Wigan Athletic vs Manchester United: Match preview

Stadium: The DW stadium

Referee: Andre Marriner

Kick-off: 8:30 PM (IST), Tuesday, 1st of January

Manchester United had a rare calm win for the season when they beat a quiet West Brom side two nil at Old Trafford on the weekend, without Rooney, Robin van Persie or Hernandez in the starting line-up. It was a second return to the game for Vidic after he sat out the game against Newcastle, and for Shinji Kagawa, who was making his first appearance since early October. A reasonably comfortable win meant United maintained their seven point distance from the chasing pack, even extending their goal difference by two after a rare clean sheet.

Wigan, in their last fixture of the previous year, also recorded a win, their first in seven games thanks to a goal from the returning Ivan Ramis, and one each from Boyce and Kone. It was a win which dragged the Latics out of the relegation zone for the first time in a while, and meant that they ended the season a point clear of the drop zone; although they could drop right back in come the full time whistle in this fixture.

Form

Wigan: D L L L W

The home side’s recent form, like all season, hasn’t been very inspiring, with only four points from their last possible fifteen. In fact, their 3 – 0 win over struggling Aston Villa was more of an indication of how the young Villa side is struggling to cope with life in the Premier League than how good Wigan are. Their clean sheet in the same game was their first in ten matches, and against an attack which has scored 50 goals in 20 games this season, even the most optimistic Wigan fan will not be hoping for an encore. Neither will they be expecting great things of their attack, which, outside the relegation zone, is the joint third worst, with just 22 goals in 20 fixtures.

Manchester United: W W D W W

In contrasting fortunes, the win over the Baggies was United’s seventh in a run of eight unbeaten league games. Largely dependent on their attack to bail them out, as can be seen with 13 goals scored in their last five fixtures, United had to instead fall back on their defence to steady the ship last time out, until RvP secured all three points with a final minute strike. With Rooney’s presence continuing to be a doubt, United will hope for something similar this time out as well, although Hernandez, van Persie, or both should start after being rested at the weekend. There are no real easy fixtures in the Premier League though, and with City lurking in the background, United will hope for yet another clinical performance.

Injuries, Concerns and Suspensions

Wigan: Ryo Miyaichi, Antolin Alcaraz, Albert Crusat, Piscu, Ben Watson.

Manchester United: Anderson, Wayne Rooney, Luis Nani, Phil Jones.

Key Players

Arouna Kone

Arouna Kone

The Ivory Coast man with the noticeable hairdo has been one of the few shining lights for Wigan this season, being involved in half of their 22 goals; scoring 6 himself, and garnering assists on another 5. In the previous four matches, he has 2 goals and 2 assists, which is remarkable for someone playing in a team so deeply involved in the relegation struggle. If Wigan are to cause any real problems to their visitors’ defence, expect this man to be involved.

Robin van Persie

The Dutchman just cannot seem to stop scoring for his new club, which he has embraced with open arms, just as they have him. He now has six goals and two assists in his last seven games for the Red Devils, and is joint top of the scoring charts. Even playing only twenty-odd minutes against the reasonably miserly West Brom defence couldn’t stop the former Arsenal man, and United will be hoping for more of the same to avoid a repeat of last season’s 1 – 0 defeat in this fixture.

What to expect

Another calm, composed performance from United, perhaps? While there’s no denying that the innumerable comebacks for United this year have been entertaining beyond measure, many supporters could do with a few fixtures that are slightly less taxing on the heart, and don’t come with a potential cardiac arrest in the pipeline. Thus, with the return of Vidic to the defence and Wigan’s miserable form, one would do well to expect another win-to-nil from Sir Alex’s side.