The Latics say their goodbyes on a season that was filled with early promise but sadly disappointed at the end.
Hoping to sign off with a victory today Steve Bruce will be keeping his fingers crossed that his players don`t suffer any more injuries in training or illnesses, already we have Zaki missing, gone back to Zamalek, Kirkland injured, groin strain, Valencia injured, hamstring or just too valuable to risk, Mido ill, Scharner rated as doubtful due to injury.
Also we are saying goodbye to the JJB after 10 years of service it will be the DW Stadium next season, lets hope we can turn it in to a bit of a fortress.
Pompey fans will be in good voice today, they had their Premier League survival guaranteed last week and its party day for them, expect fancy dress, so hopefully the game will have a carnival feel about it, all pressure off both sides lets hope for some entertaining football and an entertaining flow of goals, 0-0 should be just the starting point today.
What the bosses say:
Latics boss Steve Bruce
“It`s a big game on Sunday and we have been on an awful run in the last 5 weeks
“If we win and Stoke don`t get anything at Arsenal we finish 11th that`s got to be our aim and we have been disappointed the way we have tailed off this last few weeks.
“I am a believer in this league that wherever you finish is where you deserve to finish and unfortunately we have saved our worst run until the very end which is always disappointing.”
Portsmouth boss Paul Hart
‘David James has put in some great shifts for us in the last few weeks.
‘Like Sol Campbell and Sean Davis he’s never queried the future, just shown great resolution to carry on with the job of keeping us in the division.
‘It’s certainly not all about me. I’m just happy to have fulfilled the job I was given and wait to see what happens. I’m just glad we’ve all worked so well together and now what will be will be.’
Wigan Athletic Team News:
Chris Kirkland is out with a groin strain, Scharner, Valencia and Mido are rated doubtful, Amr Zaki has already left the club and is back home in Egypt:
Latics from:
Kingson, Melchiot, Figueroa, Edman, Boyce, Bramble, Scharner, Koumas, De Ridder, Cattermole, Brown, Watson, N’Zogbia, Kapo, Mido, Rodallega, Sibierski, McManaman, Pollitt.
Player to watch: Hugo Rodallega
The Colombia international striker is settling in and showing Latics fans what to expect next seasoon
Portsmouth Team News:
Nugent out with a hernia
Pompey from:
James, Kaboul, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Davis, Belhadj, Hughes, Mullins, Johnson, Crouch, Begovic, Pennant, Utaka, Cranie, Kanu, Basinas
Player to watch: Peter Crouch
He my be tall but he is excellent on the floor
Any Previous
This Season
Pompey 1-2 Latics
1/11/08
Referee Peter Walton
Pompey scorer: Kranjcar 82
Latics scorers: Zaki 45 pen, Heskey 90
All League Meetings
Latics 4 wins, Pompey 7, Draws 2
Ref Watch:
Phil Dowd (Stoke)
Card Watch
Games – 28
Yellows – 88
Reds – 6
Match Prediction:
Heart says 4-3 Latics win
Head says 1-0 either way
Up Next:
A summer of ins and outs and the new season 2009/10
