It feels like ages since I last saw Wigan Athletic play, but there is a new pitch and a new challenge in the form of Liverpool on Monday night as Bobby looks to gain those points to guarantee Premier League football next season.
We are nearly into the last quarter of the season and after a very tense meeting with gaffer the other day I remain as confident as ever that I will see Roberto achieve the goal that was set for him at the beginning of the season, survival.
Liverpool is the first of 6 home games left this season and they will be the first since the new pitch was laid, we have been unlucky not to win our last four games with them but have managed to draw two of them.
We seem to have been very unlucky over tense games with the refereeing decisions, but we have come to expect that in the games against the so called elite. The problem is we lately have been getting the decisions against us when playing similar sized teams to us, like Birmingham, the cynics among us will be screaming that there is a conspiracy.
In the interview I did with Roberto he stated that we are so close to just clicking into place, just one result will break that mental wall that has developed with the players and Liverpool, although a stern test especially with our mental state, could be the one that turns our season.
Similarly the crowd can also play their part, get behind the boys, try a song or two, especially if you haven’t joined in before. We need to let this team know we are fully behind them, getting on their backs if things aren’t going their way will not help them. There is just 6 home games left, if you are going to get on their backs, then save it until the final whistle has gone on May 2nd.
Liverpool will be without Aurielo, Johnson and Skrtel for sure, they could also rest Agger as he picked up a knock last week. Gerard and Torres are certain to play and so our midfield will have to perform like we know they can, and keep it up for the whole 90 minutes.
Latics will see if N’Zogbia and Scharner shake off their knock but it is likely that Roberto will be able to start with his first choice line up. It will be hard, for as much as we could very well do with a much needed win, the Reds will see this as a must win game in their quest to steal the last Champion’s League spot.
We will all have in our heads where we will be able to pick up points in the run in, and nearly all of us won’t have put any points against this game for us. But like it was said this week when asked of the players, they said that although we could lose against all the teams in the run in, we are more than capable of winning evry one.
A 100% record from here in is unlikely, but kets hope that the team do themselves proud in this one and set themselves up for an important bout against Bolton at the weekend. Three points would be the best tonic.
The referee for the game will be Andre Mariner
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Head To Head League
| W | D | L | F | A | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
| Away | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 11 |
| Total | 0 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 18 |
For all previous results between Wigan Athletic and Liverpool Click Here
Current League Positions
| Pld | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | Pos | |
| Liverpool | 28 | 14 | 6 | 8 | 45 | 28 | +17 | 48 | 6th |
| Wigan Athletic | 27 | 6 | 7 | 14 | 26 | 53 | -27 | 25 | 16th |
Recent Record
| Latics | W | D | L | F | A | GD |
| Last 8 Games | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 9 | -4 |
| Reds | W | D | L | F | A | GD |
| Last 8 Games | 4 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 3 | +5 |
Foul Play
| Latics | Reds |
| Games 09/10 | Yellow Cards | Red Cards | Games 09/10 | Yellow Cards | Red Cards |
| 31 | 45 | 1 | 36 | 52 | 5 |
| Average | 1.45 | 0.03 | Average | 1.44 | 0.14 |
This Weekend In History
|
Wigan games from this week in years gone by, click the scores for more: |
| OPPONENTS | GROUND | RES | ATT. | |
| 06-07 | Manchester City | Eastlands Stadium | 1-0 | 39,923 |
| 91-92 | Preston North End | Springfield Park | 3-0 | 3,497 |
| 83-84 | Wimbledon | Plough Lane | 2-2 | 2,565 |
| 79-80 | Aldershot | Springfield Park | 2-1 | 5,018 |
Fixtures
| Saturday 6th March 2010 |
| Arsenal | 3-1 | Burnlay |
| West ham United | 1-2 | Bolton Wanderers |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0-1 | Manchester United |
| Sunday 7th March 2010 |
| Everton | v | Hull City |
