Thursday, January 8, 2009

Wigan v Tottenham

PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: JJB Stadium Date: Sunday, 11 January Kick-off: 1330 GMT Coverage: Full commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live, coverage on BBC Sport website & highlights on Match of the Day


Wigan boss Steve Bruce has a fully-fit squad to choose from, with keeper Chris Kirkland recovered from a groin injury.

Strikers Emile Heskey and Amr Zaki are available, Lee Cattermole is back from a ban and Ryan Taylor, Mario Melchiot and Paul Scharner should feature too.

Tottenham will have striker Jermain Defoe available after he completed his move back from Portsmouth in time.

Ledley King may play after being rested and Jermaine Jenas is back after a ban, but Benoit Assou-Ekotto is suspended.


Wigan (from): Kirkland, Pollitt, Melchiot, Taylor, Bramble, Scharner, Boyce, Figueroa, Cattermole, Valencia, Brown, Palacios, Koumas, Heskey, Zaki, Camara, Kilbane, Kingson, De Ridder, Kapo.

Tottenham (from): Gomes, Cesar, Alnwick, Corluka, Gunter, Bale, Dawson, King, Woodgate, Rocha, Jenas, Huddlestone, Zokora, Modric, O'Hara, Lennon, Bentley, Boateng, Taarabt, Bent, Defoe, Pavlyuchenko, Campbell.


Wigan boss Steve Bruce:
"We are riding high (in seventh) but if you lose your big players your dressing room loses that edge.

"The last thing I want to be doing is dismantling the squad so we have just to say 'no, they are not for sale no matter what you offer'.

"We have had no offers for anyone at the moment and I hope that continues."

Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe:
"It's a strong squad with fantastic players and I'm really looking forward to the challenge and just getting out there.

"I've trained with Roman Pavlyuchenko for the first time. I watched him in the Euros with Russia and I'm a great admirer - a fantastic player, good finisher and he's clever.

"I'm really looking forward to teaming up with him and Darren Bent as well."

BIG-MATCH FACTS

Wigan and Tottenham face up to each other for the second time in 10 days, after Tottenham's 3-1 home triumph against a depleted Latics line-up in the third round of the FA Cup at White Hart Lane.

Harry Redknapp's multi-cup chasers are meeting the Premier League 'form' team; Wigan have picked up 15 of the last 18 points.

The Latics are chasing a fourth league win on the spin home and away, and a fifth on the bounce at the JJB in Steve Bruce's 50th match in his current spell in charge.

Spurs are far from out of the relegation wood, averaging a point and a goal a game. They've won 25% (five) and lost 50% (10) of their 20 league matches this term.

Distance between the clubs: 206 miles (332 kilometres)

CLUB FORM

WIGAN ATHLETIC

Going into the weekend: 7th 28 points

(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premier League fixtures)

1. Won five of six Premier League matches, including the last three against Blackburn (h), Newcastle (h) ad Bolton (a).

2. Lost one of nine top-flight matches; 1-0, away to Arsenal on 6 December.

3. Lost all their league games in October, unbeaten in November, and won all but one in December.

4. Up by 12 points on this same stage last season, when immediately above the relegation zone.

5. Won only one of their last 24 Premier League matches against London clubs; 1-0, home to West Ham on 2 February.

6. Winless in eight against clubs from the capital; claimed just four points out of 24, and not scored in the last four.


TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Going into the weekend: 16th 20 points

(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premier League fixtures)

1. Won the last two (against Wigan in the FA Cup and Burnley in the Carling Cup), after failing to win the previous five in league and cup.

2. Alternated between draw and loss in their last four Premier League games (DLDL).

3. Won one of the last six top-flight matches; 0-2, away to West Ham on 8 December.

4. The current tally of 20 points after 20 games is their lowest return for 11 years.

5. Lost the last two league games on the road; to Newcastle and rock bottom West Brom.

6. Failed to score in seven Premier League games so far this term; missed the target in only five in the whole of last season.

KEY PLAYER NOTES

WIGAN ATHLETIC

Maynor FIGUEROA is the only remaining player to have started every one of Wigan's Premier League matches this season.

If selected:-

Emile HESKEY will be playing on his 31st birthday.

Paul SCHARNER will be making his 100th appearance in a Wigan shirt.

Emmerson BOYCE will be making his 100th career Premier League appearance (Crystal Palace and Wigan).

Michael BROWN will be facing a former club. The 31 year old midfielder made 64 appearances (50 in the league) and scored three goals (two league) in two years with Spurs from January 2004.

Erik EDMAN will also be facing former club-mates. The 30 year old Sweden international defender made 34 appearances (31 in the league) and scored one league goal in one season with Spurs from July 2004.


TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Heurelho GOMES is the only remaining player to have been on the field for every minute of every one of Tottenham's Premier League matches this season.

Jermain DEFOE signed for Tottenham from Portsmouth this week. The 26 year old England international has scored on the debut on several occasions; for West Ham (League Cup), for Bournemouth (on loan), for West Ham (Premier League debut), for Tottenham, for England (friendly) and for England (competitive match).

If selected:-

David BENTLEY will be making his 150th career Premier League appearance (Arsenal, Norwich, Blackburn and Tottenham).

If on the field from the outset:-

Aaron LENNON will be making his 100th career league start (Leeds and Tottenham).

HEAD TO HEAD

The goalless draw in the reverse fixture in September was the first time Tottenham had failed to score against Wigan.

Tottenham have spent an unbroken 31 seasons in the top-flight since promotion in 1978, the same year that Wigan were elected to the Football League.

Home and away
League (inc PL): Wigan 0 wins, Spurs 3, Draws 4
Prem: Wigan 0 wins, Spurs 3, Draws 4

at Wigan only
League (inc PL): Wigan 0 wins, Spurs 1, Draws 2
Prem: Wigan 0 wins, Spurs 1, Draws 2

LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME

Wigan Athletic 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur
19 April 2008 - Ref: Lee Probert
Wigan scorer: Heskey 12
Spurs scorer: Berbatov 6

THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE

Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 Wigan Athletic
21 September 2008 - Ref: Steve Tanner

REFEREE

Andre Marriner (West Midlands)

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