Wigan Athletic - Stoke City

Posted Tuesday, February 09, 2010 by Goal.com

Latics attempt to escape basement battle...

Kickoff: Tuesday, 9 February, 19:45 GMT
DW Stadium, Wigan

Wigan Athletic are not the Premier League’s form side so far this year. The Latics have won only once in the league this year – their only victory since late November – and, coupled with an FA Cup exit at the hands of League Two side Notts County, things are looking bleak for manager Roberto Martinez as they slip to 16th – just two points above the relegation zone.

Martinez has done his best in the January transfer window to bring in players to reverse the crisis, including goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic, defender Gary Caldwell, striker Marcelo Moreno and the promising Victor Moses. The first fruit of his labours was a point against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Saturday; the Latics will be hoping for three more on Tuesday night.

Former England striker Gary Lineker joked at the weekend that if Stoke could learn how to win away from home, they might win the Premier League, and while such a statement is an obvious exaggeration of the facts, the Potters are still 11th in the league, despite failing to win their last six games on their travels.

Tony Pulis has watched his side go on a four-game unbeaten run in the league however and a top ten finish is very much on the cards, but the realistic manager is pleading for caution in his ranks, targeting the hallowed 40-point marker for top flight safety rather than shooting for the moon. A win at the DW Stadium would take them within eight points of that target, with 14 games left to play.

FORM GUIDE

Wigan

6 Feb: Sunderland 1-1 Wigan (Premier League)
2 Feb: Wigan 0-2 Notts County (FA Cup)
30 Jan: Wigan 0-1 Everton (Premier League)
27 Jan: Blackburn 2-1 Wigan (Premier League)
23 Jan: Notts County 2-2 Wigan (FA Cup)

Stoke

6 Feb: Stoke 3-0 Blackburn (Premier League)
1 Feb: Sunderland 0-0 Stoke (Premier League)
24 Jan: Stoke 3-1 Arsenal (FA Cup)
16 Jan: Stoke 3-2 Fulham (Premier League)
5 Jan: Stoke 1-1 Liverpool (Premier League)

TEAM NEWS

Wigan

January signing Steven Gohouri is Martinez’s only doubt as he struggles with a hamstring injury. Erik Edman has departed from the club by mutual consent on the eve of Stoke’s visit, but two arrivals, Victor Moses and Marcelo Moreno, will be hoping for a first start for the Latics.

Possible Starting XI: Kirkland; Melchiot, Caldwell, Bramble, Figueroa; McCarthy, Diame, Thomas, N’Zogbia; Rodallega, Moses.

Stoke

Andy Wilkinson is set to be available for selection after receiving stitches in his head during the win over Blackburn Rovers. Captain Abdoulaye Faye, who was forced out of that game with a back spasm, is set to return. Ricardo Fuller should be available after being bailed following an arrest related to a nightclub incident on Sunday morning.

Possible Starting XI: Sorensen; Wilkinson, Shawcross, Faye, Higginbotham; Lawrence, Whitehead, Delap, Etherington; Fuller, Sidibe.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Wigan

The chances of defender Maynor Figueroa scoring another free kick from all of 60 yards – as he did in the reverse fixture – are slim, so the onus for goals is likely to fall to a more advanced player, like Charles N’Zogbia. The winger has been one of Roberto Martinez’s most consistent performers this season, and has six goals to his name in all competitions thus far.

Stoke

The performance of Matthew Etherington on Saturday had Tony Pulis suggesting the midfielder was worthy of a possible England call-up, and with a goal and an assist in a 3-0 win, it is hard to disagree. Etherington’s contribution has been essential to Stoke’s rejuvenated approach this season, and Pulis will be hopeful the former West Ham winger can continue in a similar vein.

PREDICTION

Wigan are struggling of late, and Stoke may cease the opportunity to break their away day jinx and possibly force the Latics deeper into the relegation battle.

Wigan Athletic 1-2 Stoke City