Wigan Athletic v Everton - Match Preview

By Ross Potter /

Venue: DW Stadium Kick-Off: 3pm It seems that Roberto Martinez's team are serial under-achievers. A team that should be easily mid-table constantly find themselves in a relegation battle, and it seems that the Latics could be in for another long season. They have yet to taste victory at home this season, and they welcome an Everton side that are showing early season form that defies their usual habit of languishing in the lower reaches of the table until mid-season. The Toffees are chasing a third successive victory, something they have not been able to achieve since early 2010, and it looks likely that they will be able to achieve this against Wigan, who have failed to beat them in their last 7 meetings. David Moyes will be happy with Everton's start to the campaign but the Scot will be making sure that his players are not getting ahead of themselves, as they try to better, or at least equal their highest Premier League finish which was 4th in the 2004/05 season. On the flipside, Wigan will be trying to avoid a fourth straight defeat in what is their worst ever start to a Premier League campaign, with the latest coming last weekend against Sunderland.

Team News

Wigan's Jordi Gomez won his appeal against his sending off last week and is available, but Fraser Fyvie is doubtful and Antolin Alcaraz is a major doubt, and is more likely to return in the Swansea game in a fortnight. Everton have concerns over Steven Naismith ahead of the match, after he missed last week's game against Southampton, while Tony Hibbert and Darron Gibson are definitely out.

Likely Line-Ups

Wigan (4-3-3): Al Habsi; Boyce, Ramis, Caldwell, Figueroa; McArthur, McCarthy, Beausejour; Maloney, Kone, Gomez. Everton (4-4-1-1): Howard; Coleman, Heitinga, Jagielka, Baines; Mirallas, Neville, Osman, Pienaar; Fellaini; Jelavic. Referee: Kevin Friend Prediction: 0-2 Wigan tend to turn up at the races against the bigger clubs, but may struggle to replicate those feats this season, and certainly not an Everton side brimming with confidence.