Sky Sports EFL pundit David Prutton has delivered his verdict on Wigan Athletics’ clash with Middlesbrough, and suggested that the Latics could edge a tight a contest.

Wigan head into the game looking to recover from the 2-1 defeat they suffered at home to Lancashire rivals Preston North End at the weekend, which saw them lose ground on the teams above them meaning they are now four points adrift of safety in the Championship.

The Latics had managed to secure back-to-back wins against Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United in their previous two league matches, which had raised belief that they could manage to find a way out of trouble and retain their Championship status during the rest of the campaign.

Paul Cook’s side will be looking to get their home form back on track, having suffered two defeats in their last three Championship matches in front of their own supporters, which is something they will need to put right if they are to climb out of the relegation zone before the end of the season.

Wigan were beaten 1-0 by Middlesbrough when the two sides met back in the opening month of the campaign, and they will be looking to avenge that defeat by securing a potentially vital three points against Jonathan Woodgate’s side this time around.

A few months ago this meeting looked like it could have potentially crucial implications over the relegation battle in the Championship, but since then Middlesbrough have managed to significantly improve their form to move themselves up the table and give themselves a cushion to the bottom three.

However, were Woodgate’s side to suffer a defeat at Wigan, it would see the Latics close back to within just four points of them, which would potentially see Boro drop back into the relegation battle and still have work to do to secure their safety this term.

That is because having won four successive league games over the festive period, Middlesbrough have now failed to win in their previous five Championship matches, and last weekend’s 3-2 defeat at Brentford leaves them needing a result to get back on track against Wigan.

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In his latest EFL predictions for Sky Sports, Prutton suggested that he believes Wigan could be set to edge a tight contest, 1-0, between the two sides, writing: "Wigan's narrow defeat to Preston at the weekend brought hopes of a third successive victory to an end, but should they win a couple of games over the next few weeks, Paul Cook will certainly fancy his side's chances of retaining their Championship status.

"Boro perhaps aren't picking up the points their displays deserve at the moment and I feel Jonathan Woodgate's men might be edged out here. They are still not safe despite their recent revival so defeat will not be welcome on Teesside."

The Verdict:

You can see why Prutton is expecting to see a tight contest between the two sides, given that neither side has really been able to blow teams away throughout the campaign, and instead have to settle for working extremely hard to edge matches in their favour.

Wigan looked to have found some real momentum following back to back wins before they lost against Preston, but they were unexpectedly flat at the weekend for most of the first hour of the game, and Cook will be ensuring that his side come out with much more intensity against Middlesbrough.

That could make it a challenge for Woodgate’s side, who are starting to once again look over their shoulders at the relegation zone, although they will be motivated by the chance to open up a ten point cushion to Wigan were they to pick up all three points.

This game then could prove to be vital in deciding which team suffers relegation from the Championship this campaign, with a win for Wigan helping to tighten things up once again down the bottom end of the league, but a defeat would leave them cut adrift somewhat again.