Sky Sports EFL pundit David Prutton has suggested that both Wigan Athletic and Preston North End could have to settle for a point in their lunchtime clash on Saturday.

Wigan head into the game in a much more healthier position than they were a few weeks ago, with the Latics having picked up back to back wins against Sheffield Wednesday and second placed Leeds United in their last two Championship matches to lift themselves to within just two points of safety.

Paul Cook’s side were once again able to stun promotion chasing Leeds at Elland Road last weekend, with an own goal from Pablo Hernandez and a stubborn defensive performance allowing the Latics to pick up a potentially crucial 1-0 win.

The Latics have now managed to claim three wins from their last five Championship matches, having failed to win in their 13 games prior to their win at Birmingham City at the beginning of January, which will have given Cook’s side hope of managing to retain their Championship status this term.

Preston, meanwhile, will also be looking to maintain their recent upturn in form under Alex Neil, with the Lilywhites having gone unbeaten in their last four Championship matches, which has seen their play-off push get back on track after a stuttering run of form over the festive period.

North End had gone four matches without a win over the festive period, which had seen Neil’s side drop out of the play-off places and slide down the table, but last weekend’s 1-1 draw at home to Swansea City has moved them to within three points of sixth placed Bristol City heading into the weekend.

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Prutton in making his latest EFL predications for Sky Sports, has suggested that with both side currently on positive runs of form heading into the fixture it could prove a difficult challenge to separate the two sides on Saturday, writing: "What a win for Wigan at Leeds! I must admit I didn't see that coming, but it will have given them a huge boost for their survival hopes. It also means they've won back-to-back games for the first time this season.

"Preston are back on the cusp of the play-offs and, with so many of the sides around them playing each other this weekend, will see this as a real opportunity. But I think this will be a draw."

The pundit believes the game will end in a 1-1 draw, which would be enough to edge both sides a step closer towards their respective targets, with that being enough to maintain both sides’ positive current runs of form heading into the next few weeks.

The verdict

It is difficult to disagree with Prutton’s verdict on this one, with both sides currently in good spirits heading into the game and they will be hoping to continue their respective recent improvements by picking up all three points on Saturday.

Whilst both sides would be ideally looking to pick up another potentially vital win, they would likely be satisfied with a point come the end of the contest, with that enough to keep their unbeaten league runs going and maintaining that confidence and renewed belief both sides are showing.

However, given both sides are playing in the early kickoff, they have a chance to put some of the teams in and around them under pressure by picking up all three points on Saturday, so both could perhaps see it as a missed opportunity were the game to end all square.

You would certainly expect the game to be fairly even with no side likely to run away with the contest, and it could comedown a moment of inspiration from one of the two sides to make the crucial difference in terms of who emerges with the win.