Combining the new manager bounce issue with Rovers’ unconvincing displays means that we should steer clear of the 1X2 market but there is a case for expecting few goals in this match. Wigan have struggled for goals all season and it is a mixture of not having forward players who are up to the level of the Championship but also not creating enough chances. Steven Caulker came in in January and is already 4th on their list of highest shot takers per 90, this demonstrates their problems in open play.

Meanwhile, Blackburn are fairly tight at home, keeping five clean sheets in their last ten home matches. Meanwhile, they have made Wigan look like Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle in terms of attacking verve. They have the lowest xG total generated across the whole division, relying on good finishing and defensive capability to get results.

The return of Bradley Dack to the Blackburn starting XI has been one of the positive storylines to come out of Rovers’ season. The talisman of the club has suffered ACL injuries in both knees over the last two/three years, the first one sustained at Wigan.

In the first few months of Jon Dahl Tomasson’s reign, it didn’t look as though Dack was going to feature in the Dane’s plans. However, after some appearances in the U21 side to build his match fitness, the former Gillingham player has established himself back in the first team and is beginning to show glimpses of the form that made him one of the most wanted players outside of the top flight.

In a decent goalscoring run of form, Dack’s greatest skill is finding space in the box to make himself available for a cross or cutback. With Blackburn being under the initiative to play forward in this match it seems even more likely that Dack will be a shot threat. His finishing is the best at the club, he is once more the biggest goal threat in the Blackburn side and he can be backed to hit the target at least once here.

The referee for this clash is Matt Donohue and he is averaging over 3.5 cards per Championship match so far this term. His recent record is even more card happy than that as well.

In officiating the Middlesbrough vs Millwall match last time out he gave out 6 yellow cards, and one has to go back to the middle of November to find the last time that Donohue dished out fewer than 4 cards in a Championship match.

Add into this record the fact that Blackburn vs Wigan has become something of a heated rivalry ever since the two clubs contested for promotion out of League One in 2017 and there is the potential for a bit of a battle. Indeed, this preview began with the reasons why this match is a big one for both sides. The Wigan players will be fired up to make a big impression on their new manager and Blackburn should be desperate to get back into the playoffs with a win and there is a sense of frustration in the club at the moment.

Within those cards, there is a decent chance that the name of James McClean will be one of them. Having played more minutes than any  outfield player other than Max Power for Wigan we can be fairly confident that he will have the whole match to get into the book and there is no doubt that he will be busy.

In recent matches, Blackburn have used their right-hand side effectively to attack from. Joe Rankin-Costello is deputising for Callum Brittain at right-back and as his match fitness has increased, as has his effectiveness and quality. He is now a key weapon in Blackburn’s armoury and due to his style of play, he is involved in a lot of Blackburn’s play.

Sorba Thomas has arrived at the club in January as well and having played in a U21 match last week should be ready to at least play some part in this game. With his pace, directness and quality he will be a threat down the Rovers right as well. If Thomas doesn’t start then Ryan Hedges may do so and he is no less difficult to defend against with his skill and technique on the ball.

McClean has made double the tackles of any of his Wigan teammates over the last 10 matches and also conceded more fouls than any other Wigan player. He has been cautioned twice in that time but is probably due another at his level of activity and he will be tested in this game.