Wigan Athletic: Birmingham City aspect makes Crawley Town clash vital - View | OneFootball

The Latics will be looking to record their first victory of the season on Saturday, before visiting Birmingham City at the end of the month

Wigan Athletic will be hoping to be in the mix for a League One play-off spot come the end of the season, but the Latics have started the campaign in an uninspiring fashion.

Shaun Maloney's men suffered a 1-0 defeat on home soil at the hands of Charlton Athletic courtesy of a late Lloyd Jones goal after the Addicks centre-half capitalised on a Charlie Hughes error.

Ironically, that was Hughes' last contribution in a Latics shirt as he subsequently joined Hull City, deservedly earning himself a move to the Championship after impressing in League One last season.

But while Maloney's former star defender adjusts to pastures new, matters at the Brick Community Stadium have not yet improved as the Greater Manchester side were dumped out of the EFL Cup following a penalty shootout defeat to Barnsley, prior to losing their second league game of the campaign away at Reading.

Up next, the Latics host newly promoted Crawley Town on Saturday, and will be hoping to pick up all three points at the third time of asking, but it will not be an easy task.

Crawley clash is already very important for Latics

While the Brick Community Stadium side will be expecting to earn a victory over a side who were plying their trade in League Two last season, Crawley will present an interesting challenge on Saturday afternoon.

The West Sussex outfit have adjusted well to life in League One, and in contrast to the Latics, Scott Lindsey's men have won three games from three in all competitions so far this season.

Maloney and co may have a tough time thwarting the momentum of a Red Devils side who have not lost a competitive fixture since a 3-2 defeat to Colchester United back in April.

But winning on Saturday already feels very important for the Latics, who could face the unwanted prospect of a winless August if they do not overcome Lindsey's side.

A week on from their clash with the Red Devils, the Greater Manchester club travel to Birmingham City on the last weekend of the month, which is a potentially daunting task.

It is early days in the Football League season, but the Blues are already hot favourites for the League One title and have won four points from a possible six so far this campaign.

Birmingham boss Chris Davies has also strengthened his ranks over the course of the summer transfer window, while the signing of Alfie May, who won the third-tier golden boot while playing for Charlton last season, is the pick of the bunch.

The former Cheltenham Town man has already found form, with two goals in as many League One appearances, so the Latics will want to head into their trip to Birmingham with as much confidence as possible.

And the best way of instilling confidence in a squad is to win games, which is what Maloney's men will endeavour to do come Saturday.

If the Latics have not got into their stride by the final weekend of the month, then they could be in for a very uncomfortable afternoon at St Andrew's.

The Blues squad is littered with quality all over the pitch – from the previously mentioned prolific May to former Manchester United defender Ethan Laird.

So if Maloney's men travel to St Andrew's short of confidence, while the Blues maintain their current vein of form, then the West Midlands outfit could come away with a heavy victory.

Failing to win against both Crawley and Birmingham would leave Wigan with a significant gap to make up in the race for the play-offs and while it is still very early in the season, that could turn out to be costly – particularly for a team that have lost some key players this summer.

With the trip to face the Blues on the horizon, Saturday's clash feels vital.