Wigan Athletic host Bromley at the Brick Community Stadium on 31 October 2026 in a League One Matchweek 14 clash that both clubs need to win. Wigan are rooted to the foot of the table on seven points from 12 games, with Bromley one place above them on nine and whoever loses here will almost certainly be watching the November international break from the drop zone with a growing sense of dread. In the bluntest terms, this is a game between two sides who haven't figured it out yet and since Caldwell and Webster have never faced each other in management, there's no history to lean on either.
Wigan arrive on a run of L L L W L in the league. A narrow home win over Reading in early October briefly lifted the mood but defeats to Oxford United, Huddersfield Town and a 0-3 away loss at Leicester City on 27 October erased most of that goodwill. Bromley look even worse with L D L L L across their last five league games, capped by a 1-4 hammering at MK Dons on 27 October that showed just how badly they're shipping goals. They've conceded 30 in 12 matches, which is the kind of number that makes interim managers lose sleep.
Caldwell, who replaced Ryan Lowe on 16 February 2026, will be without Fraser Murray (suspended) and Luke Harris (long term injury), though his options overall are workable. Bromley's situation is considerably messier: Byron Webster, who took over as interim head coach around 22 October 2026 after Andy Woodman left by mutual consent, is missing Shamal George, Deonysus Woodman, Chanse Headman and Ashley Charles. Four players short in defence and midfield is a brutal ask for someone eight days into a caretaker role at the division's leakiest club.
Caldwell's Wigan press from the front and are most cohesive at home. Jensen Weir is the main goal threat from midfield while Dara Costelloe supplies creative work in the final third and Caldwell will lean heavily on Weir to set the tempo and on Saydee to stretch whatever Bromley can put together at the back, particularly with Murray and Harris both absent.
Losing four players forces Webster into a shape he probably wouldn't choose. Victor Adeboyejo has four goals this season and his partnership with Michael Cheek gives Bromley their sharpest outlet going forward, while Mitchell Pinnock can create from midfield. The problem is that the defensive gaps could leave both forwards isolated whenever Bromley lose the ball high up the pitch and when Wigan push the high line, Adeboyejo has the pace to punish it.
Bromley's most consistent attacking route this season has been set pieces and Wigan's defence, 20 goals conceded in 12 games, has shown it can be hurt from them. That makes the midfield battle important: if Weir wins the second balls, Wigan will dominate possession and Bromley will spend the afternoon defending, whereas if Bromley spring the high line even once or twice, Adeboyejo has the pace to make them pay. Caldwell's side will also press high and try to force errors from a visiting backline already running short on bodies. Worth noting, too, that this is Bromley's first season in League One and the gulf in defensive solidity at this level is showing.
Caldwell is back at Wigan for a second stint, which brings a level of personal investment that Webster, eight days into a caretaker role he inherited with a squad four players short, simply doesn't carry into this game.
Wigan 2-1 Bromley. The hosts are more cohesive at home and with Hogan, Saydee and Costelloe all available against a defence missing four first teamers, the attacking mismatch is hard to ignore. Weir and Saydee look the most likely combination to get Wigan in front first, Adeboyejo will probably get one back on the counter but Wigan at home should have enough to move off the bottom.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
