Match preview and what the numbers say
A chilly afternoon at The Keepmoat Stadium will host a clash that promises tension more than spectacle on 24 January 2026 as Doncaster Rovers welcome Wigan Athletic. Bookmakers make Doncaster the slim favourites at 2.42, with the draw trading at 3.10 and Wigan at 2.96 — a market that underlines how tight this fixture looks on paper. Doncaster sit 22nd with 26 points from 25 matches, while Wigan are only marginally better in 18th with 30 points; neither side inspires confidence in a runaway battle for safety, but both possess quirks in their data that shape the betting case.
Doncaster’s home record shows 14 goals scored and 18 conceded at the Keepmoat — a defence that leaks chances and a team that still finds the net intermittently. Their latest run is jagged: an encouraging 1-0 win at AFC Wimbledon on 17 January with Owen Bailey the standout performer, but that win sits among a sequence with more defeats than victories. Wigan arrive with mixed form as well; they lost 0-1 to Bolton on the same weekend but had earlier away wins at Preston and Burton in recent weeks, and Callum Wright produced Wigan’s best individual rating in the most recent outing. Both clubs are below average in attack volumes but steady enough to create openings — the raw shot counts are comparable and both teams have conceded at a rate that makes goals likely.
Head-to-head and recent patterns
The only H2H meeting this season swung Wigan’s way with a convincing 3-0 victory back in September, signaling Doncaster’s vulnerability to a direct attacking approach. Statistically this fixture tilts toward both teams finding the net: Doncaster’s home games have produced BTTS outcomes in roughly 64% of matches, while Wigan’s away fixtures result in BTTS about 75% of the time. Those percentages are compelling and suggest that defensive frailties on both sides are likely to be exploited.
Betting angles and how to approach the market
Given the close 1X2 prices and the teams’ respective numbers, there are two realistic angles. Backing Doncaster to win offers value if you trust home advantage and their recent narrow victories, but it’s a tentative call given their low points tally and erratic form. The stronger, evidence-led angle is the goals market. The BTTS rates are high for both sides and recent fixtures show both teams capable of conceding and scoring in the same game. If you favour strategy and measurable edges over sentiment, the goal market provides a clearer statistical edge than the marginal home price.
Recommended betting suggestion
For this fixture the best single-market play is Both Teams To Score — Yes. The combination of Doncaster’s 64% BTTS at home and Wigan’s 75% BTTS away makes this market the most data-backed option heading into kick-off. If you want to refine your staking or the timing of placing the bet, consider reading about the right time to place bets on goal markets and keep emotional discipline when sizing stakes via tips on how to have emotional control when placing bets.
