Wigan have just the one win to their name thus far this season but they have performed admirably at some point of all four of their league games this season. The challenge for Roberto Martinez and his men is to inject a bit more consistency and concentration to their game from the beginning. They were 2-0 down in 10 minutes on the opening day of the season against Chelsea; led twice at home to Wigan before drawing 2-2 and were 0-0 at half time away from home against Manchester United before capitulating in the second period. Consistency is what separates side in the bottom half of the table to those in the top 10 and it’s a position which Martinez is striving for. One thing that is certain is that their defenders need to cut out the individual mistakes which have blighted their season at crucial times. Ivan Ramis and Gary Caldwell have both been at fault for goals and should it continue, Wigan and all concerned with them can expect another battle to avoid the drop.
Fulham enjoyed another home victory when brushing aside West Brom 3-0 last weekend but it’s their performances on the road which Martin Jol will be thinking most about. For as long as Fulham have been in the Premier League they have been strong at Craven Cottage and it’s a trait which has continued under the tutorship of Jol since he came into post last summer. As good as they have been at home they have been equally bad on the road. From their last 55 away games in the Premier League, the cottagers have won only seven. It is a deplorable record but it does highlight how well they have done at home as they are an established Premier League side who rarely flirt with relegation at the end of the season. Jol has slowly but surely been stamping his mark on the squad and has moved on several of the old guard. Two losses against West Ham and Man United suggest that it’s not quite had the effect he would have hoped.
There is little doubt that Wigan play an attractive brand of football and are very entertaining. You could argue that it is to their downfall at times as the overplaying – especially in the defence – has saw them be their own worst enemies. That being said, Martinez’ is unlikely to be deterred by the odd error even if it led to a goal because it’s his philosophy. As much as they will give teams plenty of chances, they will also create plenty of problems for them because of the way they play the game.
It will be interesting to see if Jol continues with the same set of players away from home as he does at home. So often when a side is playing on the road they tend to change either certain personnel or the system and tactics they are deployed in. Jol normally refrains from doing that and approaches away games as though they are home games. The 3-0 thrashing at the hands of West Ham could be the turning point, however, and he may well opt to go with one up and stiffen up the midfield.
Both sides play an expansive style and it’s likely they will produce an entertaining match with so many good football players. Wigan have been unlucky at home this season and I fancy them to get their first win against a side who have shown little improvement in away games against teams of similar ability.
Wigan 6/4 @ William Hill
