Sunderland Vs Latics Preview

Roberto Martinez takes his Wigan Athletic side to Sunderland today hoping to put Tuesday nights horror show well and truly behind them after the Latics were dumped out of the FA cup by League 2 side Notts County.

Martinez is set to make changes to the side that had no fight on Tuesday and Koumas, Gomez, Scotland and Scharner are all expected to be out of the team and this could mean a debut for new signing Victor Moses.

The young forward was snapped up from Crystal Palace on deadline day and his potential should give some fresh impetuous to the Latics front line, the other new signing Marcelo Moreno is still awaiting international clearance and looks set to miss out today.

There has been a few words spoken in the press by both managers about each other and it looks like there is no love lost between them and without doubt both camps see this as a game that they`d like to win just to rub their counterpart up.

Sunderland have been on a terrible run of late and have just 1 win in 14 matches, indeed since they left the DW Stadium back in November following a 1-0 defeat to the Latics, Steve Bruces side have gone 10 games without a win and picked up just 4 points conceding 21 goals a long the way

Today though both managers will see this game as one where they can get a result from and will be looking to their players to make a bright start and get a foot hold in the match.

A win would ease the pressure on either boss, a defeat and the vultures could well be circling

Latics boss Roberto Martinez:

'The game is all about the players and the importance of three points, not who is managing which side.'

'The squad have been preparing well for the game and are eager to put things right as soon as possible.

'It was a big result last time, for both sides. Although their form hasn't been great since they have an outstanding squad with great talent after big investment in the summer.

'Playing at home they'll be full of intensity and physicality which we'll have to match from the very start. It's going to be a tough game but we ourselves feel hard done by with recent results when we've deserved better outcomes. But if you keep doing the right things you will get rewards and we need to make sure that we have the right attitude going into this game.'


Sunderland boss Steve Bruce:

'Wigan are on a poor run themselves, but they had just been beaten 9-1 by Spurs when we played them last, yet they still turned us over.

'I know they`ve got some very good players and we have to make sure we match them for work-rate and desire.'

John Mensah and Phil Bardsley are both struggling and look set to miss out though new signings Benjani and Alan Hutton are both expected to feature.

Sunderland from:

Gordon; Mensah, Turner, Kilgallon, McCartney, Malbranque, Campbell, Cattermole, Henderson, Cana, Reid, Zenden, Bent, Jones, Fulop, Bardsley, Meyler, Da Silva, Hutton, Benjani.

Ex-Latics player, 100% effort and determination always given by Cattermole, he will no doubt be fired up today

New signing Marcelo Moreno is still waiting international clearance and is set to miss out but Victor Moses is in line to make his debut, Mario Melchiot is 50/50 and Chris Kirkland is definitely out

Latics possible:

Stojkovic, Boyce, Caldwell, Bramble, Figueroa, N'Zogbia, Diame, Thomas, Moses, McCarthy, Rodallega

Say it week after week, Charlie is Latics must creative player this season

Latics and Sunderland have met 14 times in all competitions, Latics 6 wins, Sunderland 3, draws 5

Last Five Meetings

28/11/09 - Premier League - Latics 1 Sunderland 0
14/03/09 - Premier League - Sunderland 1 Latics 2
13/09/08 - Premier League - Latics 1 Sunderland 1
09/02/08 - Premier League - Sunderland 2 Latics 0
05/01/08 - FA Cup - Sunderland 0 Latics 3
18/08/07 - Premier League - Latics 3 Sunderland 0

Stuart Attwell (Nuneaton)

Meet the ref article click here

Heart says Latics to snatch an away win 2-1

Head says 1-1

Premier League

Latics Vs Stoke City
DW Stadium
Tuesday 9/02/10 7:45pm

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