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Wigan host Manchester City in what is sure to be a keenly contested North West derby on Sunday looking for their first win of the season at the DW Stadium.
Roberto Martinez’s men were hammered 4-0 and 6-0 by Blackpool and Chelsearespectively in their first two home games, leading to pressure on their boss.
But the Latics stopped the rot and are now three games unbeaten, following up a 3-0 Carling Cup win at Hartlepool with a fine 1-0 victory at Spurs before coming from behind to earn a deserved draw with Sunderland last time.
Martinez will be looking for his side to build on this unbeaten platform but it will not be easy against their big-spending rivals who notched a morale-boosting 2-0 win at Red Bull Salzburg in the Europa League on Thursday.
This followed the 1-1 home draw with Blackburn Rovers and disappointing 1-0 defeat at Sunderland the time before.
Roberto Mancini’s side have yet to score on their travels in the top flight this term and the City boss will be eager for this statistic to end as the Blues look to lose no further ground in the early title race.
Team news
Wigan boss Martinez could be tempted to stick with the same starting line-up which held Sunderland at the DW Stadium last time.
Misfiring striker Mauro Boselli missed a sitter against the Black Cats but was given a vote of confidence by his boss this week.
But if Martinez does decide to shake things up, Franco Di Santo, Charles N’Zogbia and Tom Cleverley all performed well after coming off the bench last time and are pressing for places.
Keeper Ali Al Habsi again played well in goal against the Black Cats and could remain between the sticks ahead of the fit-again Chris Kirkland, while defender Gary Caldwell is closing on a return after hip surgery but this game comes too soon.
Martinez is hoping to have Victor Moses back from an ankle injury for the clash after the striker played for an hour in the reserves’ 2-1 victory over Blackburn in midweek.
City boss Mancini could be tempted to bring David Silva into the side which drew against Blackburn in the league last time after the Spaniard played well and scored against Salzburg on Thursday.
Patrick Vieira scored against Rovers but could be replaced in the starting line-up with Gareth Barry, while the fit-again Wayne Bridge made his first appearance of the season at left-back in Austria with Joleon Lescott still sidelined and could keep his place.
Striker Mario Balotelli is several weeks away from a return while Emmanuel Adebayorcould again be absent after he missed the games against Rovers and Salzburg after picking up a dead leg.
Possible starting XIs:
Wigan: Al-Habsi, Figueroa, Boyce, Alcaraz, Stam, Gohouri, Diame, Thomas, McCarthy, Boselli, Rodallega.Man City: Hart, Bridge, Kompany, Richards, K Toure, Milner, Johnson Y Toure, Barry, Silva, Tevez.
Hopefully we get all 3 points today and keep up this great record against City….
I think we’ve got a great chance today. city are a decent team (for 500 billion spent) but are crap away from home!
Boselli to get first goal today. keep the faithTwo changes for Wigan Atheltic with Franco Di Santo making his first start this afternoon, his reward for making such an impact when he came on from the bench against Sunderland last weekend and Charles N’zogbia comes in for Ronnie Stam
Tom Cleverley misses out as he picked up a knock in training.
Wigan: Al Habsi, Gohouri, Alcaraz, McCarthy, Thomas, Di Santo, N’Zogbia, Boyce, Rodallega, Diame, Figueroa.
Subs: Kirkland, Watson, Boselli, Moses, S. Caldwell, Gomez, Stam.Man City: Hart, Richards, Zabaleta, K. Toure, Kompany, de Jong, Y. Toure, Barry, Milner, Silva, Tevez (Capt).
Subs: Given, Boyata, Vieira, Johnson, Jo, Santa-Cruz, Wright-Phillips
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