City Slickers are in Town

Latics go into the game against City unbeaten in the last five league and cup games a run that manager Steve Bruce is keen to keep going.

In contrast to this City were knocked out of the Carling Cup on Wednesday away at Brighton, though they did rest a few players including keeper Joe Hart and Brazilian record signing Robinho.

City have never beaten the Latics since we became a Premier League side in 2005 and until last season they had never taken a point off us, lets keep it that way.

Today should be a good test for both clubs, Mark Hughes will be hoping that the result last week against a poor Portsmouth side when City ran in 6 goals will help them turn their away form around as they are very poor travellers.

Steve Bruce will be hoping that Latics can bring their away form home, so far this season Latics have played 4 away games scoring 10 goals in the process and we have yet to win a league game at the JJB in the new term.

With the richest club in the world spending the afternoon in Wigan lets hope that we can mug them for three points and send them the 24 miles back up the East Lancs empty handed

Latics boss Steve Bruce:

'We looked at our start and thought we've got some difficult games.

'We had to go to West Ham, had Chelsea at home and Tottenham away, but in terms of points we've done okay.

'I hope we can go and get a big scalp like Man City now to kickstart us and it'll be good to continue our record against them.'

City boss Mark Hughes:

'It is a good game to come back into after our loss in Carling Cup defeat.

'Wigan are a big, strong powerful side, who will upset a lot of teams. We do not want that to happen to us.

'We set a standard against Portsmouth and need to produce that level again when we face Wigan.'

Latics only have long term casualty Erik Edman missing and he is near to a return

Latics from:
Kirkland, Melchiot, Boyce, Bramble, Figueroa, Valencia, Cattermole, Palacios, Kilbane, Heskey, Zaki, Brown, Camara, De Ridder, Kapo, Koumas, Kupisz, Scharner, Taylor, Pollitt, Kingson.

The man is dynamite, he had a quiet game at Ipswich in midweek but still rattled the crossbar

No major worries for Mark Hughes

City from:
Hart, Zabaleta, Richards, Dunne, Ben Haim, Garrido, Ball, Elano, Kompany, Johnson, Ireland, Hamann, Fernandes, Wright-Phillips, Robinho, Jo, Schmeichel, Evans, Sturridge

Mega bucks paid to Real Madrid for the Brazilian bench warmer, lets see if he is worth the dosh

Latics have NEVER lost to City since the infamous Shaun Goater handball goal 10 years ago

Total league games Latics 4 wins, Man City 2, Draws 2

Premier League only Latics 4 wins, Man City 0, Draws 2

The Latics have won more matches (four), gained more points (14), and scored more goals (11) against Manchester City than any other club in the Premier League.

Last season:

Wigan Athletic 1-1 Manchester City
1st December 2007
Referee Mike Riley

Steve Bennett (Orpington, Kent)

Card watch

Games - 4

Yellows - 15

Reds - 0

Steve Bennets first game this season was the West Han Vs Latics

Heart says 2-1 Latics win

Head says 2-2 exciting draw

Premier League
Latics Vs Middlesbrough
JJB
Saturday 4/10/08
3pm

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