Wigan vs Blackpool: Match Preview, Predictions and Betting Tips
Published on Sunday, 20 September 2026 by Steve
Wigan Athletic vs Blackpool Prediction, Betting Tips & Match Preview
EFL Trophy Prediction & Betting Tips
Match Overview
Recent Blackpool rest for midfielder explained ahead of AFC Wimbledon test
Wigan Athletic host Blackpool in Northern Group B of the 2026/27 EFL Trophy on Tuesday night, with both League One clubs looking for a lift after difficult weekends. Wigan began their Trophy campaign with an entertaining 3-2 victory over Aston Villaâs Under-21 side on 18 August, but their league form has remained a major concern. Gary Caldwellâs team have collected only four points from their opening seven League One fixtures and slipped to the foot of the table following Saturdayâs 1-0 home defeat by Wycombe Wanderers. The short turnaround offers an immediate opportunity to change the mood, although the demanding fixture list also makes squad rotation essential. Supporters following our latest-match analysis approach will recognise that cup results can often provide a more accurate gauge of a squadâs depth than league position alone.
Blackpool also arrive at the Brick Community Stadium searching for stability. Ian Evattâs side have eight points from seven League One matches but were beaten 4-2 by Plymouth Argyle at Bloomfield Road on Saturday despite goals from Jordan Brown and Jerry Yates. That result extended a worrying sequence for the Seasiders, who have won only once in their last six matches in all competitions. Their opening three league performances suggested genuine play-off potential, including an emphatic 4-0 win over Peterborough United, but September has brought defensive disruption and a lengthy injury list. With this their first EFL Trophy group game, Evatt must decide whether to prioritise progression or use the contest to protect senior players ahead of the international break.
The geographical proximity of the clubs adds an unmistakable competitive edge. These North West rivals know each other well and will meet again in League One at Bloomfield Road in November and at the Brick Community Stadium in March. Wigan are currently dealing with the greater pressure because of their league position, while Blackpool need to rediscover the defensive control that made them one of Augustâs most impressive third-tier sides. An open cup tie is therefore likely. Both coaches are expected to make changes, but neither will want to lose momentum before domestic competition resumes. Readers seeking further matchday material or wishing to ask a question about this preview can visit the editorial contact page.
Tactical Preview
James McClean #11 of Wigan Athletic holds the ball as Josh Bowler #11 of Blackpool pressures during the Sky Bet Championship match Blackpool vs Wigan Athletic at Bloomfield Road, Blackpool, United Kingdom,
Formation & Key Matchups
Wigan Athletic 3-4-2-1
Wigan are expected to retain the three-centre-back structure that has been Caldwellâs preferred starting point during the 2026/27 campaign. The system allows Connor Barrett and Archie Harris to advance as wing-backs while Max Power provides leadership and positional discipline in the middle. Charlie Grayâs loan arrival from Manchester City gives Caldwell another mobile option alongside the more experienced members of the midfield, with Dara Costelloe and Chris Sze operating behind Scott Hogan. The key is whether Wigan can move the ball quickly enough into the two attacking midfielders. In their league defeats, possession has too often become sterile, with the final pass arriving after Blackpoolâs defensive shape has already been set. Against a Blackpool side that likes to press aggressively, first-time passes into the half-spaces could be particularly effective.
Blackpool 3-4-2-1
Blackpoolâs 3-4-2-1 remains recognisably Evatt in style: a confident back three, aggressive wing-backs, a double pivot prepared to compete for second balls and two creative players supporting a central striker. Josh Bowler will be the main threat when he receives on the right half-turn, while Tom Bloxham can drift between the lines and Jerry Yates offers strong movement across the front. Leighton Clarkson is important to the tempo, particularly if Albie Morgan is rested after starting regularly. Blackpoolâs high defensive line can squeeze Wiganâs build-up, but it also leaves space in behind when the wing-backs are caught high. Their 4-0 victory against Peterborough showed the system at its most fluid; the 4-4 defeat by Plymouth showed how quickly it can become stretched when the first press is bypassed.
Critical Vulnerability
The decisive area should be the space behind the two wing-backs. Wiganâs Barrett and Harris will try to pin Blackpoolâs wide defenders, but that can leave three central defenders exposed to Bowlerâs direct running and Bloxhamâs clever link play. At the opposite end, Blackpoolâs advanced wing-backs could leave room for Costelloe and Sze to counter into the channels. Both teams are also operating with defensive absences, increasing the possibility of set-piece chaos and second-phase goals. Neither side has been reliable when protecting a lead this season, which strongly supports a high-scoring draw rather than a controlled, low-tempo cup match.
Team News & Squad Status
Wigan Athletic đ
- 2026/27 squad options: Joe Walsh, Joe Whitworth and Ewan Dodgson are the senior goalkeeping options. The defensive group includes Connor Barrett, Morgan Fox, Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen, Finley Burns, Archie Harris, Llyton Chapman, KâMarni Miller, Jon Mellish, James Carragher and Sam Bolland. Midfield and attacking depth is provided by Jensen Weir, Fraser Murray, Max Power, Reggie Walsh, Ryan Trevitt, Charlie Gray, Chris Sze, Harrison Rimmer, Reece Greenhalgh, Sonny Perkins, Dara Costelloe, Akeel Higgins, Callum McManaman, Scott Hogan and Bradley Burrowes.
- Luke Harris: The Fulham loanee is the principal injury concern and is not expected to be available. His absence removes one of Wiganâs more inventive options between the lines.
- Scott Hogan: The experienced Republic of Ireland forward joined on a short-term deal on 12 September and is pushing for a first start. His movement could be particularly useful against a reshuffled Blackpool back three.
- Goalkeeper decision: Joe Whitworth and Joe Walsh are both available. Whitworth is predicted to start because the Trophy provides a logical opportunity to manage the goalkeeper workload.
- Loan players: Reggie Walsh, Charlie Gray and Bradley Burrowes are all eligible, while Adam Moseley is currently gaining match rhythm on loan at Southport and Maleace Asamoah is at Port Vale.
- Rotation plan: Caldwell used the competition to introduce younger and less-established players against Aston Villa U21. Expect a blend rather than a completely reserve side, especially after the defeat by Wycombe.
Blackpool âïž
- 2026/27 squad options: Bailey Peacock-Farrell remains the first-choice goalkeeper. Defensive cover includes Andy Lyons, Zac Ashworth, Oliver Casey, Fraser Horsfall, Hayden Coulson, Michael Ihiekwe, Ilmari Niskanen, Finley Munroe, Jordan Williams and Josh Earl. Jordan Brown, Leighton Clarkson, Albie Morgan, George Honeyman, Karoy Anderson and CJ Hamilton provide midfield depth, with Josh Bowler, Jerry Yates, Tom Bloxham, Dion Charles, Niall Ennis and Dale Taylor available in attack.
- Fraser Horsfall and Michael Ihiekwe: Both central defenders remain unavailable. Horsfall is still in a protective boot following complicated summer ankle surgery, while Ihiekwe continues to recover from surgery and a toe problem.
- CJ Hamilton: The winger faces approximately ten to twelve weeks out after suffering a serious knee injury against Barnsley.
- George Honeyman: The captainâs calf issue is expected to keep him out until after the forthcoming international break.
- Niall Ennis and Dale Taylor: Both forwards are recovering from hamstring injuries and are targeting a return around the Cambridge United fixture on 10 October.
- Hayden Coulson and Oluchi Nwankwo: Coulson is managing a dead leg, while Nwankwo is recovering from a contact knee injury suffered in pre-season.
- Zac Ashworth: The defender required treatment during the Plymouth match and will be assessed, although there has been no confirmation of another long-term absence.
- Selection outlook: Evatt could rest Albie Morgan or Dion Charles, but Bowler, Clarkson and Yates are strong candidates to retain attacking continuity.
Predicted Lineups
Blackpool 1-0 Wigan: Early Jerry Yates goal seals win for Tangerines | Football News | Sky Sports
| Wigan Athletic 3-4-2-1 | Blackpool 3-4-2-1 |
|---|---|
| Joe Whitworth | Bailey Peacock-Farrell |
| James Carragher | Jordan Williams |
| Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen | Oliver Casey |
| Jon Mellish | Josh Earl |
| Connor Barrett | Andy Lyons |
| Max Power | Jordan Brown |
| Charlie Gray | Leighton Clarkson |
| Archie Harris | Finley Munroe |
| Dara Costelloe | Josh Bowler |
| Chris Sze | Tom Bloxham |
| Scott Hogan | Jerry Yates |
Head-to-Head Record
Blackpool hold a narrow historical advantage over Wigan. The clubs have met 23 times in major competitive football, with the Seasiders winning 11, Wigan winning eight and the other four fixtures ending in draws. Blackpool have also scored more goals across the overall rivalry. Recent meetings have generally been tight, although Blackpool won 2-0 at the Brick Community Stadium in December 2025 and have avoided defeat in the last four competitive encounters. Wiganâs most recent victory in the fixture came in March 2024, when a 1-0 home success briefly interrupted Blackpoolâs stronger sequence.
The most recent meeting was a 1-1 draw at Bloomfield Road in March 2026. Before that, Blackpoolâs 2-0 win at Wigan in December 2025 demonstrated their ability to exploit direct channels and second balls, while the two 2024/25 league encounters both finished level. The tactical pattern is familiar: Wigan usually attempt to control possession, while Blackpool are most dangerous when they turn the contest into a faster, more physical game. With both coaches expected to rotate, the established head-to-head trend may matter less than which bench adapts more effectively during the second half. A draw after 90 minutes would also send the contest directly to a penalty shootout for the additional group point, an important quirk of the current EFL Trophy format.
Key Players Comparison
Dara Costelloe vs Josh Bowler
Costelloe has scored twice in all competitions and offers Wigan a direct threat from either flank. Bowler has three goals and remains Blackpoolâs most capable player at beating a defender in a one-against-one situation. His acceleration against Mellish or a rotated left-sided centre-back could decide the duel.
Jensen Weir vs Leighton Clarkson
Weir has also scored twice and gives Wigan a reliable late-arriving presence around the penalty area. Clarkson is more of a tempo setter, capable of switching play quickly and finding Bowler before Wiganâs defensive line can recover. The midfield battle will determine which team establishes sustained pressure.
Scott Hogan vs Jerry Yates
Hoganâs experience and diagonal movement should create space for Costelloe and Sze even if he is still building full match sharpness. Yates scored in the Plymouth defeat and knows this fixture well from his previous spell with Blackpool. Both forwards are intelligent runners rather than purely physical target players.
Wiganâs attacking threat has been spread across several players rather than concentrated in one prolific scorer. Weir and Costelloe lead their current all-competitions tally with two goals each, while Sonny Perkins, Akeel Higgins and Max Power have also contributed. That variety can be useful, but it also reflects the lack of a consistently dominant centre-forward. Hoganâs arrival is intended to address that issue, and this competition could provide the ideal environment for him to develop sharpness. Blackpool possess a slightly clearer hierarchy: Bowler is the principal creator and direct scorer, Bloxham supplies secondary goals and clever movement, while Yates offers familiarity and penalty-area instinct. Clarksonâs set-piece delivery gives the visitors another route to goal, particularly against Wiganâs youthful or rotated defensive unit.
The Managers
Gary Caldwell
Caldwellâs 2026 summer rebuild has altered the look of Wiganâs squad, with Max Power returning to provide leadership, Sonny Perkins adding youthful attacking energy, Finley Burns strengthening central defence and Joe Whitworth competing in goal. The Wigan head coach wants his side to build from the back and use the wing-backs to create width, but the early league results have highlighted familiar issues with consistency and chance conversion. The 3-2 Trophy victory over Aston Villa U21 was useful because it allowed several squad players to build relationships, yet the subsequent league defeats showed that depth must be converted into control rather than merely fresh legs.
The pressure on Caldwell has increased after the home loss to Wycombe, even at this early stage of the season. A Trophy match three days later is not an ideal scenario, but it does provide an opportunity to restore confidence before the break. His selection will reveal the balance he wants: enough experience to avoid another damaging defeat, but enough rotation to protect players for the league. If Wigan can score first, Caldwell is likely to encourage his midfield to stay aggressive rather than retreat immediately, although his team have not always managed game states well this season.
Ian Evatt
Evatt has made Blackpool one of League Oneâs more front-foot teams, with an emphasis on controlled aggression, quick combinations and wing-backs advancing high up the pitch. The early season suggested significant progress, particularly in the victories over Stockport County, Peterborough United and Grimsby Town. However, the injury list has stripped away valuable experience at exactly the moment when the fixture schedule has become congested. The 4-2 defeat by Plymouth was not short of attacking intent, but the ease with which Blackpool were opened up during transitions will concern Evatt.
Evattâs challenge on Tuesday is to generate a response without exacerbating his injury problems. He has enough attacking quality to trouble Wigan, yet the defensive absences make it difficult to maintain his usual level of pressing for the full match. Rotation is inevitable, but Blackpool cannot afford to lose structure completely because Wiganâs attacking midfielders are capable of exploiting loose spacing. Evatt will probably ask his side to start quickly, use Bowler early and attempt to establish control before making second-half changes.
Betting Predictions & Tips
Odds: 1.63
Wiganâs Trophy opener against Aston Villa U21 produced five goals, while Blackpoolâs defeat by Plymouth contained six. Both teams have shown enough defensive vulnerability to justify an attacking selection. Wigan have conceded 12 league goals, Blackpool have conceded 13, and each side is likely to field at least a partially rotated back line. The 2-2 prediction requires both attacks to convert several of the transitions that should be available. Over 2.5 goals at 1.63 is therefore the strongest mainstream market rather than trying to identify an unreliable winner in a competition renowned for squad changes.
Odds: 13.50
A 2-2 draw combines the strongest attacking trends with the likely impact of rotation and the rivalsâ recent head-to-head pattern. Three of the last five league meetings between these sides have ended level, including the most recent fixture in March. Wigan should create through Costelloe, Sze and Hogan, while Blackpoolâs front three possess enough pace and movement to score twice even away from home. This is a value selection rather than the safest wager, but it fits the projected match script more naturally than a narrow home or away victory.
Odds: 1.58
Blackpool have scored in every match they have played this season, while Wigan have found the net in their two cup fixtures and in several league performances despite their poor results. Neither defence arrives with a convincing clean-sheet profile. Wigan may use Hogan for the first time from the start, and Blackpool still possess Bowler, Bloxham and Yates even if Morgan or Charles are rested. Both Teams to Score at 1.58 is a logical supporting wager for the predicted 2-2 scoreline.
Odds: 3.40
The draw is attractive because Wiganâs home advantage is balanced by Blackpoolâs stronger League One record and Wiganâs greater need to rotate. The visitors may have the more settled attacking combinations, but their absent defenders and Saturdayâs heavy defeat reduce the confidence behind an away win. Wigan, meanwhile, have lost four of their seven league matches and cannot be trusted at a short home price. At 3.40, the 90-minute draw offers strong value and would also take the group contest to a penalty shootout.
Odds: 6.00
This higher-risk option anticipates a cautious opening from two teams playing only three days after important league fixtures. Managers often use the first half of an EFL Trophy match to assess mixed lineups before introducing greater attacking urgency after half-time. Wigan may take time to establish combinations involving Hogan, while Blackpoolâs reshaped defence could initially remain compact. If the first half finishes level, the increased space in the second period can still produce the two goals needed on each side for our 2-2 forecast. Please read our responsible-gambling guide before placing any wager and ensure you understand the applicable terms and conditions.
đ Final Score Prediction
Match Analysis
The predicted 2-2 draw is based on the attacking quality both sides retain despite likely rotation. Wigan need a response after the Wycombe defeat and should have enough pace through Costelloe and Sze to exploit the space left by Blackpoolâs advanced wing-backs. Hoganâs movement may create the first goal, while set pieces and second balls offer additional routes to score. However, Wiganâs young or rotated defensive structure is unlikely to keep Bowler quiet for the entire match, and Yates has the penalty-area awareness to take advantage of any loose clearances.
Blackpool should also create repeatedly in transition. Bowlerâs direct running against a back three that may not have played together regularly is a major advantage, while Clarkson can dictate the tempo if given time. The visitorsâ issue is defensive cohesion rather than attacking potential. With Horsfall, Ihiekwe and several other senior players unavailable, they may struggle to protect the box during sustained second-half pressure. Expect goals at both ends, a lively finish and a draw after 90 minutes, potentially followed by a shootout for the extra group point.
Key Insights & Statistics
- Wigan beat Aston Villa U21 3-2 in their opening EFL Trophy group match on 18 August.
- Blackpool are playing their first group fixture after beginning the competition with a bye in the opening round of fixtures.
- Wigan have won only one of their last six matches in all competitions.
- Blackpool have also recorded only one victory across their previous six fixtures in all competitions.
- Wigan have scored five league goals and conceded 12 in their opening seven League One matches.
- Blackpool have scored 13 league goals but have already conceded the same number.
- Three of the last five league meetings between Wigan and Blackpool have ended in draws.
- Blackpool have won two of the last four competitive meetings and remain unbeaten across that sequence.
- Josh Bowler has scored three goals in all competitions, making him Blackpoolâs most productive current attacker.
- Jensen Weir and Dara Costelloe have scored twice apiece for Wigan this season.
- Blackpool are without Fraser Horsfall, Michael Ihiekwe, CJ Hamilton, George Honeyman, Niall Ennis, Dale Taylor, Hayden Coulson and Oluchi Nwankwo.
- Wigan are expected to be without injured loan midfielder Luke Harris.
- Scott Hogan became a Wigan player on 12 September and is a strong candidate to make his first start.
- The EFL Trophy awards an additional point to the winner of a post-match penalty shootout if the game is drawn after 90 minutes.
- European decimal odds currently price Over 2.5 goals at 1.63, Both Teams to Score at 1.58 and the full-time draw at 3.40.
- Both defences are missing personnel, while both attacks contain enough pace to exploit the space behind high wing-backs.
Conclusion
Wigan versus Blackpool arrives with both clubs in need of a positive result, albeit for slightly different reasons. Wigan are trying to stop a poor league run from damaging confidence further, while Blackpool are attempting to rediscover the structure and intensity that made them early-season promotion contenders. The league table suggests an away advantage, but the Trophy context, short recovery period and Blackpoolâs lengthy injury list substantially narrow that gap. The match is likely to be more open than either manager would ideally prefer.
Our main betting recommendation is Over 2.5 goals at 1.63, supported by Both Teams to Score at 1.58 and the 90-minute draw at 3.40. The value selection is a 2-2 correct score at 13.50, reflecting both the teamsâ defensive issues and their shared ability to create in transition. The speculative half-time/full-time draw can provide a higher-return alternative for those expecting a cautious opening. Keep stakes measured, monitor the confirmed lineups and check the latest prices before kick-off because cup rotation can significantly alter the market.
The final prediction is Wigan Athletic 2-2 Blackpool after 90 minutes. Wiganâs attacking depth and home support should produce goals, but Blackpoolâs front players have too much quality to be contained by a defence that has struggled for consistency. A shootout could follow for the additional group point, with Wiganâs Trophy experience potentially giving them an edge. For further information about how we handle reader data, please review our privacy policy.