Wigan Athletic v Bristol Rovers
Sky Bet League One, DW Stadium, Saturday 27 April 2024, 12.30pm KO
Bristol Rovers’ final League One match of the 2023/24 season sees the Gas make the trip to face Wigan Athletic.
Rovers head into Saturday’s finale sat 15th in the table, on 57 points, while Wigan are two places ahead and on 59 points. A victory this weekend then could see Matt Taylor’s side leapfrog The Latics in the final standings for the campaign.
Shaun Mahoney’s side were beaten 2-1 by Portsmouth in their penultimate match of the season.
Read on for all you need to know about Saturday’s fixture…
Tickets…
Bristol Rovers supporters are advised that tickets are available on the day from the DW Stadium.
Travel…
If travelling by train, both of Wigan’s central railway stations - Wigan North Western and Wallgate stations - are around a 20-minute walk from the DW Stadium.
If travelling by car, leave the M6 to Junction 25 then take the A49 to Wigan. After about two-and-a-half miles you will approach a large roundabout. Continue straight on but keep in the left lane and then at the lights towards Robin Park. At the next roundabout, go straight across and at the next traffic lights turn right into Stadium Way for the ground.
Opposition…
Once again, Wigan Athletic are on the rebound.
Having been relegated from the Championship last campaign, the Latics are seeking to regroup and rebuild once again.
It’s been a period of uncertainty and instability at the DW Stadium, with Wigan receiving multiple points deductions in recent years, including starting the current campaign on minus eight points.
It could be said then that Shaun Mahoney’s side have not done too bad this season, in the grand scheme of things. Had they started the campaign without a deduction, they would be competing in the top ten of the division.
The Club was bought by local billionaire Mike Danson last June, and fans are now optimistic that the turmoil that has plagued the team in recent years is now firmly behind them.
It was only 11 years ago that Wigan Athletic shocked the world, and Manchester City, by winning the FA Cup. With the off-field issues seemingly in the rear-view mirror, there is optimism again at the DW Stadium.
Previous Meetings...
It was an afternoon to remember for Gasheads everywhere when Wigan Athletic visited the Memorial Stadium back in September.
Rovers secured a memorable 4-1 win over the Latics in the reverse fixture, thanks to a first goal in the blue-and-white quarters by Jack Hunt, Luke Thomas’ finish, and strikes by Aaron Collins and John Marquis.
Prior to that game, positive results had been hard to come by against Wigan for the Gas. We have to go back to August 1998 for the last victory, with a 3-2 win for Rovers recorded.
A last visit to the DW Stadium came in November 2020, which ended in a 0-0 draw.
Match Officials…
Referee: Marc Edwards
Assistant Referees: Darren Williams and Graem Fyvie
Fourth Official: Andrew Miller
