Premier League Preview: Wigan Athletic - Fulham

Kick-Off: Sunday, November 08, 15:00.
DW Stadium, Wigan.

Wigan Athletic and Fulham meet on Sunday with just one Premier League point separating them in 11th and 12th positions.

Both sides would, in all likelihood, be reasonably satisfied if those were their final league spots at the end of the campaign, but if the two teams want to stay clear of the relegation dogfight, they know they need to pick up points at this early stage of the campaign.

Wigan have been one of the most inconsistent sides in the league this season, which is summed up by some of their recent results. After beating league leaders Chelsea, and ending Burnley’s 100% home record, they were hammered 4-0 last week by struggling Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

Fulham were buoyed by a recent win over Liverpool at Craven Cottage, but the injuries are beginning to pile up on the Cottagers, and Thursday’s 2-1 Europa League defeat to Roma, in which they had two players controversially sent off, would have dented fitness, confidence and morale.

Home advantage makes Roberto Martinez’s Latics go into the game as narrow favorites, but both the Spaniard and visiting manager Roy Hodgson will be targeting all three points.

FORM GUIDE

Wigan

Oct 31: Portsmouth 4-0 Wigan
Oct 24: Burnley 1-3 Wigan
Oct 18: Wigan 1-1 Manchester City
Oct 03: Hull City 2-1 Wigan
Sep 26: Wigan 3-1 Chelsea

Fulham

Nov 05: Roma 2-1 Fulham (Europa League)
Oct 31: Fulham 3-1 Liverpool
Oct 25: Manchester City 2-2 Fulham
Oct 22: Fulham 1-1 Roma (Europa League)
Oct 19: Fulham 2-0 Hull City

TEAM NEWS

Wigan

Wigan are still without full-back Maynor Figueroa due to a serious knee injury, so Erik Edman is aiming for a re-call to the squad. Other than that it is a clean bill of health for Roberto Martinez.

Possible starting XI (4-2-3-1): Kirkland, Melchiot, Boyce, Bramble, Edman, Diame, Thomas, N'Zogbia, Rodallega, Scharner, Scotland.

Fulham

Damien Duff (Achilles) has been ruled out for Fulham, while Andrew Johnson and Danny Murphy will be assessed prior to kick-off on shoulder and knee injuries respectively.

Possible starting XI (4-4-2): Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Dempsey, Baird, Greening, Murphy, Zamora, Kamara.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Wigan - Charles N’Zogbia

Charles N’Zogbia has had a good season for Wigan so far, and will be looking forward to returning to his more familiar role as a winger after having to fill in at left-back last week due to the injury of Maynor Figueroa.

Fulham – Diomansy Kamara

Diomansy Kamara scored in Italy against Roma this midweek and looks like he will be given another chance to impress from the start. The striker will be eager to grasp his opportunity and get on the scoresheet.

PREDICTION

Wigan are one of the league’s most inconsistent sides, so Roberto Martinez will want to go on a positive run now with three of their next four games being at home.

Fulham are getting through fixtures thick and fast at the moment, and their squad must be feeling the strain, but their performances and results have been reasonably good.

It’s a tough one to call, but I’m going for a score draw.

Wigan Athletic 1-1 Fulham

Chris Myson, Goal.com