Well this is it, this is the game when we finally break our last great hoodoo, getting points off Manchester United. Fourteen previous meetings, fourteen defeats, all changes tonight
Saturdays injustice against Chelsea left Martinez seething, he will undoubtedly use those feeling to inspire his team to continue to play the way they have been doing of late, the Latics looking more like a team chasing a European spot than one fighting for survival
A massive opportunity presents itself for the club to climb out of the bottom three for the first time since December, an opportunity to gain just reward for recent performances, of course Manchester United are hardly a push over, they are on a fantastic run, eight points clear at the top of the Premier League and they are like a juggernaut thundering towards another league title.
The confidence in the Latics camp though is high, the belief of the players and management team are there for all to see, and, just as important, the supporters also believe, this is the night
What The Bosses Say:
Latics boss Roberto Martinez:
‘We have shown in our last three games against Liverpool, Stoke and Chelsea that we can play against anyone, anywhere.
‘We have United and Arsenal but then we have Fulham, Newcastle, Blackburn and Wolves.
‘These six games are real opportunities for us to get the points we need to move up the table. If we’d got the point we should have at Chelsea we would be up to 16th place in the Premier League.
‘We’ve had a lot of bad luck with referees decisions and hopefully in the next six games we’ll get the good luck on our side.’
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson:
‘There are only six games left, three at home and three away, and hopefully we can run it out now.’
Wigan Athletic Team News:
Hugo Rodallega is the only real doubt for the Latics, expect Martinez to name an unchanged side:
Latics probable – Al-Habsi, Boyce, Caldwell, Alcaraz, Figueroa, Beausejour, McCarthy, McArthur, Maloney, Moses, Di Santo
Player to watch: Gary Caldwell
Captain Caldwell has been in fantastic form of late
Gary Caldwell – On top of his game
By permission of Bernard Platt/Wigan Athletic
Manchester United Team News:
Nani is fit following an ankle injury that kept him out of the QPR game, two ex-Latics players Antonio Valencia and Tom Cleverley are expected to feature for United tonight
United from – De Gea, Evra, Ferdinand, Evans, Rafael, Carrick, Young, Scholes, Valencia, Rooney, Welbeck, Amos, Jones, Giggs, Park, Cleverley, Pogba, Hernandez, Nani
Player to watch: Antonio Valencia
Pace, power, eye for goal, abundance of skill, world class
Any Previous?
Latics and United have met on 14 occasions
We’ve lost the lot!
Ref Watch:
Phil Dowd (Staffs)
Why not take a look at our ‘Meet The Ref’ article
Phil Dowd Card Watch 2011/12
Games – 32, yellows – 122, reds – 4
Match Prediction:
I have the strongest feeling that we are going to win this game, head says 2-1 Latics win
Heart says 2-0 Latics win
Up Next:
Premier League
Arsenal v Latics
Emirates Stadium
Monday
16/04/12
8pm
Fulham v Latics
Craven Cottage
Saturday
21/04/12
3pm
Latics and Proud
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