Well it’s been a quiet week for me as I’ve not been able to make it in to the TNS offices this week! No I’ve not been assigned to the London or New York TNS offices yet, but with it being Half Term, I’ve spent time in a Court in Manchester & a Dungeon in Blackpool.
Anyway that story is for another time, so to the game.
This weekend’s game will be the 15th game in the Sky Bet Championship. Wigan Athletic will be playing Fulham at the DW Stadium, kick off will be 3pm on Saturday the 1st November 2014.
Yes, & of course football will now be playing with different colour balls to deal with the snow that is always on the pitch from 1st November through to the end of February. #cynical
Wigan come into this game in 19th place in the league with 15 pts, Fulham 1 place below Wigan with 14 pts, top of the table are Derby with 26 pts.
Wigan’s last league game out was a victory away, yes AWAY against top of the table Derby 2-1, Fulham stuffing Charlton 3-0. Fulham did play mid week against Derby in the League Cup losing 5-2 at Craven Cottage, this was also after being 2-1 up at half time in that game.
Form coming into this game has been positive for both teams, with Fulham 3rd in the form table, with 4 wins & 1 draw in their last 6. Wigan, actually have a recent victory, so are now 14th in the form table, with 1 win & 4 draws in the last 6 too. Best form team at the moment are AFC Bournemouth with 5 wins in their last 6.
Looking at recent form coming into this game, it’s looking like this:
- Wigan P 6 W 1 D 4 L 1 (Win against Derby)
- Fulham P 6 W 4 D 1 L 1 (Wins against Birmingham, Bolton, Norwich & Charlton)
Previous Games between the 2, actually meant last season was the first time since 2005 Wigan & Fulham weren’t in the same league. With Wigan being relegated from the Premier League in 2013 & Fulham in 2014, means we’ll renew this fixture in the Championship.
In fact recent head to head between the 2 has seen Fulham remain undefeated in 13 games, with the last Wigan league victory in October 2006, with a 1-0 win with Camara getting the goal.
Overall including 2 League Cup games, Wigan & Fulham have squared off 42 times, with Wigan winning 10, Fulham winning 18 & there have been 14 draws.
Looking at the Wigan players who’ve scored recently in games vs Fulham, will reveal some potent poachers for Wigan over the years with Di Santo, Kone, Rodallega & Jason Scotland to name just a few. Thanks to Cockney Latic for the head to head info.
Referee from the Game will be James Adcock, with his friends running down the lines of Joe Clark & Mark Jones. With the 4th Bloke in between the dugouts being Ben Toner, wonder if he’ll print out this preview. #didyouseewhatididthere
James last looked after a Wigan game, in the FA Cup in January last season when Wigan beat the MK Dons away 3-1, with James being very trigger happy, issuing 7 yellow cards. For Fulham it was more recent in a 1-1 draw at the end of August, against Cardiff in London, with James dishing just 2 yellow cards.
For Fulham this will be Kit Symons first game in charge as the Manager since he took over from Felix Magath in September, with Kit seeing Fulham win in 5 of their 9 games.
Team News, with this preview on a Friday we are able to gather a little more info, Wigan are still without Mr Boyce with his dodgy Ankle & long term injuries for Mr Watson & Mr McCann could see them sitting their back sides on the bench?
Fulham could see striker Hugo Rodallega (yes he scored that goal against Stoke that day), return after being rested for the League Cup game, yes playing against his former club. I’m sure the fans will give you a warm reception Hugo. Amorebieta’s dodgy knee means he’ll probably not play, along with Taggart whose groin has been giving him some jip.
Bookies predictions, see Wigan winning at 44%, Fulham taking 3 points at 31% & the draw at 25%.
For me, if Wigan can finally kick on with the season, I believe I’ve said this may be their 7th time they’ll kick on I’ll be happy with a draw or a win against an improving Fulham.
Andy
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