Indeed, Cardiff are in a serious rut at present, having not won a competitive match since beating Sunderland 1-0 away from home on November 5.
Mark Hudson’s side appeared to be heading for a morale-boosting victory against Leeds United in the FA Cup third round on Sunday, with first-half strikes from Jaden Philogene and Sheyi Ojoproviding the Bluebirds with a two-goal half-time lead against their Premier League opponents.
However, Jesse Marsch’s side rallied after the break, with substitute Rodrigogiving them hope before Joel Bagan saw red for denying a clear goal by using his hand to divert the ball away from danger. Sonny Perkins’ injury-time equaliser ensured that Leeds earned a replay, with a trip to Boreham Wood or Accrington Stanley awaiting next week’s winner at Elland Road.
Hudson, who replaced Steve Morison in the managerial dugout in September, will almost certainly be more concerned with guiding Cardiff away from relegation danger having fallen to within two points and two positions of the bottom three ahead of this weekend’s action.
With bottom-placed Wigan only four points behind them ahead of Saturday’s clash, it is a huge six-pointer and clearly one which the Welsh side will desperately not want to lose.
Wigan, meanwhile, remain winless in six matches under their new head coach Kolo Toure, who replaced Leam Richardsonas their manager during the recent World Cup-enforced break in the domestic season.
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The former Manchester City defender has improved the Latics offensively, with his side scoring in all six of those matches, but defensively they have clearly regressed under the Ivorian’s tutelage having conceded 16 goals across their winless run.
Indeed, 12 of those have been shipped across their last three league games, with Middlesbrough, Sunderland and Hull City all beating the 2013 FA Cup winners by the same scoreline of 4-1.
While their 1-1 draw away to Luton Town in the FA Cup last weekend was a step in the right direction, Toure will have far more interest in improving his side’s league form, otherwise he could find himself out of his first senior managerial role quicker than you can sing the famous chant about him and his brother Yaya Toure.
