Wigan vs Blackpool prediction: expert analysis, possible lineups, September 22, 2026
EFL Trophy England
On September 22, 2026, Wigan and Blackpool will face off in the first round of the EFL Trophy. Both sides will be hoping to come away with a positive result.
Wigan - Blackpool team news and expert analysis
Athletic picked up 56 points in League One last season, finishing 16th. This time around, they were knocked out of the League Cup at the first hurdle, losing to Barnsley on penalties after a draw. They have also struggled for much of their league campaign. In their latest outing, they suffered a 0-1 defeat to Wycombe.
The club from Bloomfield Road enjoyed a slightly more successful 2025/2026 campaign, collecting 60 points and finishing 13th. They have also looked stronger so far this season: in the League Cup, they beat Grimsby before losing to Lincoln, while in the league they had recorded at least as many wins as defeats at the start. However, their form then faded, culminating in a 2-4 defeat to Plymouth.
Caldwell's side score an average of 0.71 goals per game while conceding 1.71. Anderson and company average 1.86 goals both scored and conceded per match.
Previous meetings: Wigan - Blackpool
Three of their last four meetings ended in draws, while Blackpool won away from home in December last year.
Neither side has been particularly impressive. However, Athletic have home advantage, so we are backing them to win while taking the precaution of using a "draw no bet" handicap (odds – 1.68).
Wigan - Blackpool: key statistics and trends
- Wigan have lost two of their last three matches
- 29% of Wigan Athletic matches end with both teams scoring, while the average total goals per game is 2.43
- Blackpool have lost three of their last four matches
- 86% of Blackpool matches end with both teams scoring, while the average total goals per game is 3.71
Wigan - Blackpool: probable starting lineups
Wigan play in a 1-3-4-2-1 formation (probable lineup): Whitworth - Fox, Burns, Carragher - Murray, Gray, Power, Weir - Harris, Costelloe - Perkins
Blackpool play in a 1-4-1-3-2 formation (probable lineup): Peacock-Farrell - Munro, Earl, Casey, Williams - Morgan - Clarkson, Anderson, Bowler - Charles, Yates
Place your bets on the upcoming match and follow your team's position in the EFL Trophy standings
