Allen Hamilton
What: English Premier League
Who: Wigan Athletic vs Manchester City
When: Monday 16th January, 2012, at 20:00 UK Time
Where: DW Stadium, Wigan, England
Surprise Win Badly Needed
The task that Roberto Martinez’ men face is growing harder by the week. Bottom of the Premier League, with even Blackburn Rovers and Wolverhampton Wanderers showing signs of life, while QPR have brought in a new manager, Wigan are staring down the barrel of what could be a potentially devastating relegation. The Latics worked hard to cement a spot in the Premier League and, should they go down, returning to the Promised Land would be a struggle.
And all this means wins are desperately needed, even in games that would ordinarily be written off, such as this clash against the league leaders Manchester City.
"We need three points", confirmed Martinez. "We’re well into the second half of the season with 18 games still to go and we must view every match as a unique opportunity to collect points."
Wigan have upped their game in recent weeks though, something their Spanish manager has acknowledged. "I’ve said before that we’re still catching up to the points target I feel we should be at by now", said Martinez, "but in the last nine games we’ve shown a completely different level of performance to earlier in the campaign and that’s what we have to continue with."
Neighbours Keep the Pressure On
With Manchester United having eased to a 3-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers in their weekend clash, Manchester City now have no breathing room at the top of the table. Level on points with their neighbours, the Citizens will want to grab the three points here, a game manager Roberto Mancini will surely remind his men is the type of clash that needs to be won in the title hunt.
City may also enter the DW Stadium as wounded animals, having lost their midweek League Cup semi-final first leg to Liverpool. Tempers flared at Eastlands that night, with Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard clashing with Mancini in the tunnel over a tackle made by Reds full back Glen Johnson.
Good news for the visitors arrives in the shape of David Silva though, with the all-important Spanish playmaker tipped to return. Silva has been an essential performer for City this season and if Mancini’s men can help him dominate the middle of the DW park, then goalscoring chances for the forwards are sure to flow.
Having won all four of their previous contests against Wigan, City are well capable of gaining the three points so desired by all at Eastlands.
Recent form
Wigan:
Stoke City 1-1 Wigan (31/12; Premier League)
Wigan 1-4 Sunderland (03/01; Premier League)
Swindon 2-1 Wigan (07/01; FA Cup)
Manchester City:
Manchester City 3-0 Liverpool (03/01; Premier League)
Manchester City 2-3 Manchester United (08/01; FA Cup)
Manchester City 0-1 Liverpool (11/01; League Cup)
Key absences
Wigan: Shaun Maloney; Mohamed Diame (international duty); Chris Kirkland
Manchester City: Mario Balotelli (doubt); Yaya Toure (international duty); Kolo Toure (international duty)
Players to watch
Wigan – Ali Al-Habsi: The 30-year-old waited years to receive the chance to play regular Premier League football and does not want to head down to the Championship with Wigan after just two seasons of shot-stopping in the top flight. Al-Habsi may well end up needing to pull off a superhuman display for the Latics to gain anything from this match.
Manchester City – James Milner: The England midfielder is tireless in his pursuit of glory for City. Dominating the middle of the park and supplying the Citizens’ forwards will be key here. Do it and the evening could be a comfortable night’s work for Mancini’s men.
Match Prediction
Wigan’s defence has been porous of late, with a 4-1 home defeat to Sunderland being followed up by an FA Cup exit to fourth tier Swindon. It is difficult to see Martinez’ troops turning the tide here and in truth the Spaniard probably knows it. Expect Manchester City to bounce back from two consecutive losses with a win. Wigan 0-3 Manchester City.
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