Premier League preview: Bolton v Wigan

Relegation battlers Wigan face a tough challenge when they travel to the Reebok Stadium to face in-form Bolton on Wednesday.

Owen Coyle has led his Bolton side to seventh place in the Premier League standings, and the Trotters have unexpectedly become strong candidates for a Europa League berth.

While Coyle’s men have struggled on the road of late following defeats to Chelsea and Liverpool over the busy Christmas and New Year period, their home form has been much more promising given they have lost just once in 12 matches at the Reebok Stadium.

Wigan, by contrast, are one point and one spot outside of the relegation zone, and their lack of firepower up front has left many to believe that Roberto Martinez’s team are in freefall towards the Championship.

On top of the fact that Martinez’s side have the fewest goals in the Premier League (17), they have scored only nine goals in 11 Premier League games against Bolton.

In team news, Wigan will be without winger Charles N’Zogbia who will serve the second match of a three-game suspension, while Victor Moses and James McCarthy both remain on the injured list.

For Bolton, Ricardo Gardner, Gretar Rafn Steinsson, Jlloyd Samuel, Sean Davis and Joey O’Brien will all be unavailable for Coyle on Wednesday.

Bolton won the corresponding fixture 4-0 last season, with the goals credited to Johan Elmander, Kevin Davies, Fabrice Muamba and Matthew Taylor.