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TEAM NEWS
Wigan's Mohamed Diame, who missed out last weekend with a groin problem, is rated "50-50" for Sunday's game.Charles N'Zogbia is set to start despite nursing a dead leg, although he may struggle to complete 90 minutes. West
Ham captain Scott Parker returned to training on Wednesday and could
play after missing the last four games with an Achilles problem. Matthew Upson may also make his comeback from injury, but the game will come too soon for Junior Stanislas.
WiganDoubtful: Diame (groin), N'Zogbia (dead leg) Injured: None West HamDoubtful: Parker (Achilles), Tomkins (knee), Upson (leg) Injured: Dyer (hamstring), Kurucz (knee), Noble (stomach), O'Neil (ankle), Stanislas (hernia)
MATCH PREVIEW
As long ago as November, West Ham billed their home match with Wigan
as a "save our season" encounter and six months on things haven't
changed much. The only difference now is that it might prove to be a
"too late to save our season encounter" for them.
Going into the last meeting, which the Hammers won 3-1, both clubs
sat in the relegation zone, with Avram Grant's team five points adrift
of the Latics. Now, with a week to go until the end of the campaign,
they're both still in the bottom three, it's just that Wigan are now
three points better off than their opponents rather than five. These
two clubs were promoted together into the Premier league six years ago
and have stayed in the top division ever since, but I'd be very
surprised to find both of them at the top table when the new season
kicks off in August.
West Ham have got a good record against Wigan, winning four of the
last five encounters, but they've picked a horrible time to lose any
semblance of form. Two points from 21 going into the match doesn't
suggest a late escape is on the cards. In contrast, Wigan aren't
playing badly at the moment and came close to beating Everton at home
when I was at the DW Stadium just a couple of weeks ago. They didn't
play like a team devoid of ability or confidence, but gifted their
opponents two penalty kicks and had to settle for a draw rather than the
three points they really needed. People often talk about "must win"
games. This one is the genuine article.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head• The Hammers have a good record at the DW Stadium, having won five of eight league and cup games away to the Latics. Wigan•
Roberto Martinez's side have claimed 10 points from their last 10
games, but have lost only two of their previous seven (W2, D3, L2). • Along with Birmingham, Wigan have the worst goalscoring record in the top flight this season, averaging a goal per game. • The Latics have only kept one Premier League clean sheet since the turn of the year (a 0-0 draw with Tottenham on 2 April). West Ham• They have failed to win a Premier League game without Scott Parker in their starting line-up this season (L5, D1). • West Ham have conceded 499 Premier League goals away from home. • The Hammers' only away win in 2011 was a 3-1 victory at Blackpool on 2 February.
LEADING GOALSCORERS
WiganRodallega: 8 goals (8 league); N'Zogbia: 7 goals (6 league)
West HamCole: 11 goals (5 league); Piquionne: 9 goals (6 league)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Mike Dean Assistant referees: Peter Kirkup & Mike Mullarkey Fourth official: Kevin Friend
LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
Wigan (D1-1 v Aston Villa, a): Al Habsi, Alcaraz, Boyce, G
Caldwell, Figueroa, Cleverley, McCarthy, Watson, N'Zogbia (Di Santo 69),
Moses (McArthur 82), Rodallega. Subs not used: Kirkland, Gohouri,
Thomas, Gomez, Sammon.
West Ham (D1-1 v Blackburn, h):
Green, Jacobsen (Piquionne 64), da Costa, Gabbidon, Bridge, Spector,
Hitzlsperger, Boa Morte (Keane 55), Sears (Collison 63), Cole, Ba. Subs
not used: Boffin, Tomkins, Kovac, Hines.
COYI
Wigan's Mohamed Diame, who missed out last weekend with a groin problem, is rated "50-50" for Sunday's game.Charles N'Zogbia is set to start despite nursing a dead leg, although he may struggle to complete 90 minutes. West
Ham captain Scott Parker returned to training on Wednesday and could
play after missing the last four games with an Achilles problem. Matthew Upson may also make his comeback from injury, but the game will come too soon for Junior Stanislas.
WiganDoubtful: Diame (groin), N'Zogbia (dead leg) Injured: None West HamDoubtful: Parker (Achilles), Tomkins (knee), Upson (leg) Injured: Dyer (hamstring), Kurucz (knee), Noble (stomach), O'Neil (ankle), Stanislas (hernia)
MATCH PREVIEW
As long ago as November, West Ham billed their home match with Wigan
as a "save our season" encounter and six months on things haven't
changed much. The only difference now is that it might prove to be a
"too late to save our season encounter" for them.
Going into the last meeting, which the Hammers won 3-1, both clubs
sat in the relegation zone, with Avram Grant's team five points adrift
of the Latics. Now, with a week to go until the end of the campaign,
they're both still in the bottom three, it's just that Wigan are now
three points better off than their opponents rather than five. These
two clubs were promoted together into the Premier league six years ago
and have stayed in the top division ever since, but I'd be very
surprised to find both of them at the top table when the new season
kicks off in August.
West Ham have got a good record against Wigan, winning four of the
last five encounters, but they've picked a horrible time to lose any
semblance of form. Two points from 21 going into the match doesn't
suggest a late escape is on the cards. In contrast, Wigan aren't
playing badly at the moment and came close to beating Everton at home
when I was at the DW Stadium just a couple of weeks ago. They didn't
play like a team devoid of ability or confidence, but gifted their
opponents two penalty kicks and had to settle for a draw rather than the
three points they really needed. People often talk about "must win"
games. This one is the genuine article.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head• The Hammers have a good record at the DW Stadium, having won five of eight league and cup games away to the Latics. Wigan•
Roberto Martinez's side have claimed 10 points from their last 10
games, but have lost only two of their previous seven (W2, D3, L2). • Along with Birmingham, Wigan have the worst goalscoring record in the top flight this season, averaging a goal per game. • The Latics have only kept one Premier League clean sheet since the turn of the year (a 0-0 draw with Tottenham on 2 April). West Ham• They have failed to win a Premier League game without Scott Parker in their starting line-up this season (L5, D1). • West Ham have conceded 499 Premier League goals away from home. • The Hammers' only away win in 2011 was a 3-1 victory at Blackpool on 2 February.
LEADING GOALSCORERS
WiganRodallega: 8 goals (8 league); N'Zogbia: 7 goals (6 league)
| |
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Mike Dean Assistant referees: Peter Kirkup & Mike Mullarkey Fourth official: Kevin Friend
LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
Wigan (D1-1 v Aston Villa, a): Al Habsi, Alcaraz, Boyce, G
Caldwell, Figueroa, Cleverley, McCarthy, Watson, N'Zogbia (Di Santo 69),
Moses (McArthur 82), Rodallega. Subs not used: Kirkland, Gohouri,
Thomas, Gomez, Sammon.
West Ham (D1-1 v Blackburn, h):
Green, Jacobsen (Piquionne 64), da Costa, Gabbidon, Bridge, Spector,
Hitzlsperger, Boa Morte (Keane 55), Sears (Collison 63), Cole, Ba. Subs
not used: Boffin, Tomkins, Kovac, Hines.
COYI
