After a sluggish start to life in League One after the Latics have managed to climb up the table and now sit in the top six. They had, had to wait three games into the campaign until they chalked their first win of the season. 2013 FA Cup Winners had gone 10 games unbeaten in all competitions between 19th September and 31st October - winning half of them. More recently they have won three out of the last four, beating Barnsley (2-0), Fleetwood Town (3-1) and last Thursday night at home to Gillingham, whilst drawing 1-1 with Scunthorpe United.
Wigan captain Craig Morgan's 96th-minute header denied Gillingham top spot in SkyBet League One as the Latics came from two goals down to clinch a thrilling 3-2 win. Gillingham just needed a point to move above Burton on goal difference and they had gone 2-0 up inside an hour through goals from Dominic Samuel and Rory Donnelly. However, Will Grigg reduced the deficit and after goalkeeper Stuart Nelson allowed Max Power's long-range try to slip through his hands for the equaliser, Morgan popped up late on to nod in a corner in the sixth minute of time added on.
The visitors were bright in the first period and Bradley Dack's curling free-kick came back off the inside of the post before Donnelly blazed the rebound wide. Dack then provided the pass for the opener midway through the first half, knocking a ball over the top for Samuel to latch on to and fire low beyond Jussi Jaaskelainen. The hosts had plenty of opportunities to find the net themselves in the opening 45 minutes but Jason Pearce, Andy Kellett and Michael Jacobs were all guilty of spurning good chances.
Gillingham nearly doubled their advantage through Dack, who cut through the Latics' defence only to knock it wide when trying to go around Jaaskelainen. However, eight minutes after the break, it was 2-0 as Doug Loft's back-post cross was headed in from close range by Donnelly. Wigan were not dead and buried, though, and within 14 minutes they had hauled themselves level. Grigg pulled one back by firing home from Michael Jacobs' header back across goal and then Power's long-range effort somehow squirmed past Nelson's grasp and into the net three minutes later.
The Latics will give a full debut to new signing Yanic Wildschut who they purchased from Middlesbrough. He had already enjoyed a loan spell at the DW Stadium, scoring 4 in 17 matches this season but will line-up against the Blades having made a permanent move. They are also unlikely to be without Francisco Junior (hernia) who has returned to Everton for treatment and although Kevin McNaughton (knee) has returned to training, he is nowhere close to making a return just yet.
Blades-Mad Prediction: Wigan Athletic 1 Sheffield United 1
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