Meet the opposition | Wigan Athletic
As Swansea City prepare to host Wigan on Saturday, we take a closer look at the Latics.
What’s their story?
After an eight-year Premier League run between 2005 and 2013, Wigan Athletic are looking to re-establish themselves in the Championship after a tough few seasons.
The Latics have been relegated to League One and promoted back up to the second tier twice in the last five years.
They first achieved this under former captain Gary Caldwell before current boss Paul Cook repeated the trick.
Their Premier League stint was a golden era for the club and – under former Swansea boss Roberto Martinez – won their first major honour by beating Manchester City to win the FA Cup in 2013.
Unfortunately, they were relegated the same season, but got to experience Europa League football the following season and came close to defending their FA Cup triumph when getting to the semi-finals.
How’s their form?
Difficult. The Latics have won just one of their last 15 Championship fixtures, a run that has seen them call into the relegation zone.
That victory came recently against Birmingham, a result that provided Wigan with a first away win of the season.
They have been solid enough defensively, having a better record than many teams around them, but their tally of 24 goals scored is the lowest in the division.
Who’s the boss?
Paul Cook. A former Wigan player, Cook joined the Latics as manager after leading Portsmouth to the League Two title in 2017.
The 51-year-old enjoyed a lengthy playing career as a central midfielder, including notable stints with the Latics, Wolves, Coventry City, and Burnley.
He moved into management with a short spell in charge of Southport, before enjoying a successful tenure at Irish club Sligo Rovers.
He moved on to Accrington Stanley and then to Chesterfield, guiding the latter to the League Two title in 2014 and successfully keeping them in League One the following season.
He took over the Latics following their relegation to League One but immediately led them to promotion back to the Championship by winning the title while also reaching to quarter-finals in the FA Cup – beating all-conquering Manchester City along the way.
Looking to consolidate following promotion. Cook and the Latics had some tough times last season, they managed to retain their place in the Championship with an 18th place finish.
Who are the key men?
Wales international Kieffer Moore may not have scored the goals he would like, but the former Barnsley striker has proved tremendously effective with his physical presence and hold-up play.
Everton product Antonee Robinson has made a mark at left-back with his pace and readiness to get forward, while winger Jamal Lowe has made a promising adaptation to life in the Championship after joining from Portsmouth.
Centre-half Chey Dunkley, meanwhile, tops the scoring charts with five goals and is a threat from set-pieces. The defender was the man who won the penalty for the Latics goal in the reverse fixture back at the start of November.
