Sunderland v Latics Preview

Latics travel to the North East this afternoon to face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, a place that we appear to like to go and play, 10 previous visits, four wins and three draws is a good return, but today we'll need to be on top of our game as Martin O'Neill's side remain unbeaten this season

Steven Fletcher has hit the ground running since his big money move from Wolves this summer, he has notched all four of Sunderlands goal so far and he is on fire, but it will be a game where the Latics need to stop more than just Fletcher, the Black Cats have some very good players, Sessegnon, McClean and Gardner are all dangerous

Martinez though will have his own players to think about firstly, Di Santo looks to be out, following his two goal Capital One show in the week, Mauro Boselli must be pushing for a start, so too Ryo Miyaichi as we do look unbalanced on our right side

James McArthur played in midweek after missing out against Fulham and he too could be pushing for a recall.

Latics boss Roberto Martinez:

'I know that Sunderland are a really difficult team to play against. We have all seen that they have been very close to getting a good run of results.

'For one reason or another they haven't been getting that so that makes them a bit more dangerous.

'They've got that hunger to get a positive result. Their signings in the [transfer] window gave them a step up in quality and gave them a different dimension.

'We know they are going to be well organised. It is extremely difficult to play against them and break them down and they've got some extraordinary counter attacking football.

'All in all we respect this Sunderland side and we know how difficult it is going to be. Both sides are in a similar position, desperate to get a positive result or a win and I think it will be a more open game that you will see at any other stage of the season.'

Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill:

'It will be tough for us, Wigan are capable of winning away from home in this league.

'They won't come in fear of us but we have just got to get the crowd behind us and go for it.'

Adam Johnson has a thigh injury, Lee Cattermole is suspended

Sunderland from - Mignolet, Gardner, Bramble, O'Shea, Rose, Larsson, Colback, McClean, Sessegnon, Fletcher, Westwood, Kilgallon, Vaughan, Meyler, Campbell, Wickham, Saha

Four shots for Sunderland, four goals for Sunderland, how many Premier League goals have Sunderland scored this season?

Four

Say's it all really

Antolin Alcaraz and Franco Di Santo are both definitely out accourding to Martinez yesterday, apart from those two full squad to choose from, the performance on Wednesday will have given food for thought, especially where Boselli is concerned

Latics possible - Al Habsi, Ramis, Caldwell, Figueroa, Boyce, Beausejour, McCarthy, McArthur, Maloney, Boselli, Kone

Beausejour looked a little under the weather last weekend against Fulham, I'd expect him to come back bouncing this week


By permission of Bernard Platt/Wigan Athletic

Latics and Sunderland have met 20 times

Latics have 7 wins, Sunderland 5, draws 8

Last six games

03 Jan 2012 -Wigan Athletic 1-4 Sunderland
26 Nov 2011 - Sunderland 1-2 Wigan Athletic
23 Apr 2011 - Sunderland 4-2 Wigan Athletic
11 Sep 2010 - Wigan Athletic 1-1 Sunderland
06 Feb 2010 - Sunderland 1-1 Wigan Athletic
28 Nov 2009 - Wigan AThletic 1-0 Sunderland

Howard Webb (South Yorks)

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

Howard Webb Card Watch 2012/13

Games - 3, yellows - 8, reds - 0

Head says 1-1

Heart says 1-2 Latics win, as always going with the head

Premier League
Latics v Everton
DW Stadium
Saturday
06/10/12
3pm

Swansea City v Latics
Liberty Stadium
Saturday
20/10/12
3pm

The latest PWU Podcast is now available, this week it's the Sunderland v Latics preview, as well as look backs at both the Fulham and West Ham games, in the 'studio' are Barry, Gareth, Paul and Rob

The podcast is available for download from iTunes, our hosting site www.buzzsprout.com or you can click play on the player below to listen from here

As always feedback is welcome, plus if you want to get involved in the podcast please contact us here at Vital Latics wigan@vitalfootball.co.uk , mark your email Podcast