Northampton come into this one in worrying shape, with 11 league games without a win and six straight defeats across all competitions listed. They have also gone 10 matches without a clean sheet, which leaves them exposed even at home, where they have conceded 21 goals in 19 league games.
Wigan’s recent line is steadier, but not especially secure, with two matches without a win after the 0-0 draw with Leyton Orient. Their away record is the bigger issue for this fixture: only two wins on the road, nine draws and nine defeats, plus 39 goals conceded in 20 away league games, which points to a game where their defence can be worked over.
The goal pattern leans toward a lively contest rather than a cagey one. Northampton’s home matches average 1.45 goals for the hosts and 1.14 for visitors in the league, while their own xG projection of 1.8 against Wigan’s 1.3 suggests chances at both ends. The head-to-head also helps the over, with five of the last five meetings between these sides seeing both teams score.
Wigan’s away profile does leave some room for doubt, because they have drawn nine of their 20 league trips and their most recent match finished 0-0. Even so, Northampton’s habit of conceding first and their long winless run make it hard to imagine a slow, tight script carrying all the way through, especially with Wigan’s away defence giving up nearly two goals per game.
My prediction is Over 2.5 Goals at 6/5. Northampton’s home games have enough attacking output to support a three-goal line, Wigan’s away matches are open enough with 39 conceded in 20, and the xG projection sits at a combined 3.1. The head-to-head has also delivered both teams scoring in five straight meetings, which fits a totals angle better than a cautious one.
