Lancashire hotpot

Blackburn v Wigan,

SEVENTEEN places separate Lancashire rivals Blackburn and Wigan in the Championship standings, but the ailing Latics are capable of getting something from this evening’s trip to Ewood Park.

Blackburn are on the edge of the second-tier playoff chase, but 14 wins and 13 defeats from 28 league matches demonstrates just how difficult it is to trust Jon Dahl Tomasson’s hosts.

Preston are the only team in the top half of the division who have scored fewer goals than Rovers’ tally of 31, and their expected-goals (xG) figure of 23.9 is of greater concern as it is the worst in the section.

Leading goalscorer Ben Brereton-Diaz has scored only once in his last 11 league appearances, and while they have won seven of their last nine home league games, Rovers could still be vulnerable in this contest.

Wigan take to the pitch for their first fixture since Kolo Toure was sacked following a winless tenure of just nine games and one of their 2013 FA Cup-winning heroes, Shaun Maloney, has taken the reins.

While Wigan have conceded 49 goals in 28 games, eight teams in the league have a worse expected-goals against (xGA) figure – and that includes Rovers.

Despite Wigan’s perilous position there has been a glimmer of hope on the road as they have taken points from three of their last five away games, so it may be worth chancing that Maloney can steer them to a positive result from their trip across Lancashire tonight.

Backing the Latics in the double-chance market looks the best option, where the bet will be a winner if Wigan can avoid a derby defeat. Best bet Wigan or draw double chance 1pt 5-6 BoyleSports