Wigan Athletic vs Blackburn Rovers - Match Preview

Steve Kean and Roberto Martinez, two of the most under pressure managers in the league right now, meet at the DW Stadium this weekend in a battle at the bottom of the table. Despite both managers not displaying results on the pitch, they appear to have backing from the big wigs upstairs with both Venky's and Dave Whelan pledging their confidence in their respective coaches. However unlike Martinez, the fans are far from happy with Kean's reign. On the pitch, Wigan have managed a record breaking 8 games lost on the trot and are having severe trouble finding the back of the net. The last time they managed to score more than one goal in a match was in their last win just under three months ago against newly promoted QPR. Only three players have managed to contribute to their goal tally of 7 with Franco di Santo scoring 3, Ben Watson bagging 2 and the mainly defensively minded Mohamed Diame notching the final 2. Last years saviour, Hugo Rodallega, started the season recovering from an injury but has not regained the form he was revelling in at the end of last season but Latics fans will be hoping that maybe Saturday's fixture might be the game to reignite the Columbian's goalscoring habit. The away team won't have far to travel from Ewood Park with only a half hour journey south to Wigan for this important Lancashire Derby. If Blackburn's previous fixtures are anything to go by then things will certainly be looking up for Steve Kean's men. A point gained was two points lost against Norwich after a late, dubious penalty call prevented them from victory at Carrow Road and they were very unlucky not to take anything away from their home game against Chelsea. Simiarly to Wigan, you have to go back over 2 months to find Rovers' last which was their surprise 4-3 defeat over then underperforming Arsenal. What Blackburn are doing is scoring goals though. They've scored 7 in their past three games, including putting four past a tight Newcastle defence in the League Cup. Players like Junior Hoillet, Mauro Formica, Ruben Rochina and the rarely aging Yakubu have been putting in good attacking performances to contribute to these results. Thanks to this recent run of decent performances Blackburn could be looking to defy their current head-to-head record with Wigan, who have won three and drawn one from the past four times these teams have met.

Team News

Wigan have a clean bill of health asides from an injury to 2nd choice goalkeeper Chris Kirkland (back), however they will be missing defender Antolin Alcaraz. The Paraguayan picked up a three match suspension after spitting at Wolves' Richard Stearman in Wigan's 3-1 defeat to the Midlands team, but Wigan will be welcoming back Gary Caldwell after he served his 1 game ban. Blackburn will be without four players due to injury. Influential centre back ChrisSamba (hamstring), full back Ryan Nelsen (knee), and midfielder Vince Grella (hip/thigh) all have existing knocks which will prevent them from making the short trip to the DW Stadium. Simon Vukcevic should be fit but may not start and Jason Lowe is serving a suspension.

Lineups from;

Wigan (from): Al-Habsi, Gohouri, McCarthy, Caldwell, Thomas, Crusat, Watson, di Santo, Maloney, Moses, Pollitt, Nicholls, Gomez, McArthur, Boyce, Sammon, Jones, Rodallega, Diame, van Aanholt, Stam, Lopez, Dicko, Figueroa, Buxton. Blackburn (from): Robinson, Salgado, Olsson, Givet, Dunn, Formica, Pedersen, Bunn, Petrovic, N'Zonzi, Dann, Slew, Rochina, Blackman, Hoilett, Yakubu, Goodwillie, Kean, Vukcevic, Roberts, Hanley, Ribeiro, Morris, Aley, Anderson, Henley, Cotton. Prediction: 1 - 3 - Blackburn's offensive weapons should give them the edge to continue Wigan's torrid run of form.