Latics face Nottingham Forest this afternoon at the DW Stadium and Owen Coyle will be hoping that his side can record their first home win of the season
Playing at the DW Stadium appears to be a problem for the Latics, just four home wins in over a year speaks volumes, but it is a hurdle that we need to get over if we are to have any realistic hope of challenging for promotion
Forest are the current league leaders and come into town on the back of a very good point earned at Watford last weekend, they are sharp in attack and mean in defence with just one league goal conceded so far, so the Latics will need to be at their best today
A bumper crowd and the excitement of the Latics involvement yesterdays Europa League draw should make for a great atmosphere inside the DW Stadium, let’s get the place rocking and get behind the lads from the start
What The Bosses Say:
Latics boss Owen Coyle
‘This weekend’s game is a fantastic one to look forward to against a team who took all before them towards the end of last season, were unlucky to narrowly miss out on a place in the play offs and who have started this campaign in similar form.
‘They’ve spent good money in the summer in bringing in the likes of Jamie Mackie, Kelvin Wilson and Eric Lichaj to join the likes of Andy Reid who has great experience and has been playng very well lately.
‘We know though what we’re capable of and we’re confident that if we can hit the heights of what we’ve done in good phases during recent games then we can be more than a match for anybody.
‘The fans have been brilliant so far this season, so playing in front of them again is something we’re all looking forward to and the lads know they’ll keep getting the support from the stands.
‘At home we’ll be aiming for nothing less than three points; we’re the second highest scorers in the division so we’re confident we’ve got goals in us, and now we just have to focus on shutting out at the back.’
Forest boss Billy Davies
‘The fans can see effort, application, commitment and desire – the players are giving their all for the jersey.
‘It’s nice to have come through some very difficult games and we’ve picked up some excellent clean sheets – barring an individual error against Millwall with minutes to go we would have had another on Wednesday night.’
‘The most important thing is to emerge from Wigan undefeated. Then we can concentrate on the last few days of the window.’
Wigan Athletic Team News:
Grant Holt is a major doubt ahead of todays fixture with Nottingham Forest after leaving the field injured in the last home game against Middlesbrough
Al Habsi, Ramis and Caldwell are still a long way off from being fit and McManaman serves the last game of his three match suspension
Shaun Maloney is fit to start after recovering from a foot injury and Thomas Rogne is pushing for a place in the team
Latics possible – Carson, Barnett, Perch, Boyce, Crainey, Espinoza , Beausejour, McArthur, McCarthy, Maloney, Fortune,
Player to watch: Shaun Maloney
The little man was badly missed last week
By permission of Bernard Platt/Wigan Athletic
Nottingham Forest Team News:
Forest look likely to make eleven changes from the team that beat Millwall in the week and revert back to the one that played at Watford last weekend
Forest from – Darlow, Cohen, Hobbs, Wilson, Lichaj, Lansbury, Guedioura, Majewski, Paterson, Reid, Halford, Derbyshire, Mackie, Miller, Harding, Cox, De Vries, Collins
Player to watch: Andy Reid
The Republic of Ireland international always seems to do well against us
Any Previous?
Latics and Forest have met five times
Latics 1 win, Forest 1, draws 3
Last Five Meetings
28 Aug 2012 – Capital One Cup – Nottingham Forest 1 Latics 3
19 March 2005 – Championship – Nottingham Forest 1 Latics 1
07 August 2004 – Championship – Latics 1 Nottingham Forest 1
01 May 2004 – League Division 1 – Nottingham Forest 1 Latics 0
22 Nov 2003 – League Division 1 – Latics 2 Nottingham Forest 2
Ref Watch:
Craig Pawson (Sheffield)
Why not take a look at our ‘Meet The Ref’ article
Craig Pawson Card Watch 2012/13
Games – 36, yellows 103, reds -4
Match Prediction:
Head says usual trend of a 2-2 draw
Heart says 2-1 Latics win, as always going with the heart
Up Next:
Championship
Leicester City v Latics
King Power Stadium
Saturday
14/09/13
3pm
UEFA Europa League
Zulte Waregem v Latics
Thursday
19/09/13
6pm (UK time)
The latest edition of the PWU Wigan Athletic podcast is now available for download and features a preview of todays game.
The podcast can be downloaded from itunes or via our hosting site www.buzzsprout.com or by simply hitting the play button on the embedded player below
Thank you very much for listening, your support is very much appreciated
Previous podcast episodes can be accessed at progresswithunity.blogspot.co.uk
You can listen to the podcast on various equipment, please check manufacturer’s instructions
