Wigan Athletic welcome Middlesbrough to the DW Stadium this Saturday with the visitors flying high in 3rd while we are in a spot of bother in 22nd and as I write this manager-less of course, after the reign of Uwe Rosler came to an end last week.
In one my rare visits to the T.N.S offices this week I found that Steve had locked the biscuit cupboard tighter than the opposition defences this season, and Andy would not let me near black stuff in the fridge, but we remain optimistic that a rejuvenated Latics can overcome an in form Middlesbrough on Saturday, we have to try to recapture the form of March
Middlesbrough are expecting to fill their end and with recent form to go by, they will start as favourites head to head Wigan have 2 wins Middlesbrough have 4 and their have been 6 draws two from last season, Leadbitter is their top scorer with 9 our best is Mcmanaman with 5, of course both sets of supporters will know this used to be a premier league fixture.
A few Middlesbrough facts for you, they were formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995,[6] their third ground since turning professional in 1889.
Their longest-serving home was Ayresome Park, where they played for 92 years, from 1903 to 1995.
Middlesbrough won the League Cup in 2004, the club’s first and only major trophy and reached the 2006 UEFA Cup Final in May 2006 but were beaten by Spanish side Sevilla.
The great Brian Clough scored 204 goals in 222 games for them, oh how we could do with a striker like him,
I am Presuming that Graham Barrow will be in charge for this match as so far we have had no news as to who will take over at Wigan ( I will leave the controversy to our forums) so team news well your guess is as good as mine.
(Stop press New Manager been appointed !)
I am hoping that we remember how to play with energy verve and skill and I wonder if Ben Watson and Chris McCann will be ready to start a game yet.
We of course we wait to see how many of our international players are injured or tired before Saturday, well I hope we play with speed style good passing score lots of goals, but above all we must play with some pride which has not been seen enough this season.
Whatever has happened behind the scenes this season, the players need to show us that they can still play with the pride and passion that won us the F.A. Cup and took us nearly all the way again last time so I am going for a morale boosting 6-2 home win.
The man in black for this encounter is David Webb who officiated last year when we beat Birmingham City 4-0, his assistants are Marvyn Amphlett and Paul Cook
David Webb’s record this season is
Games – 13
Yellows – 23
Reds – 1
Thanks to Cocneylatic for the head to head information
enjoy the game, Martin
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