Wolves V Wigan
Sunday, 6 November 2011 – 13:30 GMT
English Premier League, LIVE on SKY SPORTS 1
You’ll do well to avoid this fixture altogether as two of the Premier League’s out of form sides do battle for three coveted points in the Midlands on Sunday, with Wolves somehow firm favourites to claim all three. That may have something to do with the fact Wigan have lost their previous seven league games, but Wolves are without a win since the middle of August, failing to take maximum points from their last eight contests, and so hardly boast the credentials a justified odds-on shot should.
Yep, you did hear that right, Wolves are favourites. I know Wigan have been unbelievably poor this season but Wolves haven’t been much better. Mick McCarthy’s side have won none of their last eight in the league, losing six, meaning they’ve actually gone one game more without winning than the Latics. Moreover, Wanderers have taken just one point from their previous four matches at Molineux, while they’ve conceded at least two goals in each of their last seven, home and away.
This is Wigan’s worst run of defeats in the Premier League, having lost seven in succession. During this abysmal run of theirs, Wigan have netted just three times and, rather unsurprisingly, then, are the league’s most clueless side when it comes to attacking, netting two goals fewer than any other team in the top flight (6).
However, there have been some form of improvements in their general performances, enough to suggest they could make a mockery of Wolves’ odds-on price tag. At Newcastle, in their last away fixture, Wigan came within a whisker of taking home what would have been a valuable point, considering the Magpies were, and still are, unbeaten in the league this season, only to lose 1-0 with a late Yohan Cabaye effort. The following week, the Latics were a little unlucky to lose 2-0 at home to Fulham as well, though they were emphatically made to pay for their profligacy in front of goal as their goalscoring woes continued.
Wolves have survived relegation by the skin of their teeth in the past two seasons, as have Wigan in fairness, but their success has largely been down to their dogged and tenacious attitudes, and the spirit Mick McCarthy’s possess in the dressing room. I haven’t seen enough of any of those characteristics this season, nor I have seen a great deal of quality from them, either. The same does apply to Wigan, although, like I said before, I’ve seen a few green shoots of recovery from those rock-bottom Latics.
On the basis of form, or lack of it, I couldn’t back either, or any result for that matter, with any real confidence. Instead, I’ve turned towards the goalscorer markets – and I may have found a slice of value in a player still to notch his first goal of the campaign.
Big things were expected of Victor Moses when he signed from Crystal Palace two years ago, but injuries curtailed his early career at the DW Stadium. Only now is the England U21, but soon to be Nigerian international, enjoyed a run in the team, and only now are the fans beginning to see the potential of the 20-year-old, who has instantly taken over Charles N’Zogbia’s mantle as the one player at Wigan with the ability to turn any game on its head, by creating a chance or two seemingly out of nothing.
Moses has been in and out of my Fantasy Team more than any other player, as one week he looks every bit a world-beater while the next he’s non-existent. I’m praying he turns up at Molineux as if he does, he stands his best chance yet of netting his first goal of the campaign.
Nobody has had more attempts on goal this season without scoring than Victor Moses. The latter statistic does appear ominous, however look at it this way; you’re getting value on a player who clearly likes to try his luck, and his luck may well be in on Sunday as he and his Wigan team-mates prepare to face a Wolves team who have conceded a minimum of two goals in each of their last seven Premier League games.
Recommended Bet: Victor Moses to Score @ 5/1 Unibet
Value Punt: Victor Moses First Goalscorer @ 11/1 Bet365
