Wigan VS Manchester City

Wigan VS Manchester City
18/10/2009, 23:00

The problem with having so many star players in your team is that whenever there is an international break, the manager would be feeling very anxious as he knows he will have a bunch of tired players for the next club game. Man City had its stars flying to all parts of the world over the international break, and Mark Hughes would now need to figure out a team that has the highest fitness level. Man City are not in the best form currently. They have won just 1 of their last 4 games. They lost 3-4 against Man Utd and drew with Fulham in the Carling Cup and Aston Villa last time out in the Premiership. Their only win during this time was against West Ham, when Carlos Tevez netted a brace against his old team. Wigan can feel comfortable with their chances having won two home games in a row in the Premier League, against West Ham and Chelsea. They did lose 1-2 last time out, but that was an away game, and to be fair to them they had the better of the exchanges in that one.

Man City manager Mark Hughes is definitely without Robinho, Nedum Onuoha and Benjani Mwaruwari. Captain Kolo Toure, Joleon Lescott, Pablo Zabaleta, Vincent Kompany and Nigel de Jong are all uncertainties as they carry niggling injuries. It seems almost inevitable that Emmanuel Adebayor will be partnering Carlos Tevez upfront, complemented by Craig Bellamy from the left wing. Bellamy has done so well of late that I think he has left Hughes with no choice but to include him in his plans. For Wigan boss Roberto Martinez, he has a full team to choose from. Having said that, I think Jason Scotland will be keeping his starting spot having done decently when involved from the outset in recent times. Hugo Rodallega should still be the main man when it comes to getting the goals though. Wigan's defence of Mario Melchiot, Emerson Boyce, Titus Bramble and Maynor Figueroa is a very stable one, and with Chris Kirkland the usual man in between the sticks, I do believe they have the understanding among themselves to deal adequately with City's attacking talents.

I will not be surprised if punters jump on the City bandwagon for this one because having done rather disappointingly of late, people are expecting Hughes' team to pick themselves up to get back to title-challenging ways. I will be cautious though. If Toure, Lescott, Zabaleta, Kompany and de Jong all miss out, I think City will have an uphill task to even draw, what more to say win. Kolo Toure is already a success story on the blue side of Manchester, and City need him to steady the ship at the back. Wigan may not have pacey enough players, but in Charles N'Zogbia, Paul Scharner and Hendry Thomas, the Latics have enough tenacity and resilience to keep going at the depleted City backline. City have not won any of their last 5 visits to the JJB, and with them missing so many defensive players I think their horrendous run on the road against Wigan will continue. Keep an eye out for Hugo Rodallega to impress, though Jason Scotland could steal the show with his first goal for the club.

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