Writer: Robin 
Date:Friday May 6 2011
Time: 8:15PM
Aston Villa (touch wood) has been a very happy hunting ground for Wigan in the past - they have secured three wins and two draws in their visits to this ground. Lets hope history repeats itself tomorrow and Villa don't spring a nasty surprise on the Wigan team.
A worry for the Wigan team is the potential absence of Mohamed Diame and Charles N'Zogbia. Solution? Bring in Hendry Thomas and Victor Moses. Moses was on fire against Everton and hopefully, if Charles isn't fit, he can replicate a promising performance against Everton against Aston Villa.
Wigan put up a great show against Everton in their last home game - unfortunate that Hugo Rodallega conceded a penalty, but he was deeply ashamed of his actions as could be seen at the final whistle. A shame, but it could be a point gained in the battle to avoid the drop and hopefully, he'll bag a goal or two at Villa. More than that would be great.
Villa welcome back Emile Heskey who will not want to see his old club get relegated and he hasn't got a great scoring pedigree - the threat of Bent and Agbonlahor, if they play, could be far greater, but despite his low goal scoring ratio, Heskey has proven he can still pack a devastating punch and is a genuinely nice guy.
This is such a crucial game that words cannot describe its importance as the relegation threatened teams enter the last three games - a win at Villa Park would really boost confidence for the Latics and all associated. Sadly, I don't see it happening, but I see a low scoring draw.
Good Luck Latics!
ROB'S PREDICTION
================
A tough game for Roberto Martinez's men awaits at Villa Park - it is a favourable hunting ground so they'll be quietly confident, but I see a low scoring draw which may reward Latics with a valuable point, but we'll have to see. Still, a point in the Premier League is a point gained and hopefully, with Lawro having hopefully cursed West Ham and Aston Villa, we might get the result we need, but I see it as a draw.
Aston Villa 1-1 Wigan Athletic
Bolton V Sunderland - Sunderland aren't the best away side in the league. Sunderland won here under Steve Bruce last year when Darren Bent scored. Since then, the Black Cats have become toothless, despite their 4-2 home win over Wigan, which still puzzles to this day since their absence of a decent strike force. Still, I see a narrow home win for the Trotters in this game.
Bolton 1-0 Sunderland
Everton V Man City - This game could go a long way to deciding Man City's place in the Champions League next season. Everton are a puzzling side but I think that Man City will be too strong for Everton in a tight contest.
Everton 0-1 Man City
Newcastle V Birmingham - Birmingham have done so well under Alex McLeish and Newcastle have done as well under Alan Pardew. The sacking of Hughton is still a mystery though. I think this could be a home win for Newcastle, but it'll be tight.
Newcastle 2-1 Birmingham
West Ham V Blackburn - Blackburn aren't safe - neither are West Ham. Blackburn need to win - West Ham need to win. Has all the hallmarks of a classic, or a boring goalless draw. I predict a goalless draw.
West Ham 0-0 Blackburn
Tottenham V Blackpool - Blackpool need points so desperately - not at White Hart Lane though. I see a home win for Tottenham, but will it be a goal fest? I'm not so certain and teams scrapping for their lives are never easy to play against. I think it'll be a low scoring affair with a very narrow home win for Tottenham.
Tottenham 1-0 Blackpool
Wolves V West Brom - Wolves need to win to stand any chance of staying in the EPL. Will they? I don't think they probably will. WBA have sorted out their problems since Roy Hodgson's appointment and I see them getting the win.
Wolves 0-1 West Brom
Stoke V Arsenal - These are always games that are tasty - Arsenal have a poor record at this ground - However, I see Arsenal snatching a solitary point here which will not do their hopes of winning the title any good, not that they were in the race really, but there's always the tiniest glimmer of hope they might do it. However, their hopes will be crushed once and for all here but I do believe one day, the title will return to the Emirates Stadium - however it may take time.
Stoke 1-1 Arsenal
Man Utd V Chelsea - Can I hand this prediction to somebody else, please? I just can't tell you what is going to happen in arguably the game of the season. However, Chelsea will need the win so much more than anything Man Utd might imagine, despite their desperation for a win themselves - I see Chelsea triumphing in all honesty. They did it last year. They can do it again.
Man Utd 0-1 Chelsea
Fulham V Liverpool - A tasty match to follow the Old Trafford showdown - Fulham are a very good side under Mark Hughes whilst Kenny Dalglish has revitalised Liverpool. A draw here.
Fulham 1-1 Liverpool
Man City V Tottenham - Man City's revenge could be completed by the end of this game - they lost out to a Peter Crouch header last time out, but they'll want to re-correct things in this game. I see a narrow home win for City.
Man City 1-0 Tottenham
ROB'S FINAL THOUGHT
===================
Spare a thought for Huddersfield - so close yet so far to promotion from League One. So disappointing and also for Wigan as they prepare to invest in a seventh season in the EPL with victory at Villa so wins for both sides would restore some pride to both teams and hopefully, both can achieve their goal by season's out.
Stats: Wigan Athletic v Aston Villa (Monday May 20 2013)
A Time To Celebrate - Latics v Villa (Sunday May 19 2013)
Shaun Maloney Man Of The Match v Arsenal (Sunday May 19 2013)
Wigan Athletic - The 12th Man - 19/05/13 (Sunday May 19 2013)
Barmpot Decision - I'm Not Frustrated - Honest (Saturday May 18 2013)
Shaun Maloney - Vital Latics POTS - The Video (Saturday May 18 2013)
Lawro Predicts - Latics v Villa (Saturday May 18 2013)
The Connections - Latics to Villa (Saturday May 18 2013)
The Arouna Koné Foundation 5-a-side Tournament (Friday May 17 2013)
Classic Encounters - Latics v Villa (Friday May 17 2013)
| 1. | Oscarbon | 333 |
| 2. | Marksparko | 306 |
| 3. | worbo | 237 |
| 4. | lathamwafc | 141 |
| 5. | StuT | 120 |
| 6. | russialatic | 118 |
| 7. | MadWig1 | 112 |
| 8. | scotdave | 101 |
| 9. | hayzee | 97 |
| 10. | A Taiwan Pieman | 90 |
| Latest Results | ||||
| Wigan | 2 | - | 2 | Aston Villa |
| Arsenal | 4 | - | 1 | Wigan |
| Wigan | 2 | - | 3 | Swansea |
| WBA | 2 | - | 3 | Wigan |
| Wigan | 2 | - | 2 | Spurs |
| West Ham | 2 | - | 0 | Wigan |
| Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
| 14. Southampton | 38 | 9 | 14 | 15 | -11 | 41 |
| 15. Aston Villa | 38 | 10 | 11 | 17 | -22 | 41 |
| 16. Newcastle | 38 | 11 | 8 | 19 | -23 | 41 |
| 17. Sunderland | 38 | 9 | 12 | 17 | -13 | 39 |
| 18. Wigan | 38 | 9 | 9 | 20 | -26 | 36 |
| 19. Reading | 38 | 6 | 10 | 22 | -30 | 28 |
| 20. Q.P.R. | 38 | 4 | 13 | 21 | -30 | 25 |
|
» Wigan : 20/05/2013 07:21:00
|
| The Reality Of Newcastle United
» Newcastle : 20/05/2013 00:43:00
|
| PDC: 'Environment worse here than Swindon'
» Sunderland : 20/05/2013 00:39:00
|
| Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Sunderland
» Sunderland : 20/05/2013 00:31:00
|
| Report - Swansea City 0-3 Fulham
» Swansea : 19/05/2013 23:07:00
|
| West Ham 4 - 2 Reading
» Reading : 19/05/2013 22:55:00
|
|
» Newcastle : 19/05/2013 21:53:00
|