Lawro Predicts - Latics v Everton

Mark 'Lawro' Lawrenson has done his weekly round of Premier League predictions for the BBC, the Match of the Day pundit is forecasting that Saturday's clash between Wigan Athletic and Everton at the DW Stadium will end in a draw, let's take a look at his reasons:

Wigan v Everton

Wigan's prospects look bleak - they are bottom of the Premier League with 15 points from 23 games.

Just say they are aiming for the magical 40 point mark and they need at least eight wins, which is more than half their games, to reach it.

I know all that has been missing for them when they have stayed up for the last couple of years has been Steve McQueen and the music from The Great Escape but, I just cannot see them staying up this time.

I like Wigan, and their manager Roberto Martinez, because they are a friendly well-run club but I just feel it is their year to face the drop.

Their problem is that if you get a goal against them, they help you get more - it is rare they stay in games after going behind.

They have averaged less than one goal a game all season, don't look like scoring enough to win games, and they always give you chances. That is not a great combination, to put it mildly.

The Latics have been in the relegation zone since October and have never looked like getting out of it. Some of their individual players are good enough but, collectively, they don't get it together often enough.

Everton were like the Everton of old in their win against Manchester City on Tuesday, and they look in much better shape than they did at the start of the month.

At that point, it almost seemed as if Toffees boss David Moyes was back to where he started when he took over 10 years ago, but a lot has changed since then. Moyes has signed Landon Donovan, Darron Gibson, Steven Pienaar and Nikica Jelavic.

Against City, they were missing a few players but they didn't half scrap and that was the key for them - some of the City players did not like being tackled!

This game presents a different problem, though, because, unlike on Tuesday, they will be expected to win it. Replicating the level they reached against City will be difficult, which is why I am only going to tip them to get a point at the DW Stadium.

Prediction: 1-1

Difficult to disagree but we need the points desperately, hopefully that will carry us through, 2-1 Latics win

To see all Lawro's weekend predictions visit www.bbc.co.uk/lawros-punts

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