Prediction Wigan Athletic vs Salford City 2025/2026 – Betting Tips for the EFL Trophy on 02/09/2025

Match context and recent form

The EFL Trophy returns to The DW Stadium on 02/09/2025 as Wigan Athletic welcome Salford City in a Northern Group Stage clash that promises a competitive, tight affair. Wigan arrive off the back of a busy summer of league fixtures and a 1-1 draw with Stockport County on August 30, a result that keeps their momentum ticking after mixed but resilient displays throughout August. Their recent sequence reads like a team that can both grind out narrow wins and be involved in open contests — victories over Peterborough and Stockport sit alongside a 2-2 stalemate with Rotherham and a narrow defeat to Luton.

Salford City are similarly battle-hardened. A 1-1 draw with Cheltenham on August 29 continued a run that includes wins at Newport and a 2-1 victory over Accrington Stanley, showing the Ammies can hit the net in different circumstances. Their campaign in late summer has produced more wins overall than Wigan in the snapshot provided, and their recent best player performance came from Kadeem Harris, who earned an 8.09 rating in that Cheltenham draw.

Both clubs have displayed resilience and a willingness to trade chances in recent outings. Wigan’s most notable recent individual contribution came from Morgan Fox, who was named Wigan’s best on-field performer in the Stockport draw with a 7.88 rating. The clash at The DW Stadium — capacity 25,138 in Wigan — carries the feel of a cup tie where both sides will test squad depth, rotate where necessary and still demand results.

Tactical outlook and what to expect

Expect a match where neither side will sit back for long. Wigan’s home fixtures show they can keep things tight and nick narrow wins but have not shied away from end-to-end contests. Salford’s pattern suggests a team capable of finding the net in away fixtures and of producing clutch performances in cup formats. Given the EFL Trophy’s group dynamics and both teams’ recent goal involvement, the tone should be competitive rather than cautious.

Betting suggestion

Both teams have been involved in several recent matches with goals at both ends — 1-1 draws for both clubs in their most recent games underscore that tendency. With that in mind the best market to consider here is the goal market: Both Teams to Score — Yes. This prediction leans on recent scorelines that show regular goal contributions from each side and the cup setting where squad rotation often leads to open, riskier play.