Blackburn vs Wigan predictions: Rovers can edge entertaining clash
- Shaun Maloney takes charge of Wigan for the first time
- Latics are bottom of the Championship, Blackburn sit eighth
- Recommended bet: Blackburn to win and both teams to score
Blackburn host north-west rivals Wigan on Monday night in the Championship with Shaun Maloney taking charge of the struggling visitors for the first time.
The Latics opted to sack Kolo Toure last week after less than two months in charge, with the former Arsenal and Liverpool defender failing to win any of the nine league games he oversaw.
Maloney has been given the difficult task of getting Wigan, who are bottom and four points adrift of safety, out of relegation trouble but he faces a tough first game against Rovers, who are in play-off contention in the second tier.
Team news
Blackburn have a doubt over defender Daniel Ayala, who has an ankle knock, while boss Jon Dahl Tomasson could give new signing Sorba Thomas his debut against Wigan following the winger's recent loan move from Huddersfield Town.
On-loan midfielder Tyler Morton was left on the bench for the FA Cup replay win at Birmingham City last time out but is expected to come back into the starting line-up for the hosts.
Maloney has at least three new options as Wigan signed defenders Martin Kelly and Omar Rekik and attacking midfielder Danel Sinani all on loan before the deadline and all three are in contention to make their debuts at Ewood Park.
There is a bit of uncertainty over the make-up of the visitors with it being Maloney's first match in charge but he could ring the changes further.
Striker Josh Magennis, who came on as a sub in 2-0 defeat to Luton last time out, is vying for a start, as is experienced midfielder Tom Naylor.
The stats
Blackburn are just a point outside of the top six but have only won one of their last five Championship matches.
After FA Cup wins over Norwich and Birmingham recently, however, Tomasson's side have also only lost one of their last five in all competitions.
Previous Wigan boss Toure was sacked just short of two months into his time in charge, with his record reading: played nine, won zero, drew three, lost six.
The Latics have won just one of their last 17 matches in all competitions.
There are only 22-and-a-half miles separating the towns of Wigan and Blackburn and the games between the two sides are often entertaining affairs with four of the last seven in all competitions featuring over 2.5 goals.
Prediction
Blackburn are unsurprisingly the favourites to win the match, despite their recent indifferent form overall.
Tomasson's men, when they click, remain one of the better sides in the Championship and they have goals in them with the likes of in-form Bradley Dack and Ben Brereton Diaz, who has nine in the second tier so far this term.
Therefore, expect a home win but combining it with the visitors also scoring may be the way to go, considering Wigan should have a spring in their step having a new man in charge and are significantly bolstered by the recent loan arrivals of Kelly, Rekik and Sinani.
Wigan had been on a torrid run of form before Toure lost his job, losing six of their last nine games but they were at least still carrying a goal threat, scoring in all but one of those matches.
