Latics and Boro

Latics start their home campaign with the visit of Middlesbrough for the first home game of the new season at the JJB tonight

The last time the Boro were in town they left with a 0-1 victory courtesy of a Mark Viduka goal and left Latics deep in relegation trouble

A new season and new hope sees the JJB camp much more positive this time round and there are several new faces to make their home debut in front of the Latics faithful

Gareth Southgate`s Boro come into the game having lost to Blackburn at the weekend and will be desperate not to have a two match losing start to the season

Last year Boro only won twice away from the Riverside and that will be a factor that Southgate will be working on as he tries to improve his teams standing in the Premiership

The loss of talisman Mark Viduka will be hard on Boro and lets hope that the Latics can capitalise on Boro`s injury problems and get their season up and running with a home victory this evening

Chris Hutchings

'Boro are always a tough side to beat, but we must look at winning our home games starting tonight'

'We took a lot of positives out of Saturdays game at Everton and will build on these'

Gareth Southgate:

'We prepare to win every game we play, and tonight is no different.

'But we know that Wigan have brought in some new faces and they will be keen to impress the fans in their first home game.

'Wigan are very direct and they have a lot of power in their forward line, with the likes of Emile Heskey, so it will be a test.

'But we are not thinking about what Wigan might do. We have to go there to play our football and concentrate on our own game tonight.

Taylor and Boyce are out through injury and Brown is still suspended

Henri Camara comes back into contention and could get a place on the bench

Latics:

(from) Kirkland, Melchiot, Bramble, Granqvist, Kilbane, Valencia, Scharner, Landzaat, Koumas, Heskey, Folan, Sibierski, Camara, Hall, Skoko, Aghahowa, Pollitt.

Making his home debut Jason Koumaswill want to dazzle the home supporters with his Welsh Wizzardry so expect a major contribution from the midfield player

Fabio ROCHEMACK is suspended and Boro have several missing with injury including Jonathan Woodgate

Middlesbrough:

(from) Schwarzer, Jones, Davies, Taylor, Hines, Riggott, Wheater, Tuncay, Arca, Boateng, Downing, Cattermole, Johnson, Yakubu, Aliadiere, Lee.

Strong and powerful forward linked with a big money move away from Teeside

Middlesbrough are undefeated in Wigan having won three and drawn one in four meetings since 1986

Last Season

Wigan Athletic 0-1 Middlesbrough (Viduka)

Steve Tanner (Somerset) Tanner's second game this season sees him come to the JJB tonight Tanner refereed the Cardiff Stoke game on Saturday handing out 6 yellow cards in the process

Heart says comfortable 3-0 Latics win. Head says more realistic 2-0 Latics win

Latics Vs Sunderland
Saturday August 18th 2007
JJB Stadium
3pm

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