Wigan Athletic V Blackburn Rovers

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 19 November 2011 – 15:00 GMT

Venue: DW Stadium

Preview

This has been Wigan’s worst ever start to a Premier League season, while Blackburn haven’t picked up fewer points at this stage since the 1996-97 term – so what we have here is a match made in heaven as the league’s two slowest starters slug it out for three coveted points.

Separated by a single point at the foot of the league, with both having mustered just one win all season so far, Wigan (20th) and Blackburn (19^th) already find themselves stranded due to their equally lethargic openings. A win for either side would not be sufficient as to lift them out of the relegation zone, but it would be progress nonetheless; visitors Blackburn have failed to win any of their previous six while Wigan are on a retched run of eight straight defeats!

Something has to give, right? Surely one has to profit from the other? Well, these two clubs are meeting for the seventh consecutive season, and in their previous twelve encounters there have only been two draws. The most recent meeting? It was only a seven-goal spectacle, with Wigan triumphing 4-3 at the DW Stadium.

It’s also worth pointing out that these two managers, Roberto Martinez of Wigan and Steve Kean of Blackburn, head the betting for the next managerial departure. Could defeat in this very fixture be the final nail in the coffin for one of them?

Wigan

League Position: 20th

League Form: LLLLL

It would appear there are no depths Wigan won’t sink to at the minute. As if their eighth consecutive league defeat wasn’t pitiful enough, defender Antolin Alcaraz spitting on an opponent during his team’s 3-1 loss away at Wolves last time out was a despicable act that only highlighted how in disarray the Latics currently are. This was supposedly the Wigan skipper, would you believe it, and he has subsequently been banned for three games by the FA.

So, Alcaraz-less, Wigan seek a hasty revival. From going their first three games of the season unbeaten, they’ve slumped to eight defeats in a row and are now the team propping up the table. Their last was arguably the most concerning, or perhaps ominous.

To lose 3-1 away at Wolves, who themselves were in dire straits at the time, hardly inspires confidence, while it was yet another performance which epitomised their season up till now; creating chances, even using the ball to good affect at times, but woeful in front of goal and even more calamitous at the back. Had it not been for goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi, who has been in sensational form between the sticks for well over a year now, the margin of defeat would have been greater.

The onus on Al Habsi to keep bailing his team out of trouble is far too much and it is time the forwards eased some of the pressure by putting the ball in the net up the other end. During this dismal eight-game losing run of theirs, Wigan have plundered an embarrassing four goals – failing to score on four occasions – making them the league’s lowest scorers, on top of being the league’s poorest side in general down in 20th.

Wigan are, unfortunately, a bit of a hopeless cause at the minute. Many are already viewing their demotion back to the Championship as inevitable, and on current form it’s impossible to oppose such an argument.

Blackburn

League Position: 19th

League Form: LDLDL

Playing away from the circus that is Ewood Park is proving a blessing in disguise for Blackburn, who in their previous two away assignments could have so easily ended their winning drought. They’ll be hoping third time’s a charm when they take on rock-bottom Wigan at the DW Stadium, whom they’ve not beaten in Greater Manchester in any of the previous four seasons.

Incredibly, Blackburn have only won once this season. I say that because their performances in some matches were outstanding, deserving of maximum hauls. However, Lady Luck is not sweet on Steve Kean, the Rovers boss who is continually bombarded with desperate pleas from fans to step down from his position as first-team manager, after the club’s worst start in the top flight for 15 years, and the 44-year-old Glaswegian is unsurprisingly the bookies favourite to be the next Premier League manager out the door.

As I said, the performances have been encouraging. Very encouraging indeed. Not many will claim they competed with Chelsea and Tottenham for the full 90 minutes this season, and Blackburn certainly did that – albeit still losing both, marginally, while they really ought to taken the spoils in their most recent away encounter. A 3-3 draw at Norwich will have been tough to swallow for Steve Kean, who saw his side lead 3-1 going into the closing stages only to concede an equaliser at the death courtesy of a dubious penalty decision.

A season filled with hard-luck stories, then, for Rovers, who away from home have kept just one clean sheet in their last 24 Premier League matches. A rare shut-out would not appear likely at the weekend either, not even away at Wigan, whom have failed to net in four of their previous eight games. That’s because defenders Vince Grella, Ryan Nelsen, Michel Salgado and Cristopher Samba are rated doubtful for the trip, while full-back Jason Lowe is suspended. Scott Dann should return, though.

Match Pointers

- Wigan have won two and lost none of their previous three Premier League meetings with Blackburn at the DW, but Rovers boss the head-to-head with seven victories to Wigan’s three. There have been just two draws in their twelve meetings.

- Last season’s corresponding fixture produced a seven-goal thriller, with Wigan 4-3 victors.

- The Latics have suffered eight consecutive league defeats and subsequently prop up the league in 20^th, winning only one of their first eleven fixtures (W1 D2 L8).

- Blackburn are without a win in their last six league games, with Steve Kean’s side floundering in 19^th after also managing just one win from their first eleven (W1 D3 L7).

- Rovers have scored in each of their five away matches this season, but on four occasions it was just a solitary goal.

Betting

Clearly bookmakers are of the same opinion as me, that Blackburn have shown some encouraging signs of mounting a recovery whereas Wigan cut a despairing figure and are generally a team to avoid at all costs right now.

Physically Blackburn have always been able to compete, however their football has improved leaps and bounds this season and I can see them playing Wigan off the park in a contest where whoever makes the least amount of mistakes should profit. The Latics make far too many on a regular basis, particularly in defence, so an improving Blackburn, who do have a few accomplished individuals in the attacking third, at 2/1 looks tremendous value.

For value, Blackburn have scored precisely three goals on two of their previous four trips to Wigan in the Premier League. Coupled with Wigan having conceded that same exact number on four occasions this season, three of which were in 3-1 defeats, Blackburn to win 3-1 could be worth a punt. They really ought to have won by that scoreline in their last away fixture as well, away at Norwich.

Match Outcome: Blackburn to WIN @ 2/1 VictorChandler

Value Bet: Blackburn 3-1 (Correct Score) @ 28/1 Ladbrokes

Match Odds

Wigan Athletic – 8/5 Boylesports

Draw – 23/10 WilliamHill

Blackburn Rovers – 2/1 VictorChandler

Wolverhampton Wanderers V Wigan Athletic

Date & Kick-Off: Sunday, 6 November 2011 – 13:30 GMT

Venue: Molineux

TV Coverage: LIVE on SKY SPORTS 1

Preview

A monumental meeting at the bottom of the Premier League this Sunday sees a Wolves side without a win in eight host hapless Wigan, who are currently on run of seven straight defeats in the league. The reward for the victorious party will be just three points, but it will feel like the proverbial six as two nailed-on relegation candidates go head-to-head at Molineux – which can be seen live on Sky Sports 1 as part of Super Sunday’s double bill.

Usually in these types of fixtures, where two struggling teams meet both eyeing up each other as a means to an end – and in this case a means to their dire streaks, the onus will fall on the home side. However, Wigan aren’t in a position where they can afford to rest on their laurels, because they have none. Their current state of affairs are critical to say the least; Martinez’s Latics prop up the table in 20th, after one win all season, and are already three-points off safety.

On the topic of safety, Wolves are clinging onto the last position that doesn’t scream ‘DANGER’. Wanderers sit just two-points above the drop zone in 17th, three points better off than rock-bottom Wigan but just one bad result away from slipping into that dreaded bottom-three. In fact, defeat in this fixture for them, provided it is by a two-goal margin or greater, and they would be leapfrogged by the Latics.

So where’s your money going – on a Wolves side without a win since 21 August, or do you fancy Wigan to collect their first points since 27 August? It has been such a drought for both that you wonder if either actually remember how to win a game of football.

Wolves

League Position: 17th

League Form: LLLDL

Last season it was Wolves’ inability to take points off their survival rivals which almost cost them their Premier League status. This season, however, it’s been their inability to take points off anyone which is jeopardising their two-year reign in the top flight. Since the middle of August, which was when they last won a league game, Wolves have registered a meagre two points from 24 that went on offer. But they can at least take enormous heart from the fact one team has been just as abysmal as themselves – and it just so happens they face them this weekend.

A 3-1 loss away to Man City last weekend stretched Wolves’ winless run to eight in the league, six of which were defeats. So you can kind of see why some supporters aren’t happy with the current regime, and why Mick McCarthy has come in for some stick of late – even though he was instrumental in guiding the club back to the promised land, as well as the small matter of keeping them there for the past two years.

The last time Wolves were at home it was against newcomers Swansea, and it was also shown live on Sky Sports which meant we got a first-hand perspective of what McCarthy is dealing with. The hostility around Molineux right now is highly detrimental to the team’s chances of ending their dismal sequences of results, so you do wonder how the crowd will react should their team fall behind on Sunday at home to rock-bottom Wigan, who have suffered seven consecutive defeats.

Wolves’ fixtures at home this season haven’t been too difficult, which I suppose doesn’t entirely bode well for Sunday. They were winners first time out, versus Fulham, but it’s been a downward spiral ever since with defeats to Newcastle (1-2), QPR (0-3) and Tottenham (0-2), though their 2-2 draw with Swansea in their match in the Midlands felt like a victory considering they trailed 2-0 going into the final ten minutes. That comeback draw coupled with their valiant performance away at Man City last week, in which they almost came from two-goal down but ended up losing 3-1, could be the telling signs of a Wolves renaissance.

If Wolves are to kick-start their faltering season on Sunday, they will have do it without top scorer Steven Fletcher. The Scotland striker has been ruled out with a calf problem, meaning Kevin Doyle will once again have to work tirelessly up front on his own.

Wigan

League Position: 20th

League Form: LLLLL

Win, lose or draw – relegation or survival – it would appear Wigan chairman Dave Whelan will keep faith with manager Roberto Martinez no matter what the outcome. That has to be of huge relief for the Spaniard, who is a talented manager in my honest and humble opinion, because any other manager in his situation – at the helm of a team which has lost its previous seven league matches – would have more than likely faced the music by now.

So without feeling any added pressure from the board, Martinez can focus on what really matters, and that’s the football side of things and what happens on the pitch this Sunday. Ideally, Wigan would have liked this match at home, even though the DW Stadium is hardly a fortress these days, but Molineux isn’t a bad venue either. The home fans have been quick to turn on their team of late and an early Wigan goal would certainly work in the Latics’ favour.

Just like their opposite numbers, some green shoots of recovery can be seen in some of Wigan’s recent displays. Away at Newcastle in their last away fixture, Wigan were dogged and resilient, tidy on the ball, and although they didn’t offer too much going forward, had chances. To lose 1-0 was a massive blow and incredibly unjust. Then, at home to Fulham last time out, Wigan were beaten 2-0 despite enjoying the Lion’s share of possession and creating the better opportunities – but yet again it was their lack of cutting edge in the final which cost them dear.

Wigan have now scored just three times in their last seven league games, all of which were defeats while only one of those goals were scored whilst out on their travels. Now that’s some damning statistics if you ask me. It gets worse, though. Two of those goals were scored by midfielder Mohamed Diame, both crackers as well, and he’s a major doubt for Sunday. Meanwhile captain Gary Caldwell is suspended.

Match Pointers

- Four of the previous five league meetings were won by Wigan, who did the double over Wolves last season by winning 2-0 at home and 2-1 at Molineux.

- Wolves (17th; W2 D2 L6) are without a win in eight games in the Premier League, losing six and drawing two; they also managed just five goals during this dismal run.

- The Molineux outfit have conceded two goals or more in each of their previous Premier League home games, and on three occasions it was precisely two.

- Wigan (20; W1 D2 L7) have lost their last seven league games, by an aggregate of 3-15.

- The Latics have scored just one goal away from home this season, failing to score in four of their five awau league encounters.

Betting

Perhaps I’m being biased; I suppose I am seeing as I’m tipping them, but I’m rooting for Wigan this weekend, even though there’s little on paper which would suggest an away victory is even plausible in this fixture. The Wolves team does look better from an attacking point of view, with Mick McCarthy boasting a lot more creative outlets than his opposite number, who will once again rely on the quick feet of Victor Moses. Defensively, though, both are as poor as each other.

To be brutally honest, I wouldn’t want to back either side at short odds, so there’s no way I’ll be touching Wolves at the Evens mark. So I’m basically putting all my faith in Roberto Martinez masterminding a whirlwind of a Latics performance at Molineux, possibly inspired by Victor Moses, the 21-year-old who will be buoyed by his recent call-up to the Nigerian senior side; he’s also had more attempts on goal than any player in the Barclay’s Premier League this season without scoring. Something tells me he maybe due.

Match Outcome: Wigan to WIN – 7/2 Ladbrokes

Value Bet: Victor Moses to Score – 5/1 Unibet

Match Odds

Wolves – EVENS Boylesports

Draw – 5/2 StanJames

Wigan – 7/2 Ladbrokes

Aston Villa V Wigan Athletic

Date & kick-off: Saturday, 1st October 2011 – 15:00 (GMT)

Venue: Villa Park

Preview

They have their own agendas do Aston Villa and Wigan. The former have made a decent start to the season – they are one of only four teams still to lose – but have only won once so far. Wigan, well their situation is the same as always; gathering enough points to stay afloat, and after registering a meagre five points from their first six games, are desperate for some spoils this weekend.

Rather surprisingly, however, it is Wigan who go into the weekend’s encounter feeling as though they have the beating of their opponents: the Latics have never lost a Premier League match at Villa Park, winning on three of their visits to a ground where nowadays the locals are just as hostile towards their own team as the opposition.

Aston Villa

League Position: 8th

League Form: WDDDD

Those murmurs of discontent around Villa Park when the club announced former Birmingham manager Alex McLeish would switch Second City allegiances and become Aston Villa’s latest tactician haven’t taken long to transform into outrage – and it could soon lead to mass exodus. Fans aren’t at all happy with the current brand of football Big Eck has them playing, nor the hugely negative 4-5-1 formation he deploys, and the Holte End faithful are not deceived by the deceptive unbeaten start to the season the Villains have made.

Six games unbeaten – one win and five draws – has done very little, if anything to quash the privative views of Villa’s fans whom believe their team should be playing a free-flowing, exciting brand of football in the Premier League – a league they barely managed to remain last season. Couple the latter fact with the lucrative departures of two massively influential creative outlets – Stewart Downing to Liverpool and Ashley Young to Manchester United – and you can understand Alex McLeish reservations about playing in a more expansive style.

The one positive about Villa under McLeish is they are incredibly difficult to beat. Their unbeaten start to the campaign is proof of this. However, five draws from six, with just seven goals scored, is ammunition for the critics. And they do have a point, to a degree. The sight of Charles N’Zogbia and Darren Bent struggling for form is worrying, alarming really when you consider they are two of a select few proven match-winners at McLeish’s disposal. So clearly something is up.

The atmosphere at Villa isn’t healthy, with fans unwilling to accept McLeish as manager. The moment something goes wrong, any thing, they are immediately on his case and it isn’t doing the confidence of the team any good. So I do worry for Villa. And it could get worse before long, as next up is Wigan at Villa Park. Anything less than three-points would be greeted by a chorus of boos at the end of the game, even though this is a fixture the Villains have a dismal record in – they’ve never beaten the Latics at home in the Premier League, losing three of their five meetings.

If as McLeish wasn’t already handicapped, the Scot may have to do without his star striker once again as Darren Bent struggles to shrug off his groin problem. Emile Heskey is also out injured but Jermaine Jenas, on loan from Tottenham, could make his first appearance for the club provided he shrugs off a groin problem.

Wigan Athletic

League Position: 15th

League Form: DWLLL

You fear the writing is on the wall for Wigan, who have opened their accounts for the season in typically dismal fashion. Just one win in six leaves them hovering precariously above the relegation places while Saturday’s 2-1 home reverse to Tottenham was their third on the spin in the league, their fourth in all competitions, and you feel it is only a matter of time before the Latics reacquaint themselves with the bottom-three – where they spent the majority of last season.

Tasked with putting the brakes on Wigan’s current plight, Wigan manager Roberto Martinez controversially turned down the opportunity to manage Saturday’s opponents Villa during the summer so he could stay on at the DW. In the opinion of everyone, he was mad. The Spaniard could have took his first meaningful steps towards managing a big club I personally feel he is destined for, yet decided to remain at the helm of a club with very little funds managing a threadbare squad with a quality deficiency. Already, after just two months into the new season, he may be regretting his bold move.

The Latics were handed a negotiable opening set of fixtures, including games against all the newly promoted sides, so there aren’t many crumbs to be had from their woeful early-season form. A 2-0 victory at home to QPR and a couple of draws with Norwich and Swansea – all recently promoted from the Championship – is ominous form, while their inability to compete at Man City and at home to Tottenham last week indicates another long old slog ahead.

However, Wigan do have a reputation for doing just enough; grounding out out a sufficient amount of points to survive, while they aren’t a team who tend to dwell on defeats for any great period of time. If anything a barren outing only invigorates them, so it wouldn’t be all that surprising to see them make a noteworthy appearance at Villa Park this weekend, interestingly where they have an exceptional record in the Premier League having won on three of their five visits, losing none.

Match Pointers

Aston Villa have entertained Wigan at Villa Park five times in the Premier League, failing to win any: W0 D2 L3.

All three of Wigan’s Premier League victories at Villa Park have been by a 2-0 scoreline.

Villa have drawn five of their first six league games, including two of their three at Villa Park.

Wigan have lost their last three league matches, by an aggregate of 8-2.

Betting Verdict

As eye-catching as Wigan’s record away to Aston Villa is, I can’t see past a home win. The Latics have been very average so far, failing to put any of the newly promoted sides to the sword in the first few weeks of the season, at a time when their opponents were still finding their feet. Convincing defeats to Everton, Man City and Tottenham won’t have helped their flagging confidence levels either.

A lack of entertainment at Villa Park has irked supporters more than anything else, but they could be treated to a few goals on Saturday. Wigan aren’t the most threatening of offensive sides anyway, but without Hugo Rodallega and Charles N’Zogbia – two players who made them tick in the final third last season – they are destined to find goals hard to come by. The latter now plies his trade with Villa. What are the odds on a former fan favourite coming back to haunt the Latics?

It should be a rare comfortable win for Aston Villa, and another high-scoring defeat for Wigan.

Match Prediction: Aston Villa to WIN – 4/6 Ladbrokes

Value Bet: Aston Villa 3-0 (Correct Score) – 14/1 Unibet

Match Odds

Aston Villa – 4/6 Ladbrokes

Draw – 3/1 WilliamHill

Wigan Athletic – 5/1 Bet365

Wigan Athletic V Tottenham Hotspur

Date & kick-off: Saturday, 24 September 2011 – 15:00 (GMT)

Venue: DW Stadium

Preview

Tottenham enjoyed their finest season in the Premier League era in 2009/10, a campaign that contained crushing victories over Wigan – winning 3-0 at the DW and 9-1 at White Hart Lane – and culminated in a top-four finish and qualification for the UEFA Champions League. However, Wigan turned the tables the following season – drawing 0-0 at the DW but stunning everyone with a 1-0 victory in London – and on reflection, after missing out on another top-four finish by six-points, Spurs manager Harry Redknapp may well have spent endless nights ruing the five costly points his team dropped against Roberto Martinez’s Latics.

So who will triumph in their latest duel – their thirteenth in the Barclay’s Premier League? The bookies have Tottenham down as favourites after the Londoners recently bounced back to winning ways in emphatic style, beating Wolves 2-0 at Molineux before romping to a 4-0 victory at home to Liverpool last weekend. In contrast, Wigan are eager to put the brakes on their slump in form: a 3-1 defeat at Everton was their second in quick succession in the league, following their 3-0 reverse to Man City at Eastlands, while it’s three in all competitions if you include their second round exit in the Carling Cup to Crystal Palace.

However, Wigan are without defeat in six at their DW Stadium in the Premier League and will entertain a Tottenham side who have only won two of their previous eight away league contests.

Wigan

League Position: 15th

League Form: LLWDD

Roberto Martinez must galvanize a demoralised dressing room ahead of Saturday’s clash with Tottenham at the DW Stadium, where the Latics can at least take some heart from their six-match unbeaten run in Greater Manchester. Moreover, Wigan have not lost at home to London opposition for over a year now, going their last five unbeaten in a sequence containing battling draws with Arsenal (2-2) and Spurs (0-0) while their most recent result against a capital club was a 2-0 win over Queens Park Rangers – though that was before Rangers manager Neil Warnock brought in a raft of new faces on deadline day.

Wigan never stood much of a chance away at Eastlands against high-flying Man City a fortnight ago, and so it turned out as they were outplayed and beaten convincingly by three goals to nil. But that wasn’t the case away at Everton in their most recent assignment, despite a similar scoreline. A 3-1 loss at Goodison Park to Everton was a very harsh result on the Latics, who gave as good as they got – bossing the second-half for prolonged periods, creating numerous openings – before relinquishing what would have been a decent point by conceding twice in the closing stages of the game.

Unfortunately you don’t get a great deal of time to reflect nor dwell on any result in the Premier League – good or bad – which is probably a good thing for Wigan. So it’s straight back into action for the Latics, against another high-quality opponent, as prepare to take on an in-form Tottenham who in their last two league games have plundered six goals without reply, including last weekend’s hugely impressive romp over Liverpool, when comprehensively winning 4-0 at White Hart Lane.

News that Hugo Rodallega’s knee injury isn’t as severe as first feared has come as a boost to manager Roberto Martinez, who could also be without Emmerson Boyce and Steve Gohouri. What it does mean is new-boy Shaun Maloney will earn his first start in a five-man midfield as former Chelsea starlet Franco Di Santo, who netted a brace in Wigan’s last home game against QPR, spearheads the attack.

Victor Moses will be Wigan’s biggest threat going forward, despite the 20-year-old who posses extremely quick feet, bags of confidence and won’t be afraid to carry the ball long distances as the Latics attempt to ask serious questions of a Spurs defence which is set to be without two key individuals: Ledley King and Michael Dawson.

Tottenham

League Position: 11th

League Form: WWLL

An indifferent Spurs are finally stringing a few wins together and after dismantling an expensively-assembled Liverpool team last weekend, go in search of their third consecutive Premiership victory this weekend when they pay Wigan Athletic and the DW Stadium a visit on Saturday.

Back-to-back league wins, six goals without reply, and even though they were eliminated from the Carling Cup in midweek on penalties, it’s safe to say that Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham are back with a thud! Even wantaway Modric wants in on the action. In fact, it was the Croatian who began last week’s demolition of Liverpool at White Hart Lane. A stunning effort from the sought-after midfield schemer – arguably goal of the month – sent Tottenham on their way to a quiet sublime 4-0 win over top-four rivals Liverpool – a result that has well and truly put the cat amongst the pigeons.

No exaggeration, Spurs were out of this world against Liverpool. Harry’s team set an unrelenting pace right from the off that few teams would have been able to live with. Gareth Bale was a constant threat all afternoon down that left flank, although he was in a mismatch battle with Martin Skrtel. Luka Modric and Scott Parker, despite playing starting only their second game together, bossed the middle of the park, dictating the tempo of the game to their liking, while it was all one-way traffic as soon as Luka Modric’s stunning effort beat Pepe Reina all ends up. And don’t be fooled into thinking the dismissals of Charlie Adam and Skrtel for Liverpool affect the result, as Tottenham were world-class throughout!

The relationship and link-up up front between Jermain Defoe and Emmanuel Adebayor up front is also a reason for fans to get excited, as much so as Luka Modric and Scott Parker’s potentially formidable partnership in the centre of midfield. Defoe and Adebayor have netted in both games the strikers were paired together from the off, plundering five goals in total, three for former Gooner Adebayor. Defoe, though will fancy his chances of overhauling the one-goal deficit – the England striker has scored more goals against Wigan than any other opponent, ten in all.

Redknapp is hopeful Ledley King will perform another miracle act by taking his place in the heart of the Tottenham defence, despite not training during the week. King is now imperative to Tottenham’s plans in the wake of captain Michael Dawson’s achilles injury. Aaron Lennon is nursing a groin problem, however Dutch ace Van der Vaart took just two weeks to recover from a hamstring injury and after playing 60 minutes in Tuesday’s Carling Cup defeat to Stoke – Spurs bowing out 7-6 in the penalty shoot-out – the Spurs play-maker is in contention although he may have to settle for a place on the bench with Harry Redknapp reluctant to change a winning team.

Match Pointers

The Latics registered four points from their two league games against Spurs last season, drawing 0-0 at the DW but surprising everyone with a 1-0 victory at White Hart Lane.

Wigan, though, have beaten Tottenham on just the one occasion at home in the Premier League (W1 D3 L2), back in January, 2009.

Manchester United were the last team to win a Premier League match in Wigan, back in February, with Roberto Martinez’s team unbeaten in their last six home league games (W3 D3 L0).

Tottenham have won two of their last eight away Premier League fixtures (W2 D2 L4), both coming by the way of 2-0 scorelines away at Liverpool and Wolves.

This new Spurs strikeforce of Jermain Defoe and Emmanuel Adebayor has plundered five goals in two league games; two for the latter and three for the former, while Defoe in particular has been ruthless against this opponent, netting ten times in all against the Latics.

Franco Di Santo has three goals in as many league games for Wigan.

Betting Verdict

Quite simply, if Tottenham play with the same intensity and application which saw them blow Liverpool off the park, Wigan have no chance. Seriously. Even Manchester United would have had a job on their hands containing a fluent, confident and, to put it bluntly, rampant Spurs attack that should have notched more than four goals against a team who rarely concede, let alone in mass quantities.

Wigan, unbeaten in their last six home league games, must pull something out of the hat or pray an entirely different Tottenham team turn up on Saturday. To be honest, though, I don’t envisage another high-octane performance from Spurs. The DW is never a hostile venue to play your football, but it is extremely difficult on a run-down pitch where Rugby attracts a larger following than the football, which should favour the hosts.

The visitors are a little on the short side, but I still can’t oppose them, try all I might. The Latics have displayed enough cut and thrust so far to suggest a big win over a top-six team is in the offing. Spurs, meanwhile, are back amongst and are gradually finding their feet after a sluggish opening.

Match Prediction: Tottenham to WIN – 1/1 Boylesprts

Value Bet: Tottenham HT/FT – 12/5 Ladbrokes

Match Odds

Wigan – 17/5 VictorChandler

Draw – 5/2 WilliamHill

Tottenham – 1/1 Boylesports

Everton V Wigan Athletic

Date & kick-off: Saturday, 17th September 2011 – 15:00 (GMT)

Venue: Goodison Park

Preview

Goodison has not been a happy hunting ground for Wigan Athletic, who have succumbed to defeat on three of their previous four visits to the spiritual home of Everton, but their hosts on this occasion are not in the best of shapes – on and off the pitch – so could we see The Latics ending their Merseyside voodoo on Saturday with a rare away triumph over The Toffees?

Bookmakers are not of that opinion, however. Everton are odds-on to make it four successive home wins over the Greater Manchester club, who have won three of their last twenty away matches in the Premier League and whose last win at Everton in the league was back in 2005.

The Toffees also boast an incredibly strong record at home, losing just one of their last thirteen at Goodison Park in the league, and with a bit of form under their belts – registering four points from their previous two fixtures – as well as the prospect of summer signings Royston Drenthe and Denis Stracqualursi being named in the starting line-up for the first time, are the hosts are a fair price to justify favouritism against a Wigan side whose unbeaten start to the season came to an abrupt end recently with a 3-0 reverse away to Manchester City?

Everton

League Position: 10th

League Form: DWL

Preparations for last week’s home match with Aston Villa were disrupted by a pre-match protest from the fans, who made their opinions heard regarding chairman Bill Kenwright. Fortunately all the fiasco off the pitch didn’t affect the player’s performances on the day as Everton produced their most accomplished display of the season against a tough opponent. The only criticism was the final result, a 2-2 draw, as Everton – certainly on their first half performance – deserved all three points.

Nonetheless, encouraging signs from David Moyes’ team who have now taken four points from their last two matches, following on from their 1-0 win away at Blackburn just before the international break. The draw with Villa, who remain unbeaten after four games but yet were made to look very ordinary by Everton, who carved out chances at will only to be handicapped by their lack of a clinical finisher yet again. Having Nigerian Victor Anichebe out injured for up to three months doesn’t help, either, nor does selling Yakubu and Jermaine Beckford on deadline day.

Anichebe is the only definite absentee meaning the same eleven that impressed against Villa could start against Wigan, although I’m expecting at least a few changes as Everton tactician David Moyes seeks to freshen up his team for a fixture the club can ill afford to lose, what should be a three-point banker, not that Everton do many of those nowadays. Greece U21 international Apostolos Vellios made a tidy cameo role in the latter stages against Aston Villa, almost scoring twice, and will almost certainly come into contention while deadline day loanees Royston Drenthe and Denis Stracqualursi could also be in the reckoning.

Team News – David Moyes raised a few eyebrows when he started last week’s 2-2 home draw with Aston Villa with Tim Cahill in attack, despite having Louis Saha and new recruit Denis Stracqualursi on the bench. I’d expect a few alternations in this particular department, with Saha favourite to lead the attack. Royston Drenthe was an unused sub and will likely begin proceedings once again on the bench, though Apostolos Vellios impressed during his brief cameo role against Villa and could make his first Premier League start. Victor Anichebe is the only definite absentee, with the Nigerian forward ruled out for up to three months with a groin injury.

Wigan

League Position: 9th

League Form: LWDD

Roberto Martinez’s Wigan had not lost a league match since late April (seven games) before their visit to Eastlands last weekend, but the Spaniard’s charges never stood a chance against a star-studded Man City side who ran them ragged in Manchester. However the Latics were far from disgraced, despite being outplayed for most of the proceedings, and will have taken a lot of heart from their valiant display, enough to suggest they can at least match Everton on Merseyside as they bid to avoid a third successive defeat.

On the back of their 3-0 defeat to Manchester City, Wigan were dumped out of the League Cup after a Second Round defeat to Championship side Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. The loss will have been a bitter pill to swallow for Latics chief Martinez, who named a competitive squad for the Carling Cup encounter that included goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi, Maynor Figueroa and a trio of débutantes – Patrick Van Aanholt (on loan from Chelsea), Albert Crusat and Shaun Maloney.

No real selection dilemmas then for the Wigan coach following Tuesday’s disappointing performance in cup competition, that despite handing several of his fringe players the opportunity to showcase their talents. He will, however, be keen to avoid establishing a losing habit, especially with Tottenham at home and Aston Villa away to come in the forthcoming weeks.

Victor Moses has looked sprightly in the early stages of the season and could be primed for a match-winning display – I do believe he is due one, Hugo Rodallega has earned his way back into the first-team with a couple of typically industrious performances from the Colombian forward but has still to score his first goal of the season, while former Celtic ace Shaun Maloney is set to make his début for the club after a signing a three-year deal at the DW Stadium.

Team News – Roberto Martnez will ring the changes from the team that was dumped out of the Carling Cup on Tuesday by Crystal Palace. Gary Caldwell, Victor Moses, Franco Di Santo and Hugo Rodallega are among those who were rested. Shaun Maloney did, however, make his debut and could feature in some capacity at Goodison, as could Albert Crusat, another summer signing of Martinez’s.

Match Pointers

There have been 12 previous meetings between the two teams in the Premier League, Everton winning six to Wigan’s solitary one.

Everton have won the previous three meetings at Goodison Park, with Wigan’s one and only Premiership win on Merseyside against the Blues coming in 2005, their first season in the Premier League.

The Toffees have suffered just one defeat in their last thirteen league games at home (W7 D5 L1); a 1-0 reverse to QPR in their belated opening fixture.

David Moyes’ Everton have notched precisely 2 goals in eight of their last twelve league games at Goodison.

Wigan have won just three of their last twenty Premier League matches away from home (W3 D8 L9), failing to score in nine.

Betting Verdict

I have been a keen observer of Everton in fixtures such as these, mainly because I’ve put a lot of blind faith in those unreliable Toffees, and more times than not they’ve underachieved. I am reluctant to make the same mistake again, and I won’t, not at the odds available.

As eye-catching as their performance at home to Aston Villa was, it is far too early to even presume Everton have turned over a new leaf. Fans are still disgruntled with how the club is being run, and I wouldn’t rule out another pre-game protect outside of the ground, while a lack of a proven goalscorer is still a significant hindrance.

Tim Cahill – a midfielder by trade – began last week’s game up top on his lonesome and was effective, which wasn’t at all surprising considering his best days appear to be numbered. The 31-year-old Aussie has lost that spring in his step and is no longer the inspiration to others that he once was – cue a beautiful pie in face moment with his first Everton goal for nine months!

Wigan do invariably struggle on their travels, and in this fixture especially, but they can play some good stuff when they want to and are a threat going forward through Victor Moses in particular, although new boy Shaun Maloney could surprise a few on his début.

The value lies with the visitors I feel, but I also fear the home side could be too strong if they play with the same intensity and application which almost earned them a well-earned victory against Aston Villa last time out. So, I’ve decided I’ll meet myself in the middle and tip the draw. The Latics drew seven times away from home last season, one of which was a 0-0 draw at Everton.

Match Prediction: Draw – 3/1 Totesport

Value Bet: Everton to be Winning at Half-Time – 11/10 Skybet

Match Odds

Everton – 4/7 PaddyPower

Draw – 3/1 Totesport

Wigan – 13/2 VictorChandler

Manchester City V Wigan Athletic

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 10 September 2011 (15:00 GMT)

Venue: City of Manchester Stadium

Preview

If ever the outcome of a game looked ominous it was this one between Manchester City and Wigan Athletic at the City of Manchester Stadium.

The Citizens have earned the right to be considered genuine title protagonists after a scintillating start to the season that has seen them rocket to the summit of the Premier League, albeit a shared honour with their Manchester rivals United, whilst scoring a bucket load of goals – 12 in total, 4 on average, half of which scored by a resurgent Edin Dzeko, the Bosnian who sets the early pace in the scoring charts with six goals from his first three league appearances of the season; including four in his side’s 5-1 thrashing of Tottenham at White Hart Lane prior to the international break.

More impressive than their actual results has been their high-octane football. City have been running teams ragged with a dreamy attacking quartet of David Silva, Samir Nasri, Sergio Aguero and the now prolific Edin Dzeko. All this in front of a destructive three-man midfield of Gareth Barry, James Milner and Yaya Toure who can all stride forward to good affect, too. And should any of the aforementioned players prove ineffective in any one game, waiting in the wings is a truly formidable array of stars on the bench that include Adam Johnson, Mario Balotelli and Carlos Tevez.

Roberto Mancini genuinely has a Plan A, B and C, probably even a D and an E such is the depth to City’s squad. So it is incredibly difficult to envisage anything other than a seventh consecutive Premiership victory for high-flying Manchester City, who really should dominate proceedings at home on Saturday, where they’ve won ten of their last eleven league fixtures and where their opponents on Saturday, Wigan, have failed to score on each of their previous four visits, the most recent three all in defeat.

This really is a massive ask for the visitors, an unbeaten Wigan side who haven’t lost any of their previous seven league assignments but will be hard-pressed to maintain that magnificent run in a fixture which hasn’t bore much fruit recently. The Latics have failed to even score against City in each of their last three meetings, all in defeat, while the simple fact that they could only muster up three goals in their first three fixtures, all of which were against newly-promoted teams in Norwich (H1-1), Swansea (A0-0) and QPR (H2-0), is hardly a rich source of encouragement as they prepare to face arguably the most talented team in the Premier League.

Wigan were a little unfortunate to go down 1-0 on their last visit to the City of Manchester Stadium, however their record against the top-six in 2010/11 was appalling on the whole – W1 D3 L7; shipping 21 goals and netting just 5 themselves. I fear a rout could be on the cards unless Ali Al Habsi has a stormer between the Wigan sticks, which he is more than capable of, as this City team have proven already that they can carve teams open at will – so Mancini’s boys shouldn’t encounter too many problems tearing into the fifth leakiest defence in the top-flight last season.

Match Pointers

Met on 12 occasions previously in Premier League – Man City triumphing in just 4 with Wigan winning 5.

Wigan have won twice in Manchester during Premier League era but not since the 2006/07 campaign, failing to score in their last four visits to Eastlands.

City have won the previous three league meetings without conceding a goal, as well as each of the previous three at Eastlands.

Manchester City are chasing their seventh straight Premier League victory, winning their last six fixtures on the spin by an aggregate of 18-3.

The Citizens have won ten of their last eleven league games at home in an unbeaten sequence stretching back to December of last year.

The Latics, however, are unbeaten in seven in PL (W3 D4 L0), including their last three away from home.

Wigan conceded 21 times against last season’s top-six teams, conjuring up 5 themselves.

City forward Edin Dzeko leads the way in the PL scoring charts with six goals, including four in his side’s 5-1 hammering of Tottenham last time out.

Betting Verdict

The Citizens were breathtaking away at Tottenham in their most recent outing, dismantling a team who had previously not lost at home for the best part of a year. Samir Nasri in particular was outstanding on his City début, but it was Dzeko who stole the show and all the plaudits with his four-goal haul, taking his tally for the season to six in just three games. Keeping the Bosnian at arm’s length will be a task in itself for Roberto Martinez, whose side are unbeaten in their last seven in the league but have failed to net on each of their last four visits to Eastlands.

You can never say never in football, but I’m saying never here. Wigan simply don’t have enough fire-power to keep up with their glamorous hosts, nor enough resolve or quality at the back to contain this formidable City attack. As I said, it does look ominous! My favourite word at the moment.

Match Prediction: Manchester City to WIN – 1/5 PaddyPower

Value Bet: Edin Dzeko First Goalscorer – 15/4 Bet365

Match Odds

Manchester City – 1/5 PaddyPower

Draw – 6/1 Bet365

Wigan – 18/1 VictorChandler

Swansea City V Wigan Athletic

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 20th August 2011; 15:00 GMT
Venue: Liberty Stadium

Preview - The Barclay’s Premier League enters uncharted territory this weekend – Wales, to be more precise – with the city of Swansea set to welcome top-flight football back to its shores for the first time since 1983, as Wigan Athletic – survival specialists, after somehow evading the clutches of relegation for a sixth successive term back in May – look to spoil what is set to be one helluva party atmosphere at the Liberty Stadium.

On Monday, Swansea were handed a thorough reminder of what the Premier League is all about, after they were thumped 4-0 by Manchester City at Eastlands. But the final score didn’t tell the whole story. Brendan Rodgers’ men more than held their own for the best part of an hour, which by that time the score was still deadlocked at 0-0, and his side also enjoyed more of the ball – a remarkable 57% of possession in fact, while no team on the opening weekend completed more successful passes.

So it was easy to see why so many dubbed Swansea the Barcelona of the Championship last season, as my word don’t they retain possession well. But it counts for very little if you don’t use the ball to good affect, a concept the Welsh side struggled to get to grips with against Man City. But I do hope they didn’t leave Manchester discouraged; after all, they were up against the best defence in the division. One of the worst, in actual fact, is their opponents on Saturday, Wigan, a team who are at their most vulnerable away from home!

Wigan are hardly lambs to the slaughter, but the statistics behind them don’t do them any favours. Only relegated Birmingham located the back of the net fewer times over the course of last season than Wigan (40), who, while they did end the season with the ninth best away record: W4 D7 L9 (registering 19 points from a possible 57), won only four times on their travels; just one more than they managed in 2009/2010.

Furthermore, Swansea were imperious at their Liberty Stadium en route to promotion. No one, not even champions QPR, racked up more wins (15) or registered more points (50 from 69 on offer) at home than the Swans, who conceded just eleven times in Wales and haven’t lost a league match in their own backyard since February, winning six of their last eight in a highly-impressive unbeaten sequence that Wigan must show the utmost respect.

Betting - An historic day for Welsh football, but it’s crucial Swansea don’t let the occasion and all the euphoria surrounding the first ever Barclay’s Premier League match to be played in Wales get the better of them.

There won’t be an empty seat inside what was a fortress for them last season, their 20,000 capacity Liberty Stadium, and it’s crucial that they use all that positive energy to produce a whirlwind of a performance in what is unquestionably one of their most significant fixtures of the entire season, simply because it’s one of probably just a handful they have every chance of winning. Heck, they’re even favourites!

Wigan, though, are hoping their vast levels of Premiership experience will count for a lot in front of a partisan crowd that will get right behind the home side. They will, however, need to defy the odds.

Swansea Fact: The Swans are unbeaten in their last eight home league games, scoring 22 goals in that spell; an average of nearly three-a-game. PaddyPower go 4/1 on the Welsh side hitting the net a minimum of three times!

Wigan Fact: Wigan won four times on the road last season, two of which were by a 1-0 scoreline, including their very first away fixture at Tottenham. The Latics are 9/1 with StanJames to sneak another 1-0 win!

Match Odds:

Swansea 6/5 – PaddyPower
Draw 12/5 – SkyBet
Wigan 13/5 – Bet365

Verdict - The final score at Eastlands certainly didn’t do them any favours, however, I was encouraged by what I saw from Swansea on Monday. Every one of their players was comfortable on the ball; I don’t remember too many passes going astray in the middle of the park, while they were very tidy at the back as well, with Dutch goalkeeper Michel Vorn in particular excelling. Unfortunately the space and time Scott Sinclair and Lloyd Dyer were afforded in the Championship simply wasn’t there, as was to be expected against the leanest defence in the top-flight, but that shouldn’t be the case on Saturday against a Wigan side who definitely are not renowned for their defensive organisation.

I do worry for Wigan ahead of their visit to a sold out Liberty Stadium. The home side will keep possession for sustained periods and it’s imperative Roberto Martinez drills it into his team not to lose their shape or concentration, and certainly not to waste possession when they do manage to get hold of it. A tricky assignment but one which certainly isn’t beyond them, especially if Victor Moses is as how as he was last weekend.

A tough call this one, mainly because the occasion may well get to Swansea in a fixture they are hotly tipped to win. Plus, Wigan have slipped under the radar before and may well do so again. In the end, I had to base my decision on what I’ve witnessed so far.

Match Prediction: Swansea City WIN – 6/5 PaddyPower
Value Bet: Scott Sinclair First Goalscorer – 6/1 VictorChandler

Tottenham Hotspur

Manager: Harry Redknapp
Stadium: White Hart Lane
Star Man: Luka Modric
2010-2011 Position: 5th

Summer Transfer Activity (Notable Transfers)

Arrivals – Brad Friedel (Aston Villa)

Departures – Steven Caulkner (Swansea; Loan), Kyle Naughton (Norwich; Loan), Jamie O’Hara (Wolves), Jonathan Woodgate (Stoke)

Overview: After failing to finish inside the top-four for a second successive season, with it missing out on Champions League football, fans were hoping White Hart Lane would once again be a hive of activity over the summer. It has been anything but. At the time of publishing, goalkeeper Brad Friedel is Harry Redknapp’s solitary signing of the entire summer, an experienced keeper who has signed on a free transfer from Blackburn Rovers, probably as cover for the usually error-prone Heurelho Gomes.

Despite the lack of new faces at the club, though, Harry Redknapp still firmly believes that his current crop are capable of mounting a title challenge. We think he’s mad! Spurs only just managed to pip a slow-starting Liverpool to fifth, and they’ve strengthened substantially during the summer, but yet arch rivals Arsenal ended the term eight-points above them in fourth while champions United were a resounding 18-points better than Redknapp’s charges.

Several quality additions are needed before Spurs are even considered title contenders, in my humble opinion, especially in their problem area, up front. I’m not even sure how competitive they’ll be in this intriguing battle for the Champions League places.

Furthermore, there is no guarantee that one of their star performers over the last two seasons will even be a Spurs player come September, with Luka Modric eager to switch allegiances and join Spurs’ London rivals Chelsea at Stamford Bridge before the transfer window slams shut. Gareth Bale and Rafael van der Vaart are two who could fall into the category of ‘world-class’, but there are question marks hanging over the pair of them after their form declined dramatically in the closing stages of last season.

You have to admire the club’s ambition, however Spurs could be found wanting over the forthcoming season, as several of their rivals have added to their ranks since the 2010-2011 season came to a head, in contrast to what’s been going on at Tottenham, which is basically not a lot.

TOTTENHAM TOP-FOUR FINISH: 7/2 BWIN

West Bromwich Albion

Manager: Roy Hodgson
Stadium: The Hawthorns
Star Man: Peter Odemwingie
2010-2011 Position: 11th

Summer Transfer Activity

Arrivals – Ben Foster, Billy Jones, Gareth McAuley

Departures – Scott Carson, Abdoulaye Meite, Boaz Myhill (Loan), Borja Valero, Gianni Zuiverloon

Overview: One of the more remarkable sights last season was Roy Hodgson accepting the vacant manager’s job at The Hawthorns, just months after he was sacked by Liverpool. However, it was a move which West Brom bore fruit from, as the 63-year-old instantly transformed the team’s fortunes on the pitch; he made the Baggies an incredibly organised, resolute outfit to play against, and in turn successfully kept them in the division with games and points to spare.

Now fans, after seeing the amazing turnaround last season, are in optimistic mood ahead of the new season, with the hope being that West Brom can go one better than their 11th-place finish of last season and finally break into the top-half. If their form in 2011-2012 is anything like it was during Hodgson’s fourteen games in charge last season, when the Baggies lost just two of fourteen, then a top-ten finish isn’t beyond the realms of possibility – especially as Hodgson has been able to add to his squad over the summer.

Billy Jones (Preston), Gareth McAuley (Ipswich) and Zoltan Gera (Fulham) all arrived on free transfers, while Ben Foster will be an astute signing on a season-long loan from Birmingham City. In the opposite direction went Borja Valero, Boaz Myhill, Gianni Zuiverloon and former Number. 1 Scott Carson.

Although supporters can’t help but get a little excited with how they finished the previous season, survival is once again the club’s top priority.

WEST BROM TO BE RELEGATED: 5/1 SKYBET

Wigan Athletic

Manager: Roberto Martinez
Stadium: DW Stadium
Star Man: Hugo Rodallega
2010-2011 Position: 16th

Summer Transfer Activity

Arrivals – Ali Al Habsi (Bolton)

Departures – Steven Caldwell, Charles N’Zogbia (Aston Villa)

Overview: The Latics are set to embark on their seventh consecutive season in the Premier League, but once again expectation levels around Wigan are low following a typically quiet summer in Greater Manchester in which Roberto Martinez staying on as manager was undoubtedly the club’s biggest coup.

A stunning victory away at Stoke on the final day of the season ensured  Wigan prolonged their stay in the Barclay’s Premier League. Unfortunately, Martinez is an outstanding player down after Charles N’Zogbia finally got his wish – a move away from The DW. The talented French winger joined Aston Villa for £9.5M in a move which could favour both parties, provided the Wigan manager finds a suitable replacement with the money gained, something he hasn’t yet been able to achieve.

Goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi, who was voted Player of the Season by both his peers and the Wigan fans for his superb displays between the sticks while on loan at the club last season, is Wigan’s only summer signing thus far.

Robert Martinez rejected a proposed move to Aston Villa so he could stay on at The DW, a bold decision which could be seen as suicidal considering Wigan will once again have their work cut out staying up. However, the funds are now in place for the Spaniard to bolster his ranks before the window closes at the end of the month, and if he could find a few goalscorer – a feat easier said than done – then Wigan could fare better than many people envisage.

WIGAN TO BE RELEGATED: 2/1 WILLIAMHILL

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Manager: Mick McCarthy
Stadium: Molineux
Star Man: Steven Fletcher
2010-2011 Position: 17th

Summer Transfer Activity

Arrivals – Jamie O’Hara (Tottenham), Roger Johnson, Dorus de Vries (Swansea)

Departures – Adrianno Basso, Greg Halford, Marcus Hahnemann, Carl Ikeme (Loan), David Jones, Steven Mouyokolo

Overview: Words could not describe the emotions that engulfed Molineux on the final day of last season, when Wolves somehow evaded the clutches of relegation courtesy of Roman Pavlyuchenko’s stoppage-time winner at White Hart Lane as Tottenham recorded a 2-1 win over Birmingham City, saving Wolves’ bacon in the process as Mick McCarthy’s men stayed up by a single point. Now the Midlands club are set to do it all over again in the most exciting league in Europe.

An ‘enigma’ was what Wolves were during last season; lousy against their relegation rivals but truly exceptional against the league’s elite. Victories over Chelsea and Manchester United at Molineux were something the supporters will never forgot, but their 1-0 win away at Anfield against Liverpool was truly remarkable. So it really is amazing that Wolves only just managed to fend off relegation by a solitary point, although it served as a massive eye-opener for Mick McCarthy, the Wolves manager who urgently needs to address his side’s lack of consistency if the club are to avoid relegation for a third straight season.

Reinforcements have arrived in the form of centre-half Roger Johnson and midfielder Jamie O’Hara, although the latter did spend the second half of last season at Molienux on loan. I suspect one or two more could join before the end of the transfer window.

Wolves amassed a handsome tally of 40-points during 2010-2011 and while that was only just enough to keep them in the division last season, I would bet my house on as many points being more than enough on this occasion.

WOLVES TO BE RELEGATED: 3/1 BET365

The battle to avoid the drop will go down to the very last day of the season and any one of five clubs could follow West Ham United through the trapdoor and down to the nPower Championship.

The Hammers’ six-year spell in the Barclay’s Premier League came to an abrupt end last Sunday as Wigan Athletic came back from the death to seal a quite stunning 3-2 victory to spark scenes of sheer jubilation in Greater Manchester, as the Wigan supporters rushed onto the pitch to congratulate the players who had pulled off a miraculous recovery – coming from 2-0 down at half-time to snatch all three points right at the death courtesy of Charles N’Zogbia’s stoppage time winner.

Now the Latics go into ‘Survival Sunday’ knowing they need maximum points from their visit to Stoke in order to enhance their chances of staying up, but even victory at the Brittania Stadium may not be enough to save their bacon. And the same applies to several of the clubs embroiled in this tantalising yet desperate fight for survival.

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The permutations are seemingly endless.

Wigan are second from bottom but level on 39-points with Blackpool and Birmingham, who are 18th and 17th respectively, while just above them are Wolves and Blackburn who are only one solitary point better off.

It couldn’t be any tighter, nor tense, as supporters of all five clubs – especially neutrals – gear up for what will surely be one of the more memorable final days in Premiership history.

Blackburn and Wolves will definitely stay up if they reign supreme on the final day. The one snag is that they face each other in a winner takes all contest at Molineux, home of Mick McCarthy’s resurgent Wolves side who are unbeaten in their last three – two wins and a draw – and have lost just two of eight at home in 2011.

You would think a draw would suit both clubs down to the ground, seeing as they have a one-point margin of error to play with. To be honest, a point would probably suffice considering their rivals all face tricky assignments away from home, though stalemate in this fixture could have serious consequences for both teams should Blackpool, Birmingham and Wigan all collect maximum points.

The likelihood of Blackpool, Birmingham and Wigan all beating Manchester United, Tottenham and Stoke respectively is slim, however. So much so that you can get odds of 100/1 with VictorChandler on such a scenario.

However, if two of three were to come out on top in their fixtures, Wolves would be relegated, as they sit one place below Blackburn in the table, because of their inferior goal difference.

Any one of Blackpool, Birmingham or Wigan could win and be relegated, or lose and stay up, based on goal difference, which just about sums up how crazy a predicament all three find themselves in.

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Various Permutations:

Wolves V Blackburn

- Victory for either team in this fixture would keep them up regardless of what happens elsewhere.

- A draw would more than likely suffice for Blackburn, who would then only be relegated if Blackpool, Birmingham and Wigan all pick up maximum points elsewhere.

- If two of either Blackpool, Birmingham or Wigan win then Wolves would be relegated with either a draw or a defeat.

- Blackburn will only be relegated if they lose to Wolves and at least two of the teams directly below them pick up three-points.

Blackpool, Birmingham & Wigan

- If one team can better the result of the other two, say Blackpool beat Manchester United at Old Trafford but Birmingham and Wigan could only manage draws at Tottenham and Stoke, then Blackpool would stay up, and vice versa.

- The same applies should one team draw and the other two lose.

- If any of their results match (not in scoreline), whether it be two or three of the teams in question, then it will boil down to goal difference. In Blackpool’s case, should they be level on points and goal difference with either Birmingham or Wigan at full-time, they would stay in the division because they’ve plundered more goals this season.

- Should neither pick up a point on the final, goal difference and the margin of their defeat would come into affect to determine who goes down.

Blackpool GD: -21
Birmingham GD: -20
Wigan GD: -22

Disclaimer: I cannot guarantee that the information published above regarding the various permutations to be 100% correct. I apologise sincerely for any mistakes made or for any oversights.

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Betting

To Be Relegated:

Blackburn – 13.00 (12/1) WilliamHill
Blackpool – 1.40 (2/5) Unibet
Birmingham – 1.70 (7/10) bWin
Wigan – 1.80 (4/5) Boylesports
Wolves –  9.00 (8/1) WilliamHill

To Win (Their respective fixtures this weekend):

Blackpool – 6.00 (5/1) VictorChandler
Birmingham – 6.50 (11/2) Boylesports
Blackburn – 4.00 (3/1) Bet365
Wigan – 2.60 (6/4) VictorChandler
Wolves – 2.20 (6/5) BetFred

Enhanced Doubles & Trebles (with VictorChandler)

Wigan & Wolves both to WIN – 4/1
Blackpool, Birmingham & Blackburn all to WIN – 155/1
Blackpool, Birmingham & Wigan all to WIN – 100/1
All Four to end in Draws (Man Utd V Blackpool, Tottenham V Birmingham, Stoke V Wigan & Wolves V Blackburn) – 207/1

Stoke City V Wigan Athletic

Date & Kick-Off: Sunday, 22 May 2011 – 16:00 (GMT)
Venue: Brittania Stadium

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Preview

The Potters had their moment in the spotlight, and they blew it. Now it’s the turn of Wigan Athletic to get their name up in lights. Well… sort of.

Sunday’s final game of the season at fortress Brittania – it is where its occupants have not lost a single league fixture in 2011 – sees last week’s losing FA Cup finalists Stoke entertain relegation threatened Wigan in a fixture which even were the visitors to prevail in, wouldn’t necessarily assure them of safety.

The Latics go into the game on the back of last week’s breathtaking 3-2 win over West Ham in Greater Manchester, which relegated Avram Grant’s Hammers on the spot, but still languishing in the relegation zone, although by virtue of a slightly inferior goal difference and very little else. What it all means is Wigan must get a result away at Stoke else run the risk of relegation back to the nPower Championship, even though earning all three-points may still be in vein.

Having said all that, Wigan could lose 1-0 on ‘Survival Sunday’ and still end up avoiding the drop should Blackpool (18th) and Birmingham (17th) be on the receiving end of drubbings away at Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur respectively, which is very much a possibility bearing in mind the form and stature of the four teams in question. 

So it promises to be a thrilling final day at the bottom of the table. However, we shouldn’t discount those who have an important say in matters, and Stoke will certainly play a prominent part on Sunday.

Just eight days after losing the biggest match in their history – losing 1-0 to Manchester City in the final of the 2010/2011 FA Cup – Stoke return home for the first time, to the Brittania Stadium that is, and will be greeted by their proud supporters who are waiting to congratulate the team for another highly successful campaign.

Making the final of the FA Cup for the very first time was a remarkable achievement for the club. Even more impressive is how for the third season running, Tony Pulis’s men aren’t even involved in matters at the foot of the table in the closing stages of the term, with a fourth consecutive spell in the top-flight of English Football already in the bag.

So irrespective of what happened at Wembley a week previous, when Stoke battled gamely and fought tooth-and-nail with Manchester City but ultimately came up a little short, it has been a season to savour for the supporters who will once again turn out in vast numbers on Sunday to say their goodbyes. Knowing Tony Pulis like I do, he won’t want to sign out on a sour note, not at home in front of their hardened supporters.

Tony Pulis does have a tough job on his hands, though, galvanising a demoralised dressing room which, to be frank, cannot wait to jet off on their holidays after a week they’d rather forget in the short-term. A 1-0 defeat in the FA Cup final was a bitter enough pill to swallow but to succumb to a 3-0 loss to the very same opponent just three days later will have knocked the stuffing right of them, and that takes some doing.

The Potters were never at the races on Tuesday, when Man City basically trampled all over them at Eastlands, and so it remains to be seen which Stoke side actually turn up, or who for that matter. Robert Huth and Matthew Etherington struggled to make last week’s final through injury but missed the trip to Manchester several days later. So there’s two doubtful players already, key ones at that. In-form duo Jermaine Pennant and Kenwyn Jones are also carrying knocks.

On the bright side, for all you anti-Wigan folk out there this weekend, Stoke are unbeaten at home in the league throughout the whole of 2011 thus far, winning six of eight at their Brittania Stadium, which is expected to be a sell-out on Sunday.

Wigan, though, have been in this very situation before, having to win on the final day to stay up, and doing just that away at Sheffield United back in 2007. Those Latics seem to have a knack of just doing enough as well, so I wouldn’t be at all surprised were they to come through Sunday’s drama unscathed… again!

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Form

Stoke – DWDWL (Stoke 3-0 Wolves, Blackpool 0-0 Stoke, Stoke 3-1 Arsenal, Man City 1-0 Stoke, Man City 3-0 Stoke)

Wigan – WLDDW (Blackpool 1-3 Wigan, Sunderland 4-2 Wigan, Wigan 1-1 Everton, Aston Villa 1-1 Wigan, Wigan 3-2 West Ham)

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Head-to-Head (Premiership)

Stoke wins: 1
Draws: 4
Wigan wins: 0

Last 5 Seasons

2010/2011: Wigan 2-2 Stoke
2009/2010: Wigan 1-1 Stoke
2009/2010: Stoke 2-2 Wigan
2008/2009: Stoke 2-0 Wigan
2008/2009: Wigan 0-0 Stoke

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Streaks & Trends

All but one of the five Premiership meetings have ended in a draw, including last season’s encounter at the Brittania Stadium (2-2).

Stoke were unbeaten in their last five matches in all competitions but have now suffered back-to-back defeats, both against Manchester City.

The Potters, though, remain unbeaten at their Brittania Stadium in the league for eight games (W6 D2 L0).

Only Chelsea and Sunderland have scored first half goals against Stoke at the Brittania Stadium in 2011 (eight games).

The Latics haven’t won back-to-back games in the Premier League since March 2009, over two years ago.

Wigan are now without defeat for three games, but have only won one of their previous nine away from home (W1 D4 L4).

Charles N’Zogbia has five goals in as many games, scoring Wigan‘s first goal in each of their last three league fixtures.

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Match Prediction: Wigan Athletic to WIN – 2.50 VictorChandler

Throughout their six-year tenure in the Barclay’s Premier League, Wigan have made a habit of surviving by the skin of their teeth, by grounding out important points in a sporadic fashion. We’ve seen plenty of that this season as well, with last week’s stunning comeback victory against West Ham proof of this, and in any other season they’d have survived. But after all their exertions at the DW last week, do the Latics have anything left in their locker to give on ‘Survival Sunday’ – when at the very end of another mentally draining and absorbing campaign, it looks likely to come down to survival of the fittest?

I’m a big fan of Wigan manager Roberto Martinez and his footballing philosophy, so I’ll be a Latics supporter this weekend. A trip to Stoke at any other time in the season would be daunting, but Wigan couldn’t of wished for a more ample time to tackle Tony Pulis’ robust Potters at the Brittania, immediately after back-to-back defeats, one of which was a gut-wrenching 1-0 loss in the final of the FA Cup, which clearly had an adverse effect on morale as just three days later Stoke were comfortably beaten 3-0 by Manchester City, again, at Eastlands.

Stoke’s demeanour in Manchester during the week was a tell-tale sign that Tony Pulis has a dejected group of players at his disposal, possibly even depleted. I have no doubt he’ll do his best to rally the troops so that the fans can catch a final glimpse of his team in all their glory, but I fear the players have gone mentally. In stark contrast, Wigan should be fired up for Sunday and if they begin proceedings where they left off against West Ham, which was storming back from 2-0 down to score three second-half goals at a time when their backs were well and truly up against the wall, then Wigan could overawe Stoke.

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Match Odds

Stoke City – 2.88 BetFred
Draw – 3.60 Bet365
Wigan Athletic – 2.50 VictorChandler