West Brom Vs Latics Preview

Latics boss Steve Bruce takes his side down the M6 to face West Brom at the start of a week of 3 games with Manchester United to come on Wednesday at the JJB and then down the road again for a trip to Stoke next Saturday.

Back to today and Brucie knows that the season has somewhat fizzled out and if he wants to avoid a total damp squib then the team need to get some passion back and quickly

Latics have injury doubts to both Mario Melchiot and Paul Scharner and if out will be sorely missed, expect Figueroa to cover centre back, Boyce in at right back and Erik Edman to make his first start of the season at left back.

Today is D-Day for West Brom, if they lose and Hull win then it will be relegation for the Midlanders and all though they have won plaudits for their style of football the frailties in the side have been there for all to see.

Latics boss Steve Bruce:

'We've only won two out of the last 14 games and we always knew our fixtures at the back end of the season would be difficult'

'It'll be a difficult task at West Brom, the last team that went there, Sunderland, got their backsides kicked 3-0'

'We know they have got some good players and the report I have read of them from the Spurs game said they did ever so well, we know what to expect, it will be a tough game thats for sure'

West Brom manager Tony Mowbray:

'Wigan are a very powerful, athletic and big team.

'Steve Bruce deserves great credit for pulling that together. He's put together a pretty useful team in the Premier League.

'A club the size of Wigan are doing extremely well to compete in the Premier League.'

James Morrison is out and Graham Dorrans very doubtful

West Brom from:

Carson, Zuiverloon, Olsson, Martis, Robinson, Brunt, Greening, Koren, Dorrans, Fortune, Menseguez, Hoefkens, Cech, Kiely, Do-Heon, Teixeira, Mulumbu, Valero, Bednar, Simpson and Wood.

Menseguez has lots of pace and he scored recently against Sunderland

Mario Melchiot and Paul Scharner are both racing to be fit for this one with Emerson Boyce and Erik Edman on stand-by to replace them

Latics from:

Kirkland, Melchiot, Figueroa, Edman, Boyce, Bramble, Scharner, Valencia, Koumas, De Ridder, Cattermole, Brown, Watson, N'Zogbia, Kapo, Zaki, Mido, Rodallega, Sibierski, Pollitt, Kingson.

Pace and quality can rip most sides apart, the classy Ecuador international is finding his best form again after injury

Earlier this season:

Latics 2-1 West Brom
Referee Phil Dowd
29/11/08
Latics scorers Henri Camara and Emerson Boyce

All Previous Meetings

Latics 4 wins, WBA 4, draw 1

Peter Walton (Northants)

Card Watch

Games - 24

Yellows - 61

Reds - 3

Heart says 2-1 Latics win

Head says 1-1 draw

Premeir League

Latics Vs Manchester United
JJB Stadium
Wednesday 13/05/09
8 pm

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