So we finally won another game, a good 3-1 away win against Blackpool, cracking away support for the team too, in the 90 songs in 90 being achieved and no one even mentioned Gary Teale or that damn dress.
Okay, okay I know they were the only team beneath us, but a win is a win. Wildheart has done an excellent Match Article, have a read, it has rather a fruity start.
The TNS offices have been quiet in the past week, I’ve been away myself & the Scottish Highlands are beckoning next week too. So like the seats in the DW, we’ve a few empty seats in the office, but hey we’re still putting out quality articles, ironically this article from JJ was done before Dave announced he was stepping down as Chairman.
It’s the 35th game in the Sky Bet Championship. Wigan Athletic will be playing Norwich City at Carrow Road, match will be played on Wednesday the 4th of March, with a 7:45pm Kick off.
League Position for Wigan is yes still 23rd, we’re on 28 points. Though a decent result tonight & the fact Millwall lost to Boro Tuesday night, means we could make it all the way up to 22nd! Norwich on the other hand is in 5th place with 62 points, so you can see the challenge facing Wigan. Top of the congested table are Middlesbrough with 66 points, with just 3 points separating the top 4.
Looking at recent form coming into this game, it’s been slowly improving for Wigan based on previous stats I’ve had to type, Wigan are now 17th in the form table with 2 wins in their last 6. Norwich on the other hand, oh crap, they’ve won their last 6, so you can see the mighty task Wigan have just to move to 22nd place in the table:
- Wigan P 6 W 2 D 0 L 4 (Wins against Reading & Blackpool)
- Norwich P 6 W 6 D 0 L 0 (Wins against Blackpool, Charlton, Wolves, Watford, Blackburn & Ipswich)
Previous Games between the 2, well we covered these in the return fixture in early December, if you remember it was at the time of a certain scandal, but hey plenty more have come and gone since. For example, we’ll be watching a World Cup in 2021 as the latest football scandal to hit the media. Getting back, games between Wigan & Norwich, earlier this season’s Norwich won 1-0 with an early goal from Howson. Overall there have been 11 meetings, with Wigan winning 2, Norwich 5 with 4 draws. Thanks to Cockney Latic for the head to head info.
Referee from the Game will be Gavin Ward, his assistants will be Alan Dale & Rob Hyde, with the 4th official is Brendan Malone.
It doesn’t look like we’ve seen the likes of Gavin before for a Wigan game, but he did officiate a Championship game back in September 2010 for Norwich. They played Barnsley at Carrow Road, beating the team from Yorkshire 2-1, with Gavin dishing out 2 yellow cards each.
As we’ve never seen him before, some stats about the man, Seasons 9, Games 261, Yellows 818 & Reds 50.
As for team news, looks like Leon Clarke who we were all initially worried about, may make his first start after coming off the bench against Blackpool. Wigan of course will now be without Gary Caldwell who announced his retirement his week, also between the sticks, Carson may continue after replacing Habsi for the Blackpool game.
Norwich, who is in a rich vein of form, will be without Alex Tettey who picked up his 10th booking against Ipswich. In the same match Cameron Jerome hobbled off the pitch, but is expected to return Wednesday night.
How the Bookies see the game, well they aren’t as clouded as I may be, 68% believe this will be a Home win, 19% see a draw and just 13% see Wigan taking 3 points back from Norfolk.
Looking at William Hill, you can get 1/2 for Norwich, 13/2 for Wigan & 14/5 for the draw. Okay, so let’s have what may seem a foolish bet, you can get 20/1 for Wigan to win 2-1, Norwich are 15/2 & truly massive odds, you can get 215/1 for Kim to score first & Wigan to win 2-1.
My thoughts on the game, okay trying to be positive for Wigan right now may seem to be a little deluded, but you can see improvements in how Wigan are playing. Yes, I know it’s not the team we had 12 months ago & there are many reasons for that. But Wigan is embarking on a new chapter in their history, be it next season in League 1 or luckily in the Championship? They’ll still play football, with 11 players, but I do believe Wigan may be going back an ethos we last saw in the 80’s, a sustainable club, that develops young players.
Remember its always a roller coaster ride for Wigan; just the 2015 version is not as high on the track as previous seasons.
Andy
& to finish off Big Dave:
[youtube_sc url=”http://youtu.be/a2Mm2UqI9SQ” title=”Dave%20Whelan”]
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