After the 2-2 draw at West Ham on Wednesday the Baggies travel to another bottom three side looking to get back to winning ways. It’s another difficult game where the opposition will fancy their chances of winning and moving out of the relegation zone. Wigan have been disappointing this season and Roberto Martinez hasn’t quite had the same effect on Wigan as Roberto Di Matteo has had at West Brom. Whilst Di Matteo has been getting results at the Emirates and Old Trafford Wigan have been struggling at home against the likes of Blackpool.
The side show here is the return to Wigan of Paul Scharner. The big Austrian is a cult figure for the Latics fans and it will be interesting to see the reaction he gets from them particularly after his revelation this week that he left them so that he could go to a team that can win things.
The game is likely to be an entertaining one with two teams that like to pass the ball around but who have both had trouble keeping clean sheets this season. The last time I said that was before the Blackpool game and the referee stepped in to ruin that game, let’s hope it doesn’t turn out that way in today’s game.
Robbie’s thoughts on Wigan
‘They are a good side.
I like the way they play.
There are a lot of similarities in what they are trying to do and what we are trying to do.
It’s going to be an interesting game because I think we have a similar philosophy in the way we want to play football.’
Wigan Athletic Team News:
Steve Gohouri returns for Wigan but Boyce and McCarthy are both out injured.
Wigan from:
Al Habsi, G Caldwell,. Stam, Figueroa, Alcaraz, N’Zogbia, Diame, Cleverley, Gomez, Moses, Thomas, Rodallega, Di Santo, Kirkland, Watson, Boselli, McArthur, S Caldwell, Gohouri.
Player to watch: Charles N’Zogbia
N’Zogbia has an erratic personality which was shown in his on off transfer to Birmingham City in the Summer but he does have magic in his feet so the Baggies will have to keep a close eye on him.
West Brom Team News:
Good news from the Baggies camp as Mulumbu makes a return from suspension and Shorey is available again after the injury he picked up against Man City. It will be interesting to see if he displaces Cech at left back with Reid keeping the right back position. Dorrans was struggling earlier in the week but he will be fit if selected. Jonas Olsson and Ishmael Miller remain on the injured list.
West Brom from: Carson, Ibanez, Morrison, Barnes, Bednar, Brunt, Reid, Myhill, Fortune, Dorrans, Shorey, Thomas, Mulumbu, Zuiverloon, Meite, Odemwingie, Fortune, Tchoyi, Scharner, Thomas, Tamas, Cox, Downing, Sawyers, Allsopp, Keily.
Player to watch: Peter Odemwingie
The speedy Nigerian eased himself back into the team against West Ham with a penalty but he wasn’t back to his best and he will be looking to prove that he is back in today’s game.
Match Facts & Stats
Albion and Wigan have met 13 times in all competitions with the Baggies having won 6 times, Wigan 5 times and 2 draws.
Ref Watch:
Anthony Taylor from Wythenshawe.
Match Prediction:
2-1 to the Baggies
Next Fixture:
Next Saturday sees a Staffordshire derby against Stoke City. It’s one that every Albion fan dreads!