After Wigan Athletic stormed into Championship play-offs under Uwe Rosler in the second half of last season, supporters of the club could be forgiven for high expectations come the start of the 2014/15 campaign. Instead the Latics are 23rd in the division and three points adrift of safety.

Despite Rosler’s impressive record during the last campaign (an average of 1.8 points per game), the German now finds himself unemployed; sacked by Wigan after managing just three wins from their opening 17 matches.

His successor, former Watford player and manager Malky Mackay, is yet to record a victory with his new club. There was a draw against Middlesbrough in his first game before losses to Sheffield Wednesday and Norwich City.

The 1-0 defeat to Norwich last weekend marked the club’s first loss at home since September and elongated their current run of games without a win to six.

Despite their poor league position, Wigan have only lost at the DW Stadium on two occasions - the majority of their home games have resulted in draws. Six, in fact.

Despite a 2-1 victory over league leaders Derby County in October, Wigan have found it tough on the road this season.

The points taken at the iPro Stadium were three of only five won away from home. So far the club have lost seven of their ten away games, the joint worst record in the league alongside Bolton Wanderers and Leeds United.

In addition to their troubles in the Championship, their exit from the Capital One Cup in the first round came courtesy of a 1-0 defeat at League Two team Burton Albion.

Their FA Cup draw against Lancashire rivals Bolton will give the club the opportunity to redeem their cup form in a competition they won in 2012.

Callum McManaman is currently leading the club’s scoring charts. The 23-year-old has managed five league goals this term. However, the winger has failed to score under his new boss despite playing every minute of all three games.

The two goals of the Mackay era have come via Shaun Maloney and Chris McCann.

Against Watford, The Latics recorded a home win and an away loss last season, with the victory coming part of an eight game unbeaten streak between February and March.

Wigan have lost just one of their last ten matches against Watford, a run dating back to 1999.

In team news, Shaun Maloney may miss the trip to Vicarage Road due to an illness that saw him substituted early into the second half against Norwich last week.

Gabriel Tamas is the only Watford absentee as he continues his recovery from a knee ligament injury.

Wigan Athletic starting XI vs Norwich City (6/12/14): Carson; Perch, Barnett, Figueroa, Taylor; McCann, Watson, Maloney; McManaman, McClean, Fortuné.