Wigan Athletic vs Newcastle United. Sky Bet Championship.
DW StadiumAttendance14,562.
Monday 19 December 2016 09:41, UK
The Sky Bet Championship force of nature that is Newcastle United rolls into Wigan on Wednesday evening for game six of 10 in 10, live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7.30pm.
Rafa Benitez's men have won 14 of their last 18 Sky Bet Championship games and before losing to Blackburn on November 26, they had won nine straight games. It was the club's best winning run since 1994 under Kevin Keegan.
The Toon have the best away record in the Championship with 22 points, and have conceded just five goals away from St James' Park this season.
Wigan currently sit second bottom of the Championship, and have registered just four wins in the division all season.
Scoring goals has been a big problem for the Latics this season - they are the lowest scorers in the Championship with just 16.
They are currently on a joint club record run of four successive home league games without a goal and have failed to score in six of last seven games at the DW Stadium.
Team news
Wigan have a selection problem at right-back with Reece Burke heading back to his parent club West Ham in order to recover from a hip problem. Nathan Byre is back in training but will not be ready to play 90 minutes. Manager Warren Joyce has said Luke Garbutt will fill in at full-back.
Newcastle boss Benitez has selection dilemmas with Aleksandar Mitrovic, Ayoze Perez and Christian Atsu all coming into contention for a start.
Rob Elliot is back after nine months out and Benitez says he is in his plans and will battle for the No 1 spot with Karl Darlow and Matz Sels.
Opta stats
Wigan have won six of their seven home league meetings with Newcastle, losing the other in January 2011 (0-1).
Newcastle have scored just three goals in their seven league visits to the DW Stadium, and never more than once in a match.
The Latics have failed to score in nine of their last 13 league games (W3 D5 L5), including four of the last five.
Newcastle have won nine of their last 11 league games (L2), although their last defeat came in their most recent away trip.
Prutton's key men
PLAYER TO WATCH: Jussi Jaaskelainen (Wigan)
"As you'd expect from a man in his 40s, he's got plenty of experience. That's hugely important to Wigan, who benefit from his calming influence between the sticks."
PLAYER TO WATCH: Dwight Gayle (Newcastle)
"The Championship's top scorer brings a restless energy to Newcastle's attack. His link-up play is good, he works hard running in behind to keep defenders busy and is being rightly rewarded with the goals he's getting."
Prutton's prediction
Newcastle are flying while things are getting tougher for Wigan, who haven't scored in their last four home league games. That could be five after this one as Newcastle are so solid on the road. They've won 22 points away this season - a joint-high away points haul in the top four divisions with Scunthorpe - and conceded just five goals on the road.
PRUTTON PREDICTS: 0-3 (Sky Bet odds: 12/1)
