Important one

Not a six-pointer or a crucially must-win game but an important one nonetheless as we see how Lee Bowyer’s team can bounce back from last weekend’s first defeat.

Lyle Taylor’s knee injury has been described to similar to one that Patrick Bauer suffered last season. So no surgery but rest, time in a brace and then strengthening and fitness recovery. Bauer was out for 9 weeks. Meanwhile Lyle can dedicate his time to Cancer Research awareness. It’s a great cause, one close to my heart, and the club has dedicated the Derby home game on October 19th. Sadly he won’t be playing.

Sounds as if Bow will stick with Hemed and Leko up front. I wonder though if he will go with Hemed up top on his own, and surround him with Leko and Williams lying a bit deeper. Taylor is a massive loss, but the manager still has a few alternative options.

Neither Taylor nor Bowyer won their respective monthly gongs, but Conor Gallagher did win the Young Player of the Month.

Back to Wigan on Saturday then. Lee Bowyer will be in the dugout after the FA agreed that throwing the back to whence it came didn’t in fact warrant a red card. Pearce should play despite missing some training this week and I think we will see both Williams and Pratley start. A disciplined performance is required.