Oxford United vs Wigan Athletic takes place at the Kassam Stadium on Tuesday 20 October 2026, with kick-off at 7:45pm. Latics finally have a league win to build on, and this League One trip gives Gary Caldwell’s side the chance to follow up Saturday’s relief at the Brick Community Stadium.
Scott Hogan’s winner against Reading lifted some of the pressure, but nobody needs telling that one result does not put everything right. The challenge now is to take that confidence away from home and give supporters reason to believe the season is beginning to turn.
League OneScheduled · 19:45 BST
Oxford United
Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic: 24th
Saturday’s 1-0 victory left Wigan bottom of League One, with seven points from nine matches. However, the gap to 20th-placed Blackpool is only a point. The table remains uncomfortable reading, but there is an immediate opportunity to change the picture.
Hogan’s 71st-minute finish ended a league scoring drought of 446 minutes. Christian Saydee helped make the breakthrough from the bench, while Joe Whitworth produced important saves to protect the lead. Bradley Burrowes was another positive, repeatedly testing Reading’s defence.
The biggest encouragement was that Wigan gave themselves chances to win. Too often this season, a single goal against us has felt decisive because the response has never arrived. On Saturday, Latics kept asking questions and eventually got their reward.
Now comes the difficult bit: doing it again. A clean sheet and three points should give the players a lift, but Oxford will demand concentration and more composure when opportunities come.
Last five league matches, oldest first: Stockport County 0-4, Sheffield Wednesday 0-0, Wycombe Wanderers 0-1, Stevenage 0-1, Reading 1-0. Form: L D L L W.
Oxford United: 8th
Oxford sit eighth with 15 points from eight games, three points outside the play-off places. Four wins, three draws and just one defeat make them a difficult opponent, particularly for a Wigan side still trying to establish some consistency.
Aaron Ramsey’s team drew 1-1 at Mansfield on Thursday after finishing with nine men. Luka Lynch put the visitors ahead before Michael Smith equalised late on, with Oxford having to defend their point through a difficult closing spell.
Before that came a 2-1 win at Notts County. Their recent league run also includes a 4-0 victory at Leicester and a 3-0 home win over Burton, so there is clearly more to this side than the resilience they showed at Mansfield.
Last five league matches, oldest first: Leicester City 4-0, Burton Albion 3-0, Cambridge United 1-1, Notts County 2-1, Mansfield Town 1-1. Form: W W D W D.
Team Stats
| League record | Oxford United | Wigan Athletic |
|---|---|---|
| Position | 8th | 24th |
| Matches played | 8 | 9 |
| Wins | 4 | 2 |
| Draws | 3 | 1 |
| Defeats | 1 | 6 |
| Goals scored | 16 | 6 |
| Goals conceded | 9 | 13 |
| Goal difference | +7 | -7 |
| Points | 15 | 7 |
League figures correct as of 18 October, following Saturday’s fixtures.
The scoring gap is the obvious concern. Oxford have averaged two goals a league game; Wigan have managed six in total. Saturday was a welcome step, but Latics still need to turn promising spells into a more reliable attacking threat.
Head-to-Head Record
Wigan Wins: 8
Draws: 2
Oxford Wins: 6
The clubs shared the wins in their most recent league season together:
- 24 October 2023: Wigan Athletic 2-0 Oxford United.
- 13 February 2024: Oxford United 4-2 Wigan Athletic.
Stephen Humphrys and Callum Lang scored in the home victory, while Jordan Jones and Thelo Aasgaard were on target in the defeat at the Kassam.
Of course, that ground also brings back memories of Wigan’s extraordinary 7-0 win in December 2017. Nobody is expecting a repeat, but it remains one of those away afternoons supporters will never tire of talking about.
Tuesday is a very different assignment. The priority is to leave with something that keeps Saturday’s progress going.
Oxford United vs Wigan Athletic: Team News
Oxford’s disciplinary problems are an important part of the build-up. Peter Kioso and Gatlin O’Donkor were both dismissed for second yellow cards at Mansfield and are expected to miss this league fixture through suspension. Their absence would reduce Ramsey’s options at right-back and up front.
For Wigan, the Reading win gives Caldwell a reason to favour continuity. Hogan has a goal to build on, Burrowes made an impact and Whitworth played his part in the clean sheet. Saydee’s contribution after coming on also gives the manager something to consider.
Oxford United vs Wigan Athletic: 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: Oxford United 1-1 Wigan Athletic
💭”Well, I did say we’d win sooner or later! Saturday’s victory over Reading was a much-needed three points, but I’m not getting carried away just yet.
Oxford have made a much stronger start to the season than us, and our away form has been far from convincing. That said, I’m hoping Saturday’s result has given the lads a bit of confidence and something to build on.
I still can’t see us keeping another clean sheet, but I’m going to be slightly more optimistic this time and back us to come away with a point. Hopefully, they prove me wrong again and make it two wins on the bounce!”
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: Oxford United 2-1 Wigan Athletic
💭 “Wigan finally ended their wait for a victory with Saturday’s 1–0 win over Reading, proving my previous prediction completely wrong. However, one result doesn’t erase the problems that have plagued Gary Caldwell’s side this season. Oxford will provide another difficult test, particularly away from home, and while the Reading victory should give Wigan some much-needed confidence, I’m not convinced they’ve turned a corner just yet. I expect a more competitive performance from the Latics, but I’m backing Oxford to edge it and bring Wigan back down to earth.”
Grok: Oxford United 1-0 Wigan Athletic
💭 “Wigan’s recent 1-0 home win over Reading offers a small boost, but their overall profile remains fragile. They sit at the foot of League One after a grim start, with a blunt attack that has struggled to create and convert chances, especially away from home. Oxford, by contrast, have been more consistent, picking up results through a better balance of scoring and limiting opponents, and they hold the clear home advantage at the Kassam. That combination of Wigan’s attacking limitations and Oxford’s superior recent rhythm makes a narrow home win the most realistic outcome, with a low-scoring game likely.”
Gemini: Oxford United 2-1 Wigan Athletic
💭 “My prediction is a 2–1 victory for Oxford United, as their strong home attacking form at the Kassam Stadium should narrowly edge out a resilient Wigan side that typically struggles for goals on the road.”
What’s Your Prediction?
Can Latics make it back-to-back wins, or would you take a point at the Kassam? Leave your score predictions below!
Enjoyed this article? There’s more to explore!
Latics.News is more than just Wigan Athletic news! Explore our new Match Centre for fixtures, results and match details, join the conversation in Latics Community, or put your football knowledge to the test in our Prediction League.
You can also enjoy our quizzes and games, keep up with the latest League One results, and connect with AwayDay Planner to track the grounds you’ve visited and build your own Match Passport.
We’re always working to make Latics.News better for supporters. Got an idea, suggestion or something you’d like to see added? Get in touch — we’d love to hear your feedback!