Wigan Athletic vs Sheffield United. Sky Bet Championship.
DW StadiumAttendance13,054.
Monday 31 December 2018 12:23, UK
Wigan will be without central defender Dan Burn for their home game against Sheffield United.
Burn was signed by Brighton for an undisclosed fee in August and loaned straight back to the Latics until January 1. He played his final game for the club in Saturday's 2-2 draw at Swansea.
On-loan midfielder Lee Evans, recalled to the starting line-up at Swansea, is expected to be given permission to play against his parent club. Josh Windass and Callum Connolly are among those pushing for recalls, while defender Antonee Robinson (ankle), striker Nick Powell (hamstring) and midfielder Michael Jacobs (hamstring) are still out.
Sheffield United will be without suspended defender Chris Basham following his dismissal for two yellow cards in Saturday's home win against Blackburn. Basham will sit out a one-game ban so Martin Cranie and Richard Stearman will be vying to fill the void.
Boss Chris Wilder named the same starting XI for the fourth successive game at the weekend and is unlikely to make any unforced changes. Billy Sharp notched his 15th league goal of the season against Blackburn and is likely to be partnered by David McGoldrick again up front.
Wigan have only won one of their last six home games against Sheffield United in all competitions (D3 L2), winning 4-0 in September 2004.
Sheffield United beat Wigan 4-2 in their reverse meeting in October this season; the Blades last did a league double over the Latics in the third tier in 1988-89.
Wigan have lost their last two home league matches on New Year's Day by an aggregate score of 0-7 (0-3 v Blackburn in 2007, 0-4 v Man Utd in 2013).
Sheffield United are winless in their last nine New Year's Day games (W0 D3 L6) since a 2-1 win over Oldham Athletic in 1994.
This is the ninth Football League meeting between Paul Cook and Chris Wilder - both managers have four wins apiece.
Wigan have lost three of their last five home league games (W1 D1) - one more than they did in their first 30 under manager Paul Cook (W18 D10).
David Prutton predicts: 1-2 (8/1 with Sky Bet)
