English Premier League: Tottenham vs. Wigan Match Preview
Wigan got off to a bad start to this season as they conceded 10 goals in their opening two games of the English Premier League. Wigan will look to contain a Tottenham side that has a habit of scoring against them, the same fixture last season ended in a 9-1 embarrassment for Wigan.
Wigan boss, Robert Martinez, is under pressure as Wigan becomes the top flight team since 1962 to concede so many goals in only two games. Previously, Manchester City held that “honour”. To make matters worse for The Latics, Charles N’Zogbia, the star winger, is on his way to Birmingham, who recently accepted the bid.
Both sides featured in cup competitions mid-week, the Latics kept a clean sheet against Hartlepool in the Carling Cup away win. Tottenham took on the Swiss Young Boys in the Champions League qualifier at White Hart Lane. Their 4-0 win extended their home run to 17 games. Spurs now prepare to take on Inter Milan, Werder Bremen and FC Twente in the group stages of the Champions League.
Tottenham manager, Harry Redknapp, said after Spurs made it to the Champions League group stages, “You only had to be at White Hart Lane to see what it meant to fans. We've got a good chance of qualifying from the group but I hope people don't get carried away. I am delighted we got this far and we'll just have to see how far we can go”.
However, he was wary of the task they faced ahead, the Spurs boss did not write off the weak Wigan side. He said, “Wigan will be a real toughie. On the back of their first two results it's not a game I would have chosen”. He was somewhat sympathetic towards the Wigan boss, saying that the defeats couldn’t have been easy, but their midweek result in the League Cup had been a boost for The Latics, and expected them to put up a good fight.
In their last 11 meetings with Wigan, Tottenham have emerged victorious in six games in both the Premier League and Cup competitions. With Wigan claiming one win which came in January 2009 in the Premier League. Wigan has never, in any competition, won at White Hart Lane.
Tottenham are in a good form with Gareth Bale either scoring or creating almost all of Spurs’ eight League or Cup goals. Bale will make his 50th Premier League appearance in the match against Wigan. Bale and Pavlyuchenko are the club’s highest goal scorers domestically with 5 goals each, more than striker Peter Crouch and Jermaine Defoe.
Wigan have lost their last six away league games, their last win away from home was in January against the Wolves. They are the only Premier League side who have yet to score this season, they have conceded some 10 goals, scoring none.
Former Chelsea goal keeper, Carlo Cudicini, will take over for first choice Tottenham keeper Heurelho Gomes. Gomes injured his groin in the mid-week match against Young Boys in the Champions League play offs. Jermaine Defoe, who delayed his groin surgery to play in that same fixture, is doubtful to feature against Wigan, but could be a possibility depending on a late fitness test. However, midfielder Luka Modric has been ruled out.
Victor Moses, the promising Wigan youngster is out for two weeks after he hurt his ankle during the mid-week win in the League Cup. Steve Cadwell, who only made his debut for Wigan earlier this week on Tuesday looks to maintain his place in the squad. However, his brother, Gary is still injured and a comeback in time for the match doesn’t look possible.
Possible starting XI:
Tottenham: Cudicini, Corluka, King, Dawson, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Huddlestone, Modric, Bale, Crouch, Keane.
Wigan: Kirkland, Gohouri, Alcaraz, Caldwell, Figueroa, McCarthy, Thomas, Diame, Gomez, Boselli, Rodallega
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