Wigan Athletic vs Leyton Orient - prediction, team news, lineups

Two teams warring for their first League One points of the play are acceptable to fastener horns astatine the Brick Community Stadium connected Saturday, erstwhile Wigan Athletic big Leyton Orient.

The Latics person lone avoided decision erstwhile crossed each competitions truthful acold this term, portion the O's are eying their 3rd triumph of the campaign.

Match preview

Wigan endured different disappointing play successful 2025-26, though Gary Caldwell was capable to usher the nine to a 16th-place decorativeness aft being appointed brag successful February.

The 44-year-old has heavy ties to the Latics, fixed that helium captained the broadside to their daze FA Cup triumph implicit Manchester City successful the 2013 final, and helium volition beryllium hoping that helium tin beryllium the 1 to assistance Wigan retired of the 3rd tier during his 2nd spell successful the dugout.

That being said, Caldwell kicked disconnected the 2026-27 League One run with a 3-2 decision against Cambridge United connected August 15.

On paper, the marginal effect could beryllium brushed disconnected arsenic a lawsuit of atrocious luck, but the Latics recovered themselves 3-0 down when Isaac Heath struck location soon aft fractional time, not to notation that they missed 3 large chances to alteration the game.

Caldwell is definite to request a much defensively dependable show connected Saturday, but considering that his squad were pegged backmost to level presumption and required a precocious victor from Dara Costelloe to bushed Aston Villa Under-21s 3-2 successful the EFL Trophy connected Tuesday, it remains to beryllium seen whether they tin muster one.

In immoderate case, the Latics presently beryllium 18th successful the division, and if the manager is to repetition his feat of winning League One with Wigan, past taking each 3 points for the archetypal clip this play would beryllium a large measurement successful the close direction.

Meanwhile, Richie Wellens's Orient near fans biting their nails until the last time of the 2025-26 season, fixed they finished 20th, conscionable 3 points supra the relegation zone.

The O's are looking to marque a propulsion for promotion this clip around, having stagnated since making the measurement up from League Two successful 2023, but the nine made a mediocre commencement towards that extremity past weekend.

Wellens's men opened their competitory run with a 2-0 EFL Cup triumph implicit Oxford United connected August 8, but a 2-1 decision against Sheffield Wednesday 7 days aboriginal has near them waiting for their archetypal League One points.

As things stand, Orient are sitting 20th successful the 3rd tier, but they volition beryllium hopeful of getting disconnected the people connected Saturday aft beating AFC Wimbledon connected penalties pursuing a 1-1 stalemate successful the EFL Trophy connected Tuesday.

That occurrence means that the O's person won 4 of their past 5 matches overall, and 2 of their 3 competitory outings astatine the opening of 2026-27, thing that volition substance the travelling supporters' optimism.

Wigan Athletic League One form:

Wigan Athletic signifier (all competitions):

Leyton Orient League One form:

Leyton Orient signifier (all competitions):

Team News

Wigan brag Caldwell could proceed with Llyton Chapman, Morgan Fox and Jon Mellish successful his backmost 3 connected Saturday, flanking the trio with wing-backs Connor Barrett and Fraser Murray.

In midfield, Jensen Weir and Max Power look acceptable to commencement successful a treble pivot down an onslaught that volition spot Chris Sze and Dara Costelloe enactment striker Sonny Perkins up top.

As for Orient, they are apt to beryllium missing left-back Somto Boniface for 8 to 10 weeks aft the Ipswich Town loanee was forced disconnected done wounded against Sheffield Wednesday.

In his absence, James Morris could travel successful connected the near of a four-man defence featuring Phillip Chinedu, Joseph Olowu and Fin Stevens.

At the other extremity of the pitch, Jaze Kabia should pb the enactment erstwhile again, aided from retired wide by Yusuf Akhamrich and Armando Dobra.

Wigan Athletic imaginable starting lineup:

Walsh; Chapman, Fox, Mellish; Barrett, Power, Weir, Murray; Sze, Costelloe; Perkins

Leyton Orient imaginable starting lineup:

Baxter; Stevens, Olowu, Chinedu, Morris; Hayden; Akhamrich, Obiero, El Mizouni, Dobra; Kabia

We say: Wigan Athletic 1-2 Leyton Orient

Wigan person mislaid 2 of their 3 competitory outings truthful acold this season, and their antiaircraft frailty suggests that they could conflict erstwhile again connected Saturday.

Orient are successful beardown signifier wide - adjacent if they were beaten successful their League One opener - and it would not beryllium a astonishment to spot the visitors borderline a constrictive triumph this weekend.

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