Wigan Athletic host Stockport County at the Brick Community Stadium on 5 September 2026 in Matchweek 5 of EFL League One, with the hosts sitting 22nd after four games on just three points while Stockport are ninth on six.
There is no personal history between Gary Caldwell and Jimmy McNulty and it probably will not matter much. Caldwell took charge at Wigan on 16 February 2026 after replacing Ryan Lowe and McNulty arrived at Stockport on 5 June 2026 following Dave Challinor's departure, the two having never faced each other in a competitive match.
Wigan's form reads W-L-L-L in their last four league outings. They opened with a 2-3 home defeat to Cambridge United on 15 August, lost 0-2 at Leyton Orient a week later and then dropped a 0-1 decision to AFC Wimbledon on 30 August, before collecting three points with a 3-1 win over Milton Keynes Dons on 2 September. There was a cup win over Aston Villa U21 in there but three league defeats from four is the more relevant number. Stockport's sequence is L-W-L-W, masking a 5-1 win over Wycombe alongside a 0-2 loss to Luton and a 1-2 defeat at Blackpool and their nine league goals in four games suggest they are capable of hurting anyone even when results have been mixed.
Both teams come in without significant absences, which means Jensen Weir, already on two league goals from four games and the most likely outlet when Wigan break quickly through the channels, starts alongside Max Power in midfield and Christian Saydee in attack. Stockport rely on Jack Diamond and Kyle Wootton, both on two goals, while Ethan Pye anchors the defence.
Caldwell typically sets Wigan up in a 3-4-2-1, using Weir and Power to control the middle. Against Stockport's high possession game, the plan will be to win the ball and break quickly through the channels rather than try to outplay them in possession. McNulty's side look to apply pressure on Wigan's wide defenders through Diamond's movement and Wootton's ability to hold the ball up and bring runners in around him. Weir's line breaking ability will be tested by Stockport's press, while Power needs to be disciplined covering behind him. Diamond's runs in behind will test the space Wigan's wing backs leave when they push forward and Pye's ability to organise from the back matters whenever Stockport lose the ball high up the pitch. Wigan will likely start compact and look to break on the counter, though if they concede early the shape could shift to a 3-5-2 with Saydee pushing higher. Stockport, needing back to back wins to feel settled, will keep their high line and the bench options become interesting if this is still level at half time.
Seven recent meetings have produced two wins each and three draws, no side has dominated this fixture. Wigan's back three gives them an aerial advantage at set pieces and Power's delivery from dead balls will be a factor in both boxes.
Stockport win 2-0. Nine league goals in four games is a concrete foundation for this call, Wigan's defence has looked vulnerable in three of their four league outings and Wigan's wing backs push high enough to leave the channels open for Diamond and Wootton to run into.
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?.
