Premiership Wigan v Middlesbrough

Posted on | May 5, 2007 | No Comments

While mathematically both teams can still be relegated, it is Wigan who are the only realistic candidates for the drop.  Level on points with West Ham (although Wigan have a better goal difference) it is essential that Wigan equal or better the West Ham result today.  Wigan had been so impressive in the first half of the season, but it has all gone wrong since the turn of the year.

Middlesbrough have also suffered a dreadful 2007 with manager Gareth Southgate under extreme pressure from the fans, with many yet to accept him as the future leader of the club.  His brutal honesty after recent games is rumoured to have caused some unrest in the changing rooms, something that will not go unnoticed by club directors.

On the team front, Wigan will welcome back Antonio Valencia from a three match suspension although they have lost influential skipper Arjan de Zeeum to an ankle problem.  Other than that Paul Jewell has a full squad to choose from, in a game where tactics will prove vital – push too hard and get hit on the break, or slowly slowly build up the pressure on the ‘Boro back four.

While Middlesbrough look like being without Abel Xavier, the rest of the squad should be fit and available for selection.  A lot depends on the power and finishing skills of Mark Viduka, who has bailed ‘Boro out on more than one occasion of late. 

Wigan are on a terrible run of form with no win in seven games, and only three points out of a possible twenty one.  Middlesbrough have done little better of late with only one win from their last eight games, and one point from their last four fixtures.  Both teams are in the bottom of the recent form tables, and while the statistics possibly favour Middlesbrough, do not bet against Wigan pulling themselves back from the brink.

Forecast : Home Win

Related posts:

1. Premiership Sheffield United v Wigan
2. Premiership Wigan v West Ham
3. Premiership Aston Villa v Wigan
4. Premiership Wigan v Sunderland
5. Premiership Newcastle v Wigan

Comments