Newcastle v Latics Preview

Roberto Martinez takes his side up to the North East for this afternoons Premier League clash with Newcastle United knowing he needs to buck the trend of six consecutive defeats and do it quickly, last week's shambles against Bolton needs to be forgotten and the return of Hugo Rodallega should go some way to doing that.

The Latics have been poor in areas of their game recently, the defending has been woeful at times and there hasn't been much offered going forward, that needs to change and a dogged performance up at St. James' Park would be a good start to getting back on the road to recovery.

Newcastle though are on the crest of a wave having made a great start to the new season, unbeaten so far and up to fourth in the table, Pardew has defied the critics and got his team playing well, they will be a formidable force to be reckoned with this afternoon, but its tests like this that Martinez's side need to raise to the challenge of if we are to get out of this mess.

Latics boss Roberto Martinez:

'I feel we are capable of responding to adversity and that is what we have to do on Saturday.

'Don't get me wrong, we don't want to be in our current position, but we know at the moment it doesn't mean anything now because it could be a reflection of who you have played and what injuries you have.

'We know where we are and what we have to correct. The next game is a massive football occasion and we are ready for that.

'At Wigan you learn to push yourself to the maximum. We have been seven seasons in the Premier League and we have to give everything and more to keep that going.'

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew

'We need to keep the levels of performance and discipline that we've set on Saturday because we've got what is potentially a slippery game'

'They're on a tough run at the minute and they'll be really coming to us to prove a point, so we have to be on our guard.'

Fabrico Coloccini is expected to be fit.

Newcastle from: Krul, Simpson, S. Taylor, Coloccini, R. Taylor, Obertan, Tiote, Cabaye, Gutierrez, Ba, Ameobi, Elliot, Harper, Santon, Kadar, Ferguson, Marveaux, Gosling, Abeid, Best, Ben Arfa, Smith, Sammy Ameobi, Vuckic, Ranger

Ex-Latics player who had a habit of scoring against Newcastle, surely he isn't going to start scoring against us, is he?

Fully fit squad for Martinez to chose from.

Latics probable: Al-Habsi, Boyce, Alcaraz, Caldwell, Figueroa, Watson, Diame, McCarthy, Moses, Rodallega, Di Santo

If ever we needed a big game from Hugo today's the day.

Hugo back from injury

By permission of Bernard Platt/Wigan Athletic

The Latics and Newcastle have met 13 times in all competitions

Latics 5 wins, Newcastle 5, draws 3

Last six meetings

Premier League 02 Jan 2011 Wigan 0 - 1 Newcastle
Premier League 16 Oct 2010 Newcastle 2 - 2 Wigan
Premier League 26 Dec 2008 Wigan 2 - 1 Newcastle
Premier League 15 Nov 2008 Newcastle 2 - 2 Wigan
Premier League 26 Dec 2007 Wigan 1 - 0 Newcastle
Premier League 01 Sep 2007 Newcastle 1 - 0 Wigan

Neil Swarbrick (Preston)

Why not take a look at our 'Meet The Ref' article

Neil Swarbrick Card Watch 2001/12

Games - 7, yellows - 29, reds 1

Head says, if we play like last week a resounding beating, 3-0

Heart says we have a tendancy for turning it round in the face of adversity, 1-1, as always going with the heart

Premier League

Latics v Fulham
DW Stadium
Saturday
29/10/11
3pm

Wolves v Latics
Molineux
Sunday
6/07/11
1:30pm

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