Northampton Town and Wigan Athletic will conclude the 2024-25 campaign with a League One clash at Sixfields Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Latics are looking to complete the double over the Cobblers after winning 2-1 in the reverse fixture at the Brick Community Stadium in November.
Match preview
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Northampton secured their League One status for a second year running with a comfortable 4-1 home win over basement club Shrewsbury Town, but they were unable to pick up maximum points in their final away match of the season, as they suffered a 3-0 defeat at Crawley Town last weekend.
Head coach Kevin Nolan was livid at full time and has apologised to the Cobblers supporters who witnessed one of the 'worst performance' since the 42-year-old took the reins at the end of December last year.
Nolan is already planning for the future and is excited to get stuck into his first summer transfer window as Northampton boss, as well as evolve the club's style of play that he hopes will help turn the club's fortunes around next season.
The Cobblers still have one final match to prepare for, though, and they could move up two places from 19th spot if they beat Wigan and both Peterborough United and Mansfield Town both fail to come out on top in their respective fixtures.
However, success on Saturday could prove challenging for Northampton, as they have lost their last two away games and have also won only one of their last 12 meetings with Wigan across all competitions - a 3-2 away win in the third tier in October 2020.
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Wigan are still in with a chance of sneaking into the top half of the League One table after Ronan Darcy came off the substitutes' bench to net a 96th-minute equaliser in Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Burton Albion.
The Latics have extended their unbeaten run to seven games (W2 D5), with six points collected across their last four away matches (W1 D3), while they have now drawn 16 times in the third tier this season, the joint-most along with Blackpool.
Ryan Lowe has only won two of his 10 games in charge off Wigan since his appointment in mid-March, though, and he is hoping to end the season on a high by beating Northampton to potentially climb up to 12th in the table - they currently sit 16th and three points behind Barnsley in 12th who face playoff hopefuls Reading on the final day.
Wigan have scored the fewest goals in League One this term (38), netting eight goals in their last eight games, but they have also conceded the joint-third fewest goals in the division (41), with their commitment to tight contests having been a common theme throughout 2024-25.
The Latics will back themselves to come away with a positive result this weekend, as they are unbeaten in their last six visits to Northampton (W5 D1) since losing 1-0 in the third tier back in February 2001.
Team News
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Northampton's Tom Eaves, Callum Morton, Jack Sowerby and Jon Guthrie remain sidelined through injury, while Sam Hoskins and TJ Eyoma are also set to miss out.
In-form Dara Costelloe has scored four goals in his last five appearances and could retain his place in the final third along with top scorer Cameron McGeehan, who has 10 goals to his name, while the likes of Luke Mbete, Tariqe Fosu, Will Hondermarck and Max Dyche - son of Sean Dyche - will all be hoping to force their way into the first XI.
As for Wigan, Liverpool loanee Luke Chambers remains out with a back problem, while 20-year-old Joe Adams and Will Goodwin are also sidelined with respective ACL and thigh injuries.
Dale Taylor, who has scored a team-high 10 goals this season, is the club's only recognised number nine available and is therefore expected to continue in the first XI, while Callum McManaman, Chris Sze and Maleace Asamoah are among those competing to start alongside him in attack.
Northampton Town possible starting lineup:
Burge; Odimayo, Magloire, Guinness-Walker; McGowan, Taylor, Perry, Pinnock; McGeehan, Fosu; Costelloe
Wigan Athletic possible starting lineup:
Tickle; Carragher, Sibbick, Aimson; Smith, Mellish, Adeeko, Weir, Dale; Asamoah, Taylor
We say: Northampton Town 1-1 Wigan Athletic
Both teams will be hoping to put on an entertaining show and will endeavour to end the season on a high by claiming maximum points this weekend, although goals have been hard to come by in games involving Wigan this term.
Aside from their convincing win over basement club Shrewsbury, Northampton's recent form on home soil has left little to be desired and they may have to settle for a share of the spoils on this occasion.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Oliver Thomas
