Rob's Prediction: Newcastle V Wigan

Wigan Athletic football club are currently going through a rough patch, best emphasised by their disappointing home defeat to Bolton last time out, resulting in many calling for changes in the Wigan Athletic fold.

However, the return of Hugo Rodallega and Antolin Alcaraz to the defence should be able to spice things up a little bit though I do think we should have Ronnie Stam back in the side - on his day, he is an awesome player.

In midfield, I much suspect the same type of formation, with Moses, Diame, Watson, McCarthy (though I'd strongly consider McArthur) and I would like to see Crusat given a chance on the wing. This was hotly debated by the Soccer Saturday panel last weekend.

I'd like to see this formation for the game this afternoon:

Goal-Keeper: Al-Habsi

efender: Maynor Figueroa (Gohouri needs to be out of sight for the rest of the season)

efender: Antolin Alcaraz

efender: Gary Caldwell

efender: Ronnie Stam

idfielder: Albert Crusat

idfielder: Ben Watson

idfielder: Mohamed Diame

idfielder: James McArthur

idfielder: Victor Moses

triker: Hugo Rodallega

triker: Franco Di Santo

I expect a tough game today and I've a bad feeling that five could soon turn into six but nevertheless, I still have faith in Roberto and indeed he can turn around an awful run of form but I so much want Latics fans to smile again sooner rather than later.

ROB'S PREDICTION

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St James' Park is a fortress of late - no team has gone there and won yet. They've made their best start to a Premier League season since 1997. I can't see the Latics changing that cycle but I do expect a notoriously difficult game in which I can see only one result. Its time for unity in difficult times.

ROB'S OTHER PREDICTIONS

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Wolves V Swansea - Swansea will never have a better opportunity against a weak home side in Wolverhampton Wanderers but I don't see either team winning.

b> Wolves 0 Swansea 0

Aston Villa V West Brom - Aston Villa are doing OK currently and West Brom had a morale boosting win over Wolves last time out so their tails will be up. I think a draw is a safe bet.

b> Aston Villa 1 West Brom 1

Bolton V Sunderland - Bolton will be buoyed by their last result at the DW Stadium and Sunderland are on a terrible run of form. I see one outcome.

b>Bolton 1 Sunderland 0

Liverpool V Norwich - This is a difficult fixture for Norwich but they played well at Old Trafford so they can't be easily written off. The home side will win but not by a goal glut.

b>Liverpool 2 Norwich 0

Arsenal V Stoke City - I think Arsenal will triumph here as Stoke don't have a good record at the Emirates stadium.

b>Arsenal 2 Stoke City 0

Fulham V Everton - Everton don't have the greatest record at Craven Cottage. I think Fulham will triumph in this game by the single goal.

b>Fulham 1 Everton 0

Man Utd V Man City - This is a massive game. Its so hard to call but I think Man City are slightly weaker than Man Utd. I expect Man Utd to triumph by the single goal.

b>Man Utd 1 Man City 0

Blackburn V Tottenham - Blackburn don't want to be playing Tottenham Hotspur at the moment, the form they're in. This is difficult to call but Blackburn is not an easy place to go. I see a draw.

b>Blackburn 0 Tottenham 0

QPR V Chelsea - Just the game Neil Warnock didn't want - I think QPR will struggle this season along with Wolves and Norwich City. I think Swansea can survive and think they will. For QPR, this is a tall order. Chelsea scored 5 against Genk mid-week and I see a similar score line here. QPR just don't have the setup to deal with Chelsea.

b>QPR 0 Chelsea 4

ROB'S FINAL THOUGHT

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Wins for Wigan and Huddersfield to make the perfect Saturday.

See you all again next time for Wigan V Fulham.

Newcastle 1 Wigan 0

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