Preview: Sunderland vs Wigan Athletic

So here it is, yet another very important game, which we must win. Yet will we? I happen to have a good feeling we may win this one, but then I tend to be proven wrong on most things football. To expect something usual proves you have no idea what you are talking about.

So going into the game, we sit rock bottom. What a surprise. But we have finally stopped the rot and managed to get a point, even if we should have had all three! But we Wigan fans aren’t angry at Andrew Marriner, we are more jealous that our lads didn’t think to cheat to pick up points.

Going into this game, it is very likely that we will stick very much with the team that drew with Blackburn Rovers. However if Emmerson Boyce is back (after mysteriously not being in the side), then he should come in along Figeroua and Caldwell in the back three.

As for in the midfield, Gomez who had a really good game against Blackburn, for me should be dropped; Albert Crusat just gives us that little bit more of a threat. We are going to need everything we have got this weekend, Sunderland themselves are also out on the hunt to pick up points.

It isn’t all plain sailing for Sunderland though Connor Wickham, who looked like he might help out with their striker problems, will now miss the game. That has to be a bonus for Wigan, there also is some doubt over John O’Shea’s fitness. Chances are he will be back to face us though.

That leaves one big centre forward for Wigan to look out for. The Arsenal player Nicklas Bendtner is the man to watch, in the past he has been a problem for the Latics defence; and I don’t see that changing any time soon.

The strong Norwegian forward is known for being a player who only speaks his mind. But from time to time he can show some part of sheer striking prowess. He can hold the ball up well and has good balance to be able to run quickly past players and onto the ball, making him a good target man for in the box. So far though he has only scored two goals, I hope that he can keep it that way this weekend.

It isn’t going to be an easy game this weekend. It never is when you play Sunderland, they are always geared up to play and try and get the three points. The lads need to come out and play just as well and as competitive as they were against Blackburn, working from the first to the last minute giving everything to the Wigan cause.

It won’t be easy, but we can get three points this weekend.