This Week's Opposition: Wigan Athletic

They have done it. Portsmouth are League One champions. After 12 years away, John Mousinho’s side are heading back to the Championship.

An incredible 3-2 win over Barnsley under the lights on Tuesday night ended with the fans on the pitch. An 89th minute header from Conor Shaughnessy secured not only promotion but the League One title too.

With 2 league games left this season, let’s take a look into the first side we face… Wigan Athletic.

MANAGER

Shaun Maloney is at the helm for The Latics.

The 41-year-old former Celtic, Wigan and Scottish international had a 16-year playing career and scored 63 goals from 309 appearances overall.

Maloney returned to manage Wigan in January 2023 and was unable to steer the club away from relegation back to League One last season. The Latics were dealt with an 8-point deduction at the start of the season.

ONE TO WATCH

Wigan’s youth project, Thelo Aasgaard is our own to look out for.

Aasgaard made his professional debut for The Latics back in October 2020 and he has since made 101 appearances, scoring 14 goals.

The 21-year-old had a solid start to the 2021/22 season, signing an improved 4-and-a-half year contract running until June 2026.

So far this campaign, the midfielder has scored 8 goals and made 3 assists.

The Norway international wears the number 10 shirt.

TOP SCORER

Steven Humphrys is Wigan's leading goalscorer this campaign.

The 26-year-old joined the club in July 2021. He scored 7 goals from 49 appearances in the 2021/22 campaign and helped lead the club to promotion to the 2nd tier.

After going out on loan last season, Humphrys has this year made a return to the club.

The forward has scored 9 goals so far this season and wears the number 11 shirt.

CURRENT FORM

Shaun Maloney’s side are currently sitting 15th in the table, accumulating 56 points.

Their last 5 games have produced 1 victory, 3 draws and 1 defeat. Their most recent game ended in a 2-1 win over Lincoln City, which ended The Imps’ 16-game unbeaten run which had been going since New Year’s Day.

That victory at Sincil Bank last weekend secured Wigan’s safety from another relegation.

The last time these teams met was at the DW Stadium in September, when the Blues came out on top with a 2-1 victory.

It is now time for Pompey's final League One home game of the season.

Can the Blues end the campaign with another record in the history books? 100 points is still a possibility for John Mousinho’s side and a win this weekend would take them up to 97 with 1 game to play.

Connor Moseley, Jake Smith and Dean Adams will have all of the unmissable action as Portsmouth host Wigan Athletic at Fratton Park this Saturday (April 20th) afternoon from 2pm.

Kick-off: 3pm!