CCFootballVlogs’ Wigan Athletic vs Northampton Town Match Preview

Wigan Athletic kick off their 2025/26 EFL League One campaign at home to Northampton Town on Saturday, August 2, with Ryan Lowe set to take charge of his first full season following a summer of significant change. After replacing Shaun Maloney in March, Lowe has wasted no time putting his stamp on the squad.

Current Standings and Recent Form

As this is the opening game of the League One season, there’s no league position to speak of just yet – but what we can look at is how both sides shaped up during pre-season.

Wigan Athletic

Wigan Athletic enjoyed a positive and unbeaten pre-season campaign, building momentum ahead of the new League One season.

• The Latics kicked things off with a 2‑1 win at Chorley, where new signing Dara Costelloe made an instant impact with a brace in the space of a minute.
• That was followed by a less inspiring 1‑1 draw against Curzon Ashton during a warm-weather training camp in Spain.
• They returned to action on home soil with a solid performance coming back 4-2 in the second half after being 1-0 down at half-time.
• Paul Mullin opened his Latics account in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Accrington Stanley.
• Pre-season wrapped up with a 1‑0 win at Tranmere Rovers, secured by a James Carragher header.

Ryan Lowe’s side looked sharp throughout, with several academy prospects featuring alongside summer signings. The unbeaten run has laid a strong foundation going into the season opener.

Northampton Town

Northampton Town’s pre-season was a mixed bag as they faced a string of challenging fixtures against strong opposition.

• Their preparations began with a goalless draw against Brackley Town.
• A 3‑0 defeat behind closed doors to Cambridge United, who were relegated to EFL League Two after coming 23rd with only 38 points in 46 matches.
• They also faced Norwich City in a behind-closed-doors match, where they were beaten 3‑1 despite a bright spell in the second half.
• The Cobblers rounded off their pre-season with games against Millwall, West Ham U21 and Birmingham City, giving minutes to new signings and academy talent.

📝 Final Thoughts

Wigan come into the opening game with confidence after an unbeaten summer and promising performances from both regulars and newcomers. Northampton, meanwhile, will be hoping the tough opposition they’ve faced in pre-season sharpens them up in time for the first whistle.

Head-to-Head Record

Wigan Wins: 21

Draws: 14

Northampton Wins: 6

Players to Watch

Wigan Athletic:

• Sam Tickle – Pressure on for him to impress in the opening weeks of the campaign due to attracting attention from EFL Championship side Sheffield United.
• Luke Robinson – Pressure on with him being what can only be described as a first choice LB.
• Dara Costelloe – After scoring 4 goals in pre-season, it’s hoped that he can bring this form into the league this season, it could be a mix for of emotions for him because he is playing against his former loan club.
• Christian Saydee – New no.9, needs a good goalscoring start.

Predicted Lineup – Wigan

Please Note: Wigan have not officially confirmed their squad numbers at the time of writing, so these are subject to change.

Score Predictions

Our human score predictions are just for fun and based on personal opinions, recent form, and match context. They are not expert advice and should never be used for things like betting or making financial decisions. For more details, please visit our disclaimer.

Curtis’ Prediction: Wigan Athletic 2-1 Northampton Town

 💭“In each of the past two seasons, we’ve edged Northampton 2-1 at home, and there’s a real sense we can do it again. With Ryan Lowe at the helm, there’s a renewed energy around the club and a noticeable lift in the mood among fans. If we can build a bit of early momentum, there’s every chance we’ll kick off the 2025/26 campaign on the front foot.”

Charlie’s Prediction: Wigan Athletic 1-0 Northampton Town

💭”I’m still unsure about what Lowe’s new tactical vision looks like and there’s potential for us to score more than one goal but it can’t go unnoticed that we were the lowest goalscoring team last season.”

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) Predictions

Artificial Intelligence (AI) predictions use data and algorithms to forecast football match outcomes based on team form, stats, and other relevant factors. While we aim for these predictions to be as accurate as possible, they are not guaranteed and should not be relied upon to make decisions, including betting. For more information, please refer to our disclaimer.

ChatGPT: Wigan Athletic 1-1 Northampton Town

“I’m going for a 1–1 draw because both sides are still finding their rhythm after pre-season, and Wigan’s lack of goals last season combined with Northampton’s attacking threat points to a tightly contested opener.”

Grok: Wigan Athletic 2-1 Northampton Town

“I predict a 2-1 victory for Wigan Athletic over Northampton Town in the EFL League One 2025/26 Round 1 match, as Ryan Lowe’s attacking approach and key signings like Paul Mullin and Dara Costelloe should give Wigan a slight edge at home.”

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