Fulham Vs Latics Preview

Wigan Athletic travel 212 miles to West London to face Fulham for this evenings Premier League game hoping for a win to get their season back on track following three defeats in a row.

Fulham have been faring no better than the Latics of late and they haven`t won a game since they beat Bolton 2-1 at the Cottage on 13th September.

Both teams are desperate for the points and both will see this as a winnable game, the Latics will welcome back Mario Melchiot and Antonio Valencia and both were badly missed on Sunday, they say you don`t know what you have until its gone and that`s certainly apparent here.

Valencia`s pace and all round threat bring something different to the Latics side, he is a quality player and a constant threat to opponents whilst Mario is just a class player

Fulham have only scored 8 goals so far this season which is a good thing considering the Latics have shipped 7 in the last two games.

Lets hope the defence stays tight tonight and Zaki gets another couple of goals, I fancy us winning this one

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson:

"Two days isn`t really long enough to prepare for a game, but that`s all we`ve got so we will have to get on with it"

"Games under the floodlights are always special at Crave Cottage and I hope we can give the fans something to get behind us with"

Latics boss Steve Bruce:

'We've been punished and badly beaten and we'll have to work on it'

'We'll be doing that on Monday and Tuesday and trying to get it right for Wednesday.'

Seol Ki-Hyeon and Toni Kallio are both doubtful for the game tonight

Fulham from:
Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Davies, Bullard, Murphy, Gera, Zamora, Johnson, Zuberbuhler, Nevland, Gray, Dempsey, Andreasen, Baird

One of Wigans favourite sons (even thoug he is a cockney), his enthusiasm and love of the game has been missed sinve he left the Latics

Valencia and Melchiot return leaving only long term casualty Erik Edman side-lined for this one

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

Had a blank in his last game so due a goal in this one

Last Season
Fulham 1-1 Wigan Athletic
22nd December 2007
Referee Alan Wiley

30 previous league encounters have produced:
Fulham wins - 12, Latics wins - 8 and 10 draws

Premier League:
Fulham 1 win, Latics 2, Draws 3

Howard Webb (Yorkshire)

Card Watch

Games - 8

Yellows - 27

Reds - 2

Heart says Latics win 2-1

Head says 1-1 draw

Premier League
Portsmouth Vs Latics
Fraton Park
Saturday 1st November 2008
3 pm

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