Latics travel down to Brighton hoping to continue their current undefeated run which has now stretched to six games.
The performance on Saturday against Fulham was full of endeavour, three goals scored and a host of chances created, more like what the supporters had been hoping for this season, unfortunately we conceded three too, but as a spectacle it was a much better game than the previous dreary encounters against Brentford and Millwall, the shackles were finally thrown off, hopefully it is a sign of things to come.
Brighton have been going through an early season patch of form similar to that of the Latics, they are without a league win since August, but there were signs in their defeat away at Bournemouth on Saturday that they will turn things around sooner rather than later.
It would appear that it is taking Hyypia time to settle into life on the south coast, but the Latics shouldn’t pay too much attention to current form, as our own away win at Derby proved, sometimes it just needs a couple of things to click to get a side up and running.
A positive result would set us up nicely ahead of the derby game on Friday, with the international break also on the horizon it would make for a much happier break with some more points in the bag. Another performance akin to Saturday’s and I would hope that we will all be smiling come 10pm tonight.
What The Bosses Say:
Latics boss Uwe Rösler –‘Now the squad comes into play’
‘I felt, despite a lot of strong performances against Derby and Fulham, there were one or two not so strong performances and we have to bring the squad into play in terms of having three games in six days.
‘Add to that the fact that the long trip to Brighton, I will probably leave one or two players at home to keep them fresh for Friday against Bolton.
‘We have two games in a short space of time so players who have not played or started as many games as they would like will have the chance to make a big impression.’
Brighton boss Sami Hyypia – ‘If we manage to win and get six points out of the two games, then that will definitely calm things down outside the club.
‘Inside the club, everyone is calm and I feel that we are addressing the things that we can do much better.
‘We don’t need to make big changes, we just need to cut out the individual mistakes, defend better and then put the ball in the back of the net by continuing to create chances.
‘Every game is important and counts for the end position in the table, but we are only focusing on the Wigan game, which won’t be easy.’
Brighton and Hove Albion Team News:
Aaron Hughes, Bruno, Solly March, Dale Stephens and Andrew Crofts are all definitely out, Ali Alhabsi is unable to play against the Latics, David Stockdale is injured so young keeper Cristian Walton could get a start in goal.
Elliott Bennett has joined on loan and could get a start.
Brighton from – Walton, Hughes, Dunk, Greer, Bennett; Holla, Forster-Caskey, Gardner; Teixeira, Colunga, Baldock, Calderon, Chicksen, Ince, McCourt, LuaLua, Mackail-Smith
Player to watch: Elliott Bennet
Pacey winger who will cause problems for opposition defences
Wigan Athletic Team News:
Leon Barnett serves a one match ban, Ben Watson and Chris McCann aren’t match fit yet, Emmerson Boyce is racing to be ready but unlikely to be risked.
Latics possible – Carson, Tavernier, Ramis, Kiernan, Figueroa, Kvist, Forshaw, Cowie, McClean, Espinoza, Fortune
Player to watch: James Tavernier
Tavernier is starting to settle down in the team now since his summer move, his delivery is very good and he is proving to be a real asset to our attacking options.
Tav – proving to be a good signing
By permission of Bernard Platt/Wigan Athletic
Any Previous?
Latics and Brighton have met 12 times
Latics 5 wins, Brighton 6, draws 1
Last Six Meetings
22 Feb 2014 – Championship – Brighton and Hove Albion 1 Latics 2
24 Nov 2013 – Championship – Latics 0 Brighton and Hove Albion 1
15 Mar 2005 – Championship – Brighton and Hove Albion 2 Latics 4
21 Aug 2004 – Championship – Latics 3 Brighton and Hove Albion 0
12 Jan 2002 – League Division 2 – Latics 3 Brighton and Hove Albion 0
18 Aug 2001 – League Division 2 – Brighton and Hove Albion 2 Latics 1
Ref Watch:
Lee Collins (Surrey)
Why not take a look at our ‘Meet The Ref’ article
Lee Collins Card Watch 2014/15
Games – 8, yellows – 26, reds – 1
Match Prediction:
Head says Brighton to win by the odd goal, our defence is looking a bit stretched at the moment, but…
Heart says another game of passion and excitement following on from Fulham on Saturday, 2-2, as always going with the heart.
Up Next:
Championship
Bolton Wanderers v Latics
Macron Stadium
Friday
07/11/14
8:00pm
Latics v Middlesbrough
DW Stadium
Saturday
22/11/14
3pm
Check out the latest PWU podcast
Contents: Spooky intros (0:00); Bacon Saver Special: Derby review including the Uncanny Statman (0:45), fishy bookings (3:30), special guest Hoover Rosler`s hair-raising interview (5:02) and carving our own niche (14:20); league table analysis (24:00) including goals make the difference (25:50); craving cottage industry: Fulham preview (27:20) including RefWatch (30:00); Brighton preview: beam him back, Scotty (38:00); All Gone Latics mini-quiz (39:00); exorcising Kremey spectres (40:47)
The podcast can be listened to by clicking the embedded player below or downloaded to listen at you leisure by visiting www.buzzsprout.com
