Wigan to be talk of the Tyne?
Posted by liam_wafc in Newcastle, Wigan | 14 April 2006
Three points this weekend is a must for both Wigan and Newcastle, as both are vying for that seventh spot that could mean qualification for the UEFA Cup. Newcastle are becoming the dark horses for Europe as, despite abit of inconsistency, they now find themselves just 3 points behind us Wiganers, and if United were to beat us by two clear goals, they would leap above us in the table.
Trying to figure out a result on recent form doesn't make predicting a result any easier. We go into the game on the back of a six game unbeaten run away from home, whereas Newcastle have recovered from three consecutive defeats with back to back victories, including an emphatic 3-1 victory at home over Champions League hopefuls Tottenham.
One thing that can be considered is that Wigan and Newcastle have faced each other twice this season with Wigan running out 1-0 winners both times. However both these results came at the JJB Stadium, but a repeat of the performance in the Carling Cup game will be more than welcome from Wigan's point of view!
One of Wigan's biggest weapons this weekend however, will be the unpredictability of the Wigan starting eleven. All week Paul Jewell has said he will make changes for this weekend. No-one in the Newcastle camp will know what these changes are until match day, making Newcastle's preparation that little bit harder. It could be that Jewell makes no changes and all this talk is a clever ploy, but the probability is that Henri Camara will return to the starting line up whilst last weeks goal hero Andreas Johansson, promised he will start by Jewell, will fall back into an attacking midfield role, but at which players expense is a mystery. Any other changes would be guesswork at the time of writing.
Wigan's chances of winning will heavily depend on who Wigan start up front, and who Newcastle start in defence. If Wigan start with Henri Camara whilst the Toon play Boumsong, then Wigan's channces of winning will shoot up, as Boumsong this season at times has been the joke of the Premiership. Either way, Wigan will have to be at their best, especially in a midfield who will be up against such talents like Emre and Parker, and if we do this, i don't see why our unbeaten run away from home can't be stretched to seven games.
I will go for a 1-0 Wigan victory, with Lee Mchulloch scoring another cracker.
