Wigan Athletic vs Birmingham City: English Premier League Preview
Two relegation battlers in the English Premier League, Wigan Athletic and Birmingham City will lock heads at the DW Stadium on Saturday, the 19 of March 2011. This match holds a huge amount of importance for both teams as a win for any of the two teams will
just be a first step towards avoiding the relegation zone.
Wigan Athletic
Wigan are currently rooted at the bottom of the Premier League table with 27 points. They have been the least effective team in the Premier League having won just five games out of the 29 games played so far. Even at home, the Latics have not been any cause
of concern as Roberto Martinez’s men have won just three of the fifteen games at the DW. They lost and drew on other six occasions.
The Latics defence has also been a cause of concern as they have leaked 50 goals as compared to the lowly 27 goals they have scored so far. Wigan, in their last five games have won just one game against Blackburn http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Rovers-c40385. They lost three of those while the
game against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Liverpool-c39809 ended in a draw.
Birmingham City
Birmingham, on the other hand are 17th in the table with 31 points and a win could take them up to the 12th spot which will be a welcome result for the visitors. The Blues have also been not that effective in their campaign, winning
just six of their games as compared to their opponent’s five.
Their away form hasn’t been that good, managing just two victories away from home to go along with five losses. Alex McLeish’s side have also scored as many goals as Wigan but seem to have a better defence as compared to their opponents by conceding 39 goals.
Team News
Wigan Athletic
Latics are expected to go in with a 4-2-3-1 formation with http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ali-Al-Habsi-c5041 is set to guard the net for the home side.
Birmingham City
The visitors, on the other hand are more likely to go in with a 4-4-2 formation with http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Cameron-Jerome-c8284 all set to upfront for the Blues. Goalkeeper James Foster is prepared to start in goal for Birmingham.
Players to watch
Hugo Rodallega
Rodallega will play a vital role if Wigan are to get themselves out of the relegation spot. The Englishman has seven goals in the campaign so far and will be a big hope for Roberto Martinez.
Nikola Zigic
Birmingham City will pin high hopes upon their tall Serbian, Nikola Zigic who has five goals in the campaign so far along with the midfielder http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Craig-Gardner-c9475 who also has five goals in the campaign.
Prediction
Both teams have had a disastrous campaign and are really struggling to keep their places intact in the next season’s Premier League. The recent run of form suggests that Birmingham might edge past Wigan Athletic by a goal margin which will be enough to get
the Blues relatively clear of the drop zone. Wigan 0 – 1 Birmingham.
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