Latics v Stoke Preview

Stoke City are in town today, the Latics will be aiming to build on last weeks great result at Southampton and whilst Martinez's men will have every right to be confident, Stoke have an atrocious run of form at the moment, they will need to be wary of Pulis' team, although they haven't won this season, they are still unbeaten in the Premier League.

No new signings for the Latics, the sending off of Alcaraz in the midweek cup game will ease on selection headache, expect to see Jean Beausejour in at wing back with Figgy slotting into the back three.

Arouna Kone scored a great goal last weekend, reminiscent of Jason Roberts at his best, he's certainly whetted the appetite

Stoke were very busy yesterday bringing players in, Pulis must have shares in lastminute.com because they do this every year!

I'm expecting a tough game today, but I'm also expecting us to win

Latics boss Roberto Martinez:

'We all know how difficult it is to play against Stoke'

'Some people get confused and think that Stoke are only a team that work on the dead ball situation, but you look at their individuals.

'They have been playing together for a few seasons now and they are a lot more than that. We need to be prepared to cope with both sides of their game.

'After going out of the Capital One Cup, it will be a determined Stoke side that comes on Saturday because they will want to prove a point now.

'Stoke are very unique type of team and you have to be ready to cope with physicality that they bring to the game.

'On top of that you have to cope with the individual quality that certain players in their team have.

'If you just concentrate on preventing their threat from set pieces then you will get caught out by the quality that they also have from open play.

'They have got a good chemistry in their squad now because they've been playing together for a long time.'

Antolin Alcaraz is suspended following his midweek sending off at Forest, no new signings so Latics probable

Al Habsi, Ramis, Caldwell, Figueroa, Boyce, Beausejour, McCarthy, McArthur, Maloney, Kone, Di Santo

It will be interesting to see how Ramis copes with the Stoke approach and in particular Peter Crouch


By permission of Bernard Platt/Wigan Athletic

Stoke were very busy in the transfer market yesterday, bringing in Charlie Adam, Maurice Edu and Steven N'Zonzi, whether they make their debut in this afternoons game though is a different matter

Stoke from: Begovic, Huth, Wilkinson, Wilson , Shawcross, Whelan, Etherington, Kightly, Cameron, Walters, Jerome, Pennant, Crouch, Jones, Woodgate, Adam, Edu, Upson

An under rated but very good player

Latics and Stoke have met 27 times

Latics 7 wins, Stoke 10, draws 10

Last Six Games

Wigan Athletic 2-0 Stoke City (Premier League) - 31/03/2012
Stoke City 2-2 Wigan Athletic (Premier League) - 31/12/2011
Stoke City 0-1 Wigan Athletic (Premier League) - 22/05/2011
Wigan Athletic 2-2 Stoke City (Premier League) - 04/12/2010
Wigan Athletic 1-1 Stoke City (Premier League) - 09/02/2010
Stoke City 2-2 Wigan Athletic (premier League) - 12/12/2009

Martin Atkinson (Bradford)

Take a look at our 'Meet The Ref' article

Martin Atkinson Card Watch 2012/12

Games - 2, yellows - 10, reds - 0

Head says 1-1

Heart says Latics to win 2-1, as always going with my heart

Premier League
Manchester United v Latics
Old Trafford
Saturday
15/09/12
3pm

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Latics and Proud



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