Latics v City Preview

The Latics will be looking to build on Saturdays win over Reading, but with an undefeated Manchester City in town tonight it will be a very tough encounter

Martinez has several injured players to worry about and the squad at the moment is being stretched to the limit, Jordi Gomez stepped up to the mark on Saturday, a great display from the Spaniard and a fantastic hat-trick, more of the same please Jordi

City faced Chelsea on Sunday and fought out a goalless draw which keeps them in 2nd place in the table, undoubtedly they will come to the DW looking for a win

An entertaining game should be on the cards and I fully expect the Latics to give as good as they get, enough for the points? Ask me again at 10pm

Latics boss Roberto Martinez:

'The reality is Manchester City are the only team unbeaten in the league.

'This season they have played with that winning mentality. That means that sometimes when they are not playing at their best they always find the way to get a positive result.

'That is probably the big difference between this Manchester City team and last season.'

Man City assistant boss David Platt:

'We have conceded fewer goals than at this stage of last season But there's only really one statistic that counts and that's the points.

'You can draw comparisons to last season. We were setting records left, right and centre with how many goals we scored after 13 games last season.

'We would like to have a few more now because it would have got those extra victories but 13 games gone, one point off the top, still unbeaten, there's enough in there to be pleased about.'

Shaun Maloney and Gary Caldwell face late fitness tests, but Ivan Ramis joins Ben Watson, Antolin Alcaraz and Albert Crusat who are definitely out

James McArthur and Franco Di Santo could both start tonight

Latics from - Al Habsi, Boyce, Caldwell, Figueroa, Stam, Beausejour, McCarthy, McArthur, Gomez, Jones, Maloney, Di Santo, Kone

Great game against Reading at the weekend and an excellent hat-trick to boot


By permission of Bernard Platt/Wigan Athletic

Definitely out are Gael Clichy, Jack Rodwell, Micah Richards and John Guidetti

City from - Hart, Kompany, Zabaleta, Kolarov, Nastasic, Milner, Barry, Y Toure, Silva, Tevez, Dzeko, Aguero, Nazri, Balotelli, Maicon, Garcia, K Toure

Great little player and always a threat

The Latics and City have met 22 times

Latics 6 wins, City 11, draws 5

In the Premier League - Latics 5 wins, City 6, draws 3

Last Six Meetings:

16 Jan 2012 - Premier League - Wigan Athletic 0 Manchester City 1
10 Sep 2011 - Premier League - Manchester City 3 Wigan Athletic 0
05 Mar 2011 - Premier League - Manchester City 1 Wigan Athletic 0
19 Sep 2010 - Premier League - Wigan Athletic 0 Manchester City 2
29 Mar 2010 - Premier League - Manchester City 3 Wigan Athletic 0
18 Oct 2009 - Premier League - Wigan Athletic 1 Manchester City 1

Mark Halsey (Bolton)

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

Mark Halsey Card Watch 2012/13

Games - 10, yellows - 21, reds 3

Head say's 1-1 draw (somewhere in my head!)

Heart say's Latics to win 1-0, as always going with the heart

Premier League

Newcastle United v Latics
St James' Park
Monday
03/12/12
8pm

Latics v QPR
DW Staium
Saturday
08/12/12
3pm

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