Hartlepool v Latics Preview

Roberto Martinez takes his Wigan Athletic side up to the North East to face League One side Hartlepool United in the 2nd round of the Carling Cup desperate to get the season underway for the Latics

A dreadful start to the new season sees the Latics rock bottom of the Premier League with no points no goals and ten conceded, a confidence boosting performance and result is very much needed though Mick Wadsworths Hartlepool will be no push over and indeed will fancy they can pull off a shock having already beaten higher opposition Sheffield United in round 1.

Martinez is likely to ring the changes and will probably give new signing Steve Caldwell a run out, also likely to get a start is on loan keeper Ali Al-Habsi and a good performance from the Omani international may just see him keep his place for Saturday after two hapless performances from Latics stand in skipper Chris Kirkland.

Latics boss Roberto Martinez:

'We want to try to be competitive and we want to progress in the cup as much as we can'

'But at the same time there are certain individuals that need to rest and need to be ready for Saturday and that's where the squad comes into play.

'So if we we're not good enough as a squad to carry on progressing in the cup then that's something that we need to address.

'It's a great opportunity now for certain players to show what they can do as well and to make sure that they too are ready for Saturday, because there are places up for grabs because of the recent results.'

Hartlepool boss Mick Wadsworth:

'If you look at the players they have then you'll see that they are very good players, some of whom have just been away at the World Cup.

'I've worked with the boy Alcaraz during my time in Portugal and he's a very good player and had an excellent World Cup with Paraguay during the summer and is finding his feet in the Premier League.

'Boselli is another quality player who I saw a bit of in Argentina and I am sure will get better and better as he adapts to the English game.

'They've got a strong squad even among the players who haven't played so far.'

Hartlepool from:

Flinders, Haslam, Horwood, Collins, Sweeney, Murray, Monkhouse, Liddle, Gamble, Fredriksen, Brown, McSweeney, Boyd, Hartley, Humphreys, Behan, Larkin, Rafferty.

23 year old striker with an eye for goal

Expect a few changes

Latics from:

Al-Habsi, Boyce, Stam, Golobart, Gohouri, Gomez, McArthur, Watson, Moses, Thomas, Holt, Boselli, Pollitt, S. Caldwell, Rodallega, McCarthy

Will Al-Habsi grab his chance and make a claim for a starting place at Spurs on Saturday

Latics and Hartlepool have met on 22 occasions.

Latics 6 wins, Hartlepool 6 wins, draws 10

Last 6 meetings
04/03/1997 - League Two - Latics 2 Hartlepool 2
14/09/1996 - League Two - Hartlepool 1 Latics 1
08/04/1996 - League Two - Hartlepool 1 Latics 2
21/10/1995 - League Two - Latics 1 Hartlepool 0
28/02/1995 - League Two - Latics 2 Hartlepool 0
05/11/1994 - League Two - Hartlepool 0 Latics 1

Phil Gibbs (Birmingham)

Latics to win 2-1 after extra time

Premier League

Spurs v Latics
White Hart Lane
Saturday 27/08/10 3pm

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