This will have to be quick as I’m expected back in London next week.  I’ve now got 2 TNS desks, 1st here at the Wigan offices, the 2nd at the new London branch.  I’ll get to do some match previews from London, they’ll no doubt have a divserity of culture feel to them.

Anyway a late Sunderland vs Wigan Athletic match preview.  The match kicks off this afternoon at 3pm, Saturday the 29th September……is it the end of September already, actually it’s only 87 days to Christmas.  So if you want to beat the rush and get that new Ironing Board for the Wife, best get down to Argos now.

Previous Premier League games for both teams saw Wigan do they’re ‘farting around in front of goal’ bit again, meaning they lost 2-1 to Fulham.  Sunderland gained a decent but unlucky point away to West Ham.  Of course for neither team that wasn’t their last match, as both had 3rd Round League Cup ties mid week.  With Wigan beating West Ham 4-1 in their own back yard.  Sunderland beating the MK Dons 2-0 away.

Head to head against Sunderland, in the league is Wigan 6 wins, 7 draws and 5 wins to Sunderland.  The matches last season saw both away teams winning, Wigan beat Sunderland 2-1 on the 26th November, and then the return saw Sunderland beat Wigan 4-1 at the DW on the 3rd January.  Only other meeting was a cup match, which saw a recent 3-0 win to Wigan in the FA Cup 3rd Round in January 2008.

Referee for the game is Howard Webb, yes the same fellow, bet you didn’t know his middle name is ‘Melton’, as in the Pie.

Anyway this season he’s ran just 3 games, City vs Southampton, Liverpool vs Arsenal and Reading vs Spurs.  He’s dished out 8 Yellow cards in those 3 games, oh and Melton has been the 4th official in a Stoke & Fulham games.  His linesmen are Mullarkey & Cann, which sounds like an American Detective TV Program.  The Fourth Official is Mohareb (yep, me neither).

Form coming in to the game sees Sunderland as Mr Consistant with 4 draws meaning they sit 12th in the table (West Ham, Liverpool, Swansea & Arsenal).  Wigan have 1 win (Southampton), 1 draw (Stoke) and 3 defeats (Fulham, United & Chelsea), meaning they sit 15th in the table.

Injury Report, sees Sunderland with 5 on the table, Larsson (Hamstring), Campbell (Ankle), Cuellar (Hamstring), Brown (Knee) & Bardsley (Ankle), with only Larsson & Cuellar with fitness tests to see if they’re fit to play?

Wigan on the other hand have HOT SHOT Di Santo (Calf) facing a fitness test before the match and Alcaraz (Groin) who not expected to figure.

Expectations for the match, oh I’d be happy if Sunderland keep up their run of draws & Wigan drive back down the A1 with a point.  In reality knowing Wigan, what with Hugo scoring against us last week, I expect Cattermole Bramble to grab a hat trick & a Sunderland 3-0 drubbing.

Andy

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