Thursday, September 30, 2010

Wigan v Wolves (1245)

Wigan    v    Wolverhampton

    Barclays Premier League
    Venue: DW Stadium Date: Saturday, 2 October Kick-off: 1245 BST
    Coverage: BBC Sport website, full match commentary on 5 live sports extra, BBC Radio 5 live, local radio, live on Sky Sports 2 & highlights on Match of the Day

    TEAM NEWS

    Wigan forward Franco Di Santo could make a swift recovery from the ankle injury he suffered last weekend.

    Club captain Gary Caldwell is back in full training following hip surgery but will not be considered until after the international break.

    Wolves midfielder Adlene Guedioura will be out for up to six months after fracturing his tibia in Sunday's defeat by Aston Villa.

    Jelle van Damme is available after proving his fitness in a reserve game.


    Wigan

    Doubtful: Cleverley (knee), Di Santo (ankle)

    Injured: G Caldwell (hip)

    Wolves

    Injured: Guedioura (broken leg), Hunt (foot), Zubar (hamstring)

    MATCH PREVIEW

    Wigan's club website match commentary was interrupted last weekend by a phone call from Who Wants To Be A Millionaire host Chris Tarrant - an ominous sign for a team already in need of a lifeline.

    We've got to get results and I understand that more than anybody. But we've played very well

    Wolves manager Mick McCarthy

    The Latics are in the bottom three, behind Wolves on goal difference, having only won once and scored just twice in the league this season. So far, they are as bereft of answers as the Wigan commentator who was unable to help his friend win £250,000 on Tarrant's quiz show.

    Wolves have gathered a reputation for enjoying a 50-50, although they have been less robust at holding on to a lead. There is no need to ask the audience at their last three games about how unlucky they have been to lose to late goals each time.

    Their club record summer transfer outlay has yet to pay off, but manager Mick McCarthy remains as confident as his Wigan counterpart Roberto Martinez that their game plan will soon reap reward.

    MATCH FACTS

    Head-to-head

    • Wolves won a league match at Wigan for the first time last season; Andy Keogh scored the only goal of that fixture in August 2009.

    606: DEBATE

    Wigan

    • Wigan have the worst scoring record in the Premier League this season, with two goals in six matches. Both of their goals have come in the last 10 minutes of matches.

    • They have lost three of their four home matches this season, and are striving for a first league win in six attempts at the DW Stadium.

    • This is Wigan's 100th home match in the Premier League.

    • They have only won one of their last nine league matches.

    Wolves

    • Wolves are winless in their last five league games and have lost three in a row. If they lose on Saturday it will equal their club record of four successive Premier League defeats, set between March and April 2004.

    • They have lost eight points from winning positions this season - more than any other top-flight club. They only lost seven points in the whole of last season after taking the lead.

    • Matt Jarvis will be making his 100th appearance for Wolves.

    • Kevin Foley is poised to make his 300th career appearance.

    LEADING GOALSCORERS

    Jordi Gomez

    Wigan

    Gomez: 2 goals (0 league)

    Steven Fletcher

    Wolves

    Fletcher: 3 goals (2 league)

    MATCH OFFICIALS

    Referee: Lee Mason

    Assistant referees: Andy Halliday & Mick McDonough

    Fourth official: Martin Atkinson

    LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

    Wigan (D0-0 v Birmingham, a): Al Habsi; Boyce, Gohouri, Alcaraz, Figueroa, Stam (Di Santo 59, Moses 90), Thomas, Diame (Watson 82), McCarthy, N'Zogbia, Rodallega. Subs not used: Kirkland, Boselli, S Caldwell, Gomez.

    Wolves (L1-2 v Aston Villa, h): Hahnemann; Foley (Stearman 73), Craddock, Berra, Ward (Elokobi 38), Edwards (Guedioura 81), Henry, D Jones, Jarvis, Fletcher, Doyle. Subs not used: Hennessey, Ebanks-Blake, Bent, Milijas.

    Potenshöjande medel -

    No comments: