Match Preview - Wigan Athletic
MATCHPREVIEW
Tuesday 9th February 2010
Wigan Athletic vs Stoke City
Barclays Premier League
DW Stadium
Kick Off 7:45pm
INTRODUCINGWIGAN:
The Potters travel to the newly named DW Stadium looking to secure a second away victory of the campaign.
Stoke will be hoping to capitalise on the fact that the Latics have failed to claim a home league victory since the 28th November, when a late Hugo Rodallega strike gave them a 1-0 win over Sunderland.
Wigan are currently below the Potters in 14th place and just a point clear of safety, so Roberto Martinez's side will be hoping to pick up their home form in a bit to steer clear of the relegation zone.
The Wigan faithful were left frustrated last week as they saw their side lose by a single goal at home to Everton before being the victims of a giant-killing as they were knocked out of the FA Cup by side Notts County after a 2-0 home defeat to the League Two side that are now the lowest ranked team left in the competition.
Goals have been relatively hard to come by for the Latics but they have been helped by the impressive form of Colombian International Hugo Rodallega. The 24-year-old is Wigan's top goalscorer so far this season, netting seven Premier League goals and the Wigan fans will be hoping the striker can continue his impressive goalscoring record.
A goalless draw at the Stadium of Light in the Potters last away game gave them their eighth league point on their travels this season and avoiding defeat today will continue City's unbeaten start to 2010.
After an entertaining 2-2 draw between the sides in the reverse fixture in December, which included a goal of the season contender from Maynor Figueroa, let's hope for the same level of entertainment tonight at the DW Stadium.
MEETTHEGAFFER:
After a successful playing career, Roberto Martinez returned to Swansea City as manager after previously captaining the Swans during his first spell at the club.
Martinez's first managerial job began extremely well as he guided the Welsh club to the 2007/2008 Coca-Cola League One title and picked up the League Manager's Association's manager of the year award.
The Swans first season in the second tier of English football also proved successful as the Spaniard led his side to a respectable 8th place finish as well as an FA Cup run which saw them knock out FA Cup holders Portsmouth at Fratton Park.
At the end of the season, Martinez was approached by Wigan Athletic and after lengthy talks with the Lactics; the 36-year-old was confirmed as the new manager at the DW Stadium.
Martinez made the perfect start in the Premier League with an impressive 2-0 win at Villa Park and has engineered a relatively solid campaign for the Lactics so far, despite suffering a 9-1 drubbing at White Hart Lane.
The highlight of the campaign undoubtedly being a sensational 3-1 win over league leaders Chelsea in September.
FASTFACTS:
* As of this season, Wigan are the youngest club in the Premier League, having only been formed in 1932.
* Wigan's average attendance has increased from 1,854 in 1995 to 17,884 in 2009.
CLUBDETAILS
Founded: 1932
Nickname: The Latics
Stadium: DW Stadium
Capacity: 25,138
Owner: Dave Whelan
Chairman: Dave Whelan
Record League Victory: 7-1 vs. Scarborough, 11th March 1997
Record League Defeat: 1-9 vs. Tottenham Hotspur, 22nd November 2009
Record Transfer Paid: £6,000,000 for Charles N'Zogbia from Newcastle United, February 2009
Record Transfer Received: £16,000,000 for Antonio Valencia from Manchester United, June 2009
HEAD2HEAD:
League- Played 21, Won 9, Drew 7, Lost 5
FA Cup- Played 1, Won 1, Drew0, Lost 0
FLASHBACK:
Potters fans will recall memories from when their side upset the form book to secure 1-0 win over high flying Wigan at the then called JJB Stadium back in 2005.
The Latics were a side full of confidence and on course for promotion, looking to complete the double over Stoke after securing a 1-0 win at the Britannia Stadium back in November.
But Tony Pulis's side had other ideas and would inflict a 1-0 defeat on the hosts to secure their first win in six games.
Despite the hosts dominating proceedings and going close through Jimmy Bullard and Jason Roberts, it was the visitors who took an unlikely lead just before the interval.
Good build up play from the Potters resulted in Stoke skipper Clive Clarke squaring the ball to Gifton Noel-Williams, who slotted the ball home from just inside the area.
The Latics responded well and continued to create chances, but they could not find a way past an inspired Steve Simonsen and the Potters held firm to claim an impressive victory.
Stoke City: (4-4-2): Simonsen; Buxton, Taggart, Hill, Hall, Asaba, Eustace (Henry 47), Brammer, Clarke, Noel-Williams, Greenacre. Subs not used: de Goey, Neal, Gudjonsson, Gudmundsson.
Wigan Athletic: (4-4-2): Filan; Eaden, Thome, Jackson, Baines (Graham, 82), Teale (Johansson, 75), Bullard, Mahon, McCulloch, Roberts, Ellington. Subs not used: Walsh, Breckin, Jarrett.
OTHERMEETINGS:
* Goals from Ricardo Fuller and James Beattie were enough to ensure that the Potters claimed a 2-0 victory over Wigan in their final home game of the 2008/09 campaign.
* December's clash between the sides at the Britannia Stadium produced one of the most entertaining games in the Potteries so far this season as Stoke battled back from behind twice to earn a point. Emmerson Boyce gave the Latics an early lead before Tuncay levelled matters just before half-time. Maynor Figueroa's wonder goal restored the visitors lead but Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross equalised just two minutes later. Thomas Sorensen was the late hero for the hosts as he saved a last minute spot-kick from Hugo Rodallega to ensure that the points were shared after a pulsating encounter.
FORMGUIDE:
Stoke City - WWDWDW
York City (h) [FA Cup] - Won 3-1
Fulham (h) - Won 3-2
Liverpool (h) - Drew 1-1
Arsenal (h) - [FA Cup] - Won 3-1
Sunderland (a) - Drew 0-0
Blackburn (h) - Won 3-0
Wigan Athletic - WDLLLD
Wolves (a) - Won 2-0
Notts County (a) - [FA Cup] - Drew 2-2
Blackburn (a) - Lost 2-1
Everton (h) - Lost 1-0
Notts County (h) - [FA Cup] - Lost 2-0
Sunderland (a) - Drew 1-1
TICKETNEWS:
Tickets for the trip to the DW Stadium will remain on general sale at the Britannia Stadium until 4.00pm on Tuesday 9th February. Tickets will then be available on the gate at the game. The Club have an allocation up to 4,600 tickets, priced as follows:
£20 adults
£15 over 65's
£15 under 16's
MATCHOFFICIALS:
Referee: Andre Marriner
Linesmen: P. Keane & A. Watts
Fourth Official: M. Atkinson
STOKECITYFC.COM:
If you can't get to the game then stokecityfc.com is the next best place to be.
We'll have the full line-ups as soon as they are handed over by First Team Coach Mark O'Connor, live minute-to-minute coverage throughout game, a full and in-depth match report right on the full-time whistle, along with plenty of post-match reaction.
With Stoke City Player you'll also be able to listen to live full-match commentary with Nigel Johnson and the boys from an hour before kick off - the only website that allows you to do so while helping the club financially at the same time.
Stoke City Player will also have extended highlights of the game 24 hours after the final whistle along with video reaction from the men that matter.
BETTINGNEWS:
City are priced at 12/5 to secure maximum points at the DW Stadium this evening whilst the hosts are marginally favourites at 6/5. The draw is priced at 23/10.
