Venue: DW Stadium
Date: Saturday, 17 December
Kick-off: 1730 GMT
So, we’ve had a few good results lately and it would be very easy to get a bit giddy on it but you’d all think you were reading the wrong blog if I got like that, so I won’t break with tradition by going down that route.
In reality, we know that in spite of the fact City should definitely have finished with 8 men in our last game, we did get a bit of luck along the way as well so let’s not get too carried away with that result. Yes, we’ve scored a shitload of goals against Wigan in the past but the last game we played them, we only came away with a 1-0 at Stamford Bridge, so we should maybe keep the tissues in our pockets until we see how the first half pans out at least.
MANAGERS’ VIEWS
Going into this game, Roberto Martinez suggests he has no plans to sit back and soak up what we might have to offer, saying “I just feel these games are great opportunities for us to try to get something where nobody expects us to. I don’t like to go into a game thinking about it being damage limitation or just trying to get through unnoticed. It is a unique opportunity to go and try to express yourself and test yourself to the maximum. That means sometimes that will leave you exposed and you could end up on the end of a difficult scoreline but I think we need to be prepared to do that. I think the only way you can get a positive result against the top sides is if you take risks. You need to score goals and that is the only way you can do that. I would rather give everything we’ve got and be heavily challenged and see what the outcome is. If you look back, we had a heavy defeat with Chelsea at home and then we had a victory. I would rather that than losing both games by minimal scorelines.
They have had two unbelievable moments in their season, qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League and then being the first team to beat the impressive Manchester City this season. So, we know they are going to be on top of their moment of form but we are ready to be ourselves and enjoy a good footballing day. You have to be perfect in your performances against the top sides and I feel you can do that playing at home. You have the support of the fans, you have the real belief that something special can happen. We have been disappointed with the points we dropped in the first third of the competition but for the first time in five years we got back-to-back away wins, which is a really difficult feat to achieve in this league. That has given us a real feel-good factor and in many ways we feel ready to start our season. We know we have got a difficult challenge in the next three games, they are going to be a big test, but there is a really good feeling in the dressing room.”
Andre Villas-Boas meanwhile, still seems to be keeping an eye on those above us, saying “United are out of the Carling Cup and the Champions League, but the Premier League is now much more alive for them – and again we all know they have been the most successful club recently. I would say that this – nothing will be decided in December and January. But now there is a stressful situation between the Manchester clubs and that gives us, the people chasing, the chance to shorten the distance if we do well. We have already reduced the gap by five points in our last four games. Now we play Wigan, Tottenham, Fulham and Aston Villa. If we can shorten the gap by another five, that would be magnificent. I’m not saying we will, but even the fact that City play Arsenal this weekend can have influence on how the top four or five might look at the end of December.”
Whilst on today’s game he says “Wigan is a good chance for us to have our first run of four straight wins this season. They [Wigan] will be motivated and [will] try to threaten us. But if we can get the win we want, and expect, it just means we are on our best period of the season.”
SQUAD NEWS
For Wigan, Alcaraz (ribs) is a doubt although Boyce could cover and Kirkland (back) is in contention for a place on the bench.
For Chelsea, Essien (knee) remains out although David Luiz returns from suspension.
TEAMS
WIGAN (from): Al Habsi, Boyce, Caldwell, Alcaraz, Figueroa, Watson, Diame, Moses, Gomez, McCarthy, Di Santo, Jones, Stam, Van Aanholt, McArthur, Lopez, Thomas, Sammon, Maloney, Crusat, Gohouri, Rodallega, McCarthy, Pollitt, Kirkland.
CHELSEA (from): Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry, Cole, Mikel, Romeu, Ramires, Lampard, McEachran, Mata, Malouda, Meireles, Torres, Drogba, Kalou, Sturridge, Lukaku, Turnbull.
LAST MEETING
Chelsea 1-0 Wigan (9th April 2011)
PREDICTION
The thought of playing Wigan might have most people assuming 3 points are a give, particularly given 8-0 and 6-0 wins against them in recent times. I’m not most people though, so the eternal pessimist thinks we might all find ouselves a bit less gidding after a sobering evening at the DW Stadium.
Blue is the colour
