We should be in for a cracker this afternoon down at the DW Stadium, Rotherham have the worst away record in England, just one point from 20 games, 13 goals scored and 58 conceded, put that up against the Latics dreadful home record of 12 goals in 19 games, just three wins on home turf all campaign and both our strikers out injured, 0-0 anyone?
This will definitely go one of two ways, a dreadful, insipid bore fest, or a pulsating end to end, at each other’s throats, nothing to lose ding-dong contest, hopefully we will have the latter.
There are plenty of former Latics’ in the Rotherham ranks, manager and coach, Paul Warne and Mike Pollitt both ex players and both former coaches at the club, goalkeeper Richard O’Donnell spent half a season with us last campaign before moving on and former Latics trainee Jon Taylor who is a tidy midfield player.
Last chance saloon has been and gone for me, this is definitely clutching at straws, but a win for us and who knows, well we all do really don’t we.
Up the tics!
What The Bosses Say:
Latics boss Graham Barrow – ”We were disappointed with our performance on Tuesday night
”But the situation hasn’t changed, we’re still in their fighting and that’s the biggest thing to come out of it really. It’s more alive than what we probably had hoped for after that performance, so it’s very much there for us if we want to take it.
”I think it’s clear to everyone the importance of the (Rotherham) game so we have to build the players up and prepare them as best as we can. We need them to be relaxed and let them perform.”
Rotherham United boss Paul Warne – ”I appreciate that they are struggling, but I’m also aware that they will come out all guns blazing because they will feel that they have to win this game”
”It’s whether we can be defensively resilient and over the last couple of games, I think we’ve been okay but we have to score.
”I don’t think the game will end 0-0 by any stretch of the imagination, so if we want to come away with something, we have to have some fire in our bellies in the attacking box.’
Wigan Athletic Team News:
No fresh injury worries being reported so just Omar Bogle, Will Grigg, Nick Powell, Andy Kellett, Reece Burke, Ryan Tunnicliffe and Donervon Daniels missing.
Latics possible – Gilks, Burn, Buxton, Morgan, Hanson, Warnock, MacDonald, Power, Morsy, Colclough, Jacobs
Player to watch:
Michael Jacobs
Jacobs has stepped up to the plate with his performances over the last few games.
By permission of Bernard Platt/Wigan Athletic
Rotherham United Team News:
Ben Purrington is out but both Lee Frecklington and Tom Adeyemi should return to the squad.
Rotherham possible – Price, Fisher, Ajayi, Wood, Mattock, Taylor, Smallwood, Vaulks, Newell, Ward, Morris
Player to watch:
Danny Ward
Rotherham’s most potent player this season with 10 goals.
Any Previous?
The Latics and Rotherham have met 36 times.
Latics 20 wins, Rotherham 11, draws 5.
Last Six Meetings
26 Dec 2016 – Championship – Rotherham United 3 Latics 2
14 Mar 2015 – Championship – Rotherham United 1 Latics 2
20 Dec 2014 – Championship – Latics 1 Rotherham United 2
15 Jan 2005 – Championship – Rotherham United 0 Latics 2
02 Oct 2004 – Championship – Latics 2 Rotherham United 0
26 Dec 2003 – League Division 1 – Latics 1 Rotherham United 2
Ref Watch:
Scott Duncan (Newcastle)
Take a look at our ‘Meet The Ref’ article to find out all there is to know on Geordie boy Scott.
Scott Duncan Card Watch 2016/17
Games – 33, yellows – 99, reds – 10.
Match Prediction:
Head says 0-0 goalless draw written all over this and at 9/1, well say no more.
Heart says the Latics will win 2-1, as always going with the heart.
Up Next:
Championship Run In
Latics v Barnsley
DW Stadium
Thursday
13/04/17
7:45pm
Brighton and Hove Albion v Latics
The Amex
Monday
17/04/17
3pm
Latics v Cardiff City
DW Stadium
Saturday
22/04/17
3pm
Reading v Latics
Madejski Stadium
Saturday
29/04/17
3pm
Latics v Leeds United
DW Stadium
Sunday
07/05/17
12 Noon
Check out the latest PWU Podcast – Rotherham Ahoy
Timecodes:
0:00 Greasy intros
2:00 Statless Newcastle review with Simon’s Tripadvisor report
6:00 Apologetic Warnock (=new Twitter account idea?)
12:00 Shoutouts to King ‘Coach’ Joyce
14:00 Seamless Ipswich review with a sigh and a Si: ‘it’s over’
18:00 Next striker: Mandron? Lang? AN Other?
23:00 King St getting ready for a party… in 12 months’ time
25:00 Next manager: Jewell? Caldwell? Barry Worthington?
28:00 Weepy Rotherham preview
32:00 Si’s Oddschecker: Straw Clutching Special & Mick backs against Wigan shock!
36:00 Sayonara Matt Jackson & Nick Powell’s long comeback
The podcast can be listened to by clicking the embedded player below or downloaded to listen at you leisure by visiting www.buzzsprout.com
We are also available on itunes and we have an app for your tablet or mobile, just follow the instructions here