Wigan Athletic vs Northampton Prediction 02.08.2025 | League One

The Latics seem to have seamlessly transferred their end-of-season form into the summer schedule, notching up three wins and a draw in their pre-season outings, which has kept them undefeated for three full months and gives them every reason to feel confident heading into the new term.

As they embark on their third consecutive campaign in League One, Wigan will be determined to shake off the mediocrity of their recent mid-table finishes and mount a more convincing push toward the playoff spots, hoping to finally recapture the competitive spark that once made them a force in the Football League.

Over the summer, the Blues-Whites strengthened their squad by bringing in Dara Costelloe, Callum Wright, and Paul Mullin, and the trio is likely to feature in the starting lineup for the curtain-raiser.

Like their hosts this Saturday, Northampton are set to begin their third consecutive season in the third tier and will be looking to reward their loyal fans with a far more stable campaign, having spent last season flirting dangerously with relegation right up until the final rounds.

Northampton’s preparations for the 2025-26 League One season didn’t go quite as planned, as the Cobblers endured a frustrating five-match winless streak in pre-season friendlies (D2 L3) before ending their warm-up campaign on a high note with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Birmingham City

Northampton have been busy in the summer market, adding hopeful talents like Tyrese Fornah, Conor McCarthy, and Michael Jacobs, alongside season-long loan deals for Michael Forbes and Jordan Thorniley from West Ham and Oxford United.

Captain Jon Guthrie is still recovering from a serious knee injury he suffered on New Year’s Day against Stevenage, making him the sole absentee for Saturday’s opener.