Founded: 1932
Nickname: The Latics
Honours: FA Cup 2012-13 League One Winners: 2002–03, 2015–16, 2017–18

When Wigan Athletic started its activity in 1932, which is relatively late for an English football club, had other local clubs such as Wigan County, Wigan Town, Wigan United and Wigan Borough existed for a while.

The Wigan club started climbing through the league system after finishing third in the Fourth Division in the 1981-82 season. After spending about two decades in Division 3 and Division 2, they could finally take the step to the top-flight in 2005. When they managed to stay in the exclusive Premier League for eight seasons in a row.

26/01/21 – Wigan Athletic 0 Northampton 0 – League One

A goalless draw for Northampton at Fleetwood lifted Keith Curle’s side out of the relegation zone.

The hosts continue to stutter and have not won since Joey Barton left Highbury five games ago.

Northampton threatened early on when Sam Hoskins lifted a shot narrowly over the top from the edge of the box.

Fleetwood replied with Harvey Saunders seeing a powerful effort deflected narrowly off target.

Home keeper Alex Cairns got the better of Ryan Edmondson in a one-on-one situation just past the half-hour mark.

As half-time approached Fleetwood midfielder Sam Finley curled a 25-yard effort just past the upright.

After the restart, Northampton striker Danny Rose met a cross from debutant Peter Kioso, only to head just wide.

Fleetwood replied with Paddy Madden firing a shot on the turn narrowly over.

Northampton substitute Ryan Watson twice went close to nicking victory late on. He curled a shot into the side-netting, before then drilling in a shot which Cairns saved well, diving at full length.

26/01/21 -Wigan Athletic 0 Blackpool 5 – League One

Ellis Simms scored twice in his first ever league appearance as Blackpool thrashed sorry Wigan 5-0.

After a dour first half on a difficult playing surface, the Seasiders stamped their mark on the game with two goals in the space of two minutes just before the interval.

First, Marvin Ekpiteta fired home from close range after Wigan goalkeeper Jamie Jones could only palm away the first effort.

Then, with three minutes of the half remaining, a Wigan defender appeared to help the ball into the path of Jerry Yates, who had a simple task to fire home past Jones.

Blackpool added a third goal after 53 minutes, and this time it was a decent move that opened up the home defence, allowing Matty Virtue to fire home from 15 yards.

The visitors almost added a fourth in the final quarter, but Jones stood up well to deny Simms.

But the on-loan Everton striker was not to be denied, and scored his first goal for the club with three minutes to go from all of a yard.

And he added number five in stoppage time with another finish from close range that was far, far too easy.

31 October 2020 – Wigan Athletic 2 Northampton Town 0

A grandstand finish was not enough to secure a point for Wigan as Northampton edged a League One thriller 3-2.

Visitors Northampton – who had lost each of their five visits to Wigan’s home since 1999 – took the lead in the 13th minute.

It was former Wigan academy starlet Ryan Watson who got the last touch, with Jamie Jones unable to get across in time.

It was 2-0 just eight minutes later, with Sam Hoskins taking advantage of some poor defending to walk through the middle before slotting into the net.

Credit must go to Wigan for their response in the second half, and it was game on when Tom Pearce was tripped in the box in the 63rd minute.

Skipper Joe Garner made no mistake from the spot, but the visitors took only three minutes to re-establish their two-goal advantage.

Chris Merrie gave the ball away cheaply, and he was punished as Caleb Chukwuemeka made no mistake from inside the area.

Still Wigan refused to throw in the towel, and Tom James made it 3-2 with a brilliant header from Pearce’s left-wing cross.

And it was almost 3-3 with five minutes to go, when Scotland Under-19s striker Kyle Joseph – off the bench for his league debut – turned sharply before seeing his low shot come back off the post.

Played	Won	Draw	Lost	F	A
36	6	12	18	31	52

Biggest Win over Wigan	05/11/1989 – 3-1 W – Graham Carr
Biggest Loss over Wigan	13/04/1999 – 3-0 L – Kevin Broadhurst
First-Ever Game	28/10/1978 – 2-0 L – Mike Keen

Ian Benjamin

Our played for both focus this week you can look at his playing record here. to view the players record log in to you free Cobblers Past account.

Playing Record

The Tyne and Wear-based official will travel to the PTS Academy Stadium for his 19th game of the campaign and his fith in Sky Bet League One. The current campaign is his second in the EFL as the man in the middle.

His last game in charge this season was 2-2 draw at Salford V Harrogate. He sowed 4 yellow cards during this match. So far this season he has given 62 yellow cards and 0 red cards.

In 2019-20 season, he was in charge of 25 games given 62 yellow cards and 1 red cards.

His latest Cobblers Game

Date	Comp	Match	Y		R
22/02/2020	League Two Play Off	Northampton 0 Cheltenham 2	2		0

Fleetwood Town Games

Date	Comp	Match	Y	R
12/12/20	League One	Wigan 4 Accrington 1	2	0

Dean Treleaven and Kevin Morris
Fourth Official : Robert Lewis

Match Program

All season ticket holders will have access to watch the Wigan Athletic game on Saturday on iFollow.

To check….

1. Log in to iFollow
2. Click your name in the top navigation bar to get to the ‘My Account page’
3. Click the + sign next to ‘Purchased Packages’about:blank

If you have access, you will see ‘Season Ticket – Northampton Town’ listed here.

If you experience any issues, please email ifollow@ntfc.co.uk

Thank you for your support.

Non season ticket holders can purchase the game for £10.

Northampton Town have one win from their last three meetings against Wigan Athletic (L2) in League One. However, the win came during their most recent meeting in October 2020 (3-2).
Wigan Athletic have won their only away encounter against Northampton in League One in December 2018 (1-0).
Wigan Athletic boss Leam Richardson has played Northampton town twice previously in the league with Accrington Stanley, losing both encounters.
Following six defeats in their first seven league games away from home this season (W1), Wigan are unbeaten in their last four (W2 D2).

Stats	NORTHAMPTON	Wigan
Games Played	23	23
Goals	20	24
Shots on target	68	60
Shooting accuracy	39.30%	39.50%
Goals conceded	38	43
Clean sheets	4	4
Yellow cards	39	31
Red Cards	3	0