United will be looking to build on last weekend’s 2-1 win over Morecambe as they prepare to face Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium…
Sam Smith and Joe Ironside’s 18th and 15th goals respectively mathematically secured Cambridge United’s place in League One next season, after seeing off Morecambe at the Abbey last Saturday.
How to watch:
Tickets for Saturday evening’s 5:15pm clash at the DW Stadium are still available for fans to buy, however fans can only do so on the day from the Wigan Athletic ticket office (cash only), priced at the following:
Adult: £10
Under 12: £5
Under 5: £2
For those not making the trip, the match will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports UHD, with coverage from the DW Stadium starting at 5pm.
Opposition watch:
The Latics can all but secure promotion to the Championship with a win against the U’s on Saturday, with all three points, depending on Rotherham’s result against Ipswich, potentially stretching Wigan’s lead over 3rdplace to 10 points.
Leam Richardson’s side head into Saturday’s clash having gone the previous nine games undefeated in League One, their second longest undefeated run of the season.
Despite not being able to break down a resolute Brewer’s defence on Tuesday, the Latics stretched their gap between themselves and third placed Rotherham to seven points, after the Millers were comfortably beaten by Portsmouth.
Form:
Wigan Athletic form: WDWWD
Cambridge United form: LWWLW
How the U’s go into Saturday’s clash:
Goals from Sam Smith and Joe Ironside, either side of Cole Stockton’s equaliser helped Mark Bonner's men to a 14th league win of the season and with just four games to go, the goal is now to secure a top half finish to complete a remarkable first season back in the third tier.
Having played the last two in front of the Abbey crowd, Saturday’s clash will be United’s first away from home since they sealed a memorable 1-0 win over then play-off chasing Ipswich at Portman Road.
George Williams is expected to be fit to face Wigan on Saturday, with the boss confirming the fullback had been in training all week after missing last weekend’s clash with Morecambe.
However, Sam Sherring’s season may have come to a premature end, after the defender hobbled off on Saturday, “Sam Sherring isn’t looking so good, we had a scan on Monday and it didn’t return too well for him, so he’ll see a specialist next week – so he’ll definitely miss the next two games.
“Until we get past the Charlton game on Tuesday, we won’t know whether he will be able to contribute to the season anymore.”
Down Memory Lane:
November’s Abbey clash saw Cambridge United and Wigan meet competitively for the first time in almost two decades. Andy Liddell’s second half hattrick sealed all three points for the Latics in a 4-1 win at the then named JJB Stadium back in 2002.
November’s clash saw U’s head coach Mark Bonner celebrate his birthday with a point against the Latics, however it could have easily of been all three. Joe Ironside and Adam May had initially given United a two-goal lead before Will Keane and Callum Lang salvaged a point for the visitors in the final 10 minutes.
Saturday’s hosts Wigan boast a historical advantage over the U’s, having won five of the 15 clashes between both sides, three better than United’s two wins.
The U’s last tasted victory over Wigan back on Boxing Day of 1995, as Tommy Taylor’s side ran out 2-1 winners over Wigan in front of 2,855 at the Abbey Stadium. United’s only other victory came en route to the U’s eventual promotion to the old Second Division (now Championship) in April 1991, with John Beck’s running out 1-0 victors on the day.
Head-to-head:
Wigan Athletic wins: 5
Cambridge United wins: 2
Draws: 8
Officials:
Ross Joyce will referee Saturday afternoon’s game at the Abbey, having previously overseen Charlton Athletic’s 1-0 win over Rotherham United in League Two a week ago.
It will be the first time since the U’s 1-0 defeat to Stevenage last season that Joyce has taken charge of one of United’s games.
Joyce will be joined by assistants Matthew Smith and Joe Clark ahead of Saturday’s clash, with Tom Neild being appointed as the game’s fourth official.