1-2 Birmingham City
With Wigan having a longer break from action, they should come into this match suitably refreshed. Nevertheless, we are backing Blues to battle their way to a potentially-crucial three points to kick-start their title charge.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Darren Plant
