Latics Go to Toon Preview

The Latics travel the 157 miles up to the North East in search of their third away win of the season following on from the victory over Portsmouth early in the month

The game is a true six pointer with both clubs having an identical record of 3 wins, 3 draws and six defeats so far this season and with both clubs sitting on 12 points a win could send either up to 10th with a defeat putting the other on the bottom of the table

There is a bit of confusion around the availability of some of the Latics squad, Vital Wigan have been informed by a source very close to the club that both Zaki and Heskey are definitely out and that Sibierski has been recalled from his loan spell at Norwich, but no official word as of yet

What ever team the Latics do put out will face a tough game at St. James` and it is a ground that we haven`t had any league success on losing all three games played there, in fact the only success we have tasted in this part of the North East was a 2-2 draw in a third round FA cup game way back in 1953

After so much early promise we now find ourselves with the possibility of slumping to the bottom of the table, we need results and we need them now lets hope for a better showing than the debacle at the Emirates on Tuesday

Latics boss Steve Bruce:

'It's always a tough game at St James' Park with 50,000 people there.

'To be fair to Joe Kinnear, he seems to have steadied the ship and pointed them in the right direction, and they've had good back-to-back results at home.

'We know what to expect, but we hope that we can repeat the form that got us good results at Hull and Portsmouth. We've got to forget about Tuesday night now and bounce back.'

Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear:

'This is a must-win, no doubt about it. We've got a very good chance to get another home win against Wigan.

'You have to win your home games, and we should be given the support we get.

'I've been blown away by the atmosphere at St.James' and we need that again on Saturday.'

Steven Taylor and Mark Viduka will be missing whilst Michael Owen should be on the bench

Newcastle from:

Given, Harper, Beye, Enrique, Bassong, Coloccini, Cacapa, Edgar, Butt, Barton, Guthrie, Duff, Gutierrez, Geremi, Ameobi, Owen, Martins, Carroll.

Exciting player with bags of skill and pace, a constant threat

Vital Latics have been informed that both Zaki and Heskey are none starters for todays game though there is no official news on this, also we understand that Antione Sibierski was training with the Latics squad yesterday, again no official word

Kirkland has recovered from his back twinge and will start in goal, so

Latics from:

Kirkland, Kingson, Pollitt, Melchiot, Boyce, Bramble, Scharner, Figueroa, Taylor, Kilbane, De Ridder, Valencia, Palacios, Brown, Cattermole, Koumas, Kapo, Heskey, Zaki, Camara, Sibierski

One of the few players to put the effort in on Tuesday at Arsenal and there is no doubting that WIlson is very talented, he needs to step up now and take some responsibility

Latics and Newcastle have met six times in the Premier League and on each occasion the home side has won the game

Last Season

Newcastle United 1-0 Wigan Athletic
1st September 2007
Referee Steve Bennett

Andy Marriner (West Midlands)

Card Watch

Games - 8

Yellows - 28

Reds - 3

Heart says Latics with a 0-1

Head says 0-0

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