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Sat in 16th place and four points behind us, Birmingham City and Lee Clarke have had a very mixed season. One of the sleeping giants of the Football League with off the field issues the club has struggled to keep hold of the talent pouring through the club with the likes of Jordan Mutch, Jack Butland and Nathan Redmond all departing the club for Premier League teams.
That of course has led to mixed on the field results. However Birmingham are on a mini run and unbeaten in their last seven games with three draws and four wins. So far their away form has been much the better, the three wins in their recent run all coming away from home.
This then will not be an easy game.
Lee Clarke has built a solid team defensively and that is with four defensive players missing out recently. Wigan will have to be on top of their game to try and break down a team which is starting to hit top form. Saying that are Wigan not a team on the up?
In the past three games we have played in the league (I am including the Sheffield game for arguments sake) we have dominated most the 90 minutes. Looked dangerous when going forward and yet not likely to leak goals at the back. In the last twenty minutes against Reading at the weekend we held strong, and when we could break, we broke fast and with a real purpose.
Uwe Rosler really is starting to implement his footballing philosophy on the players and they are jumping on the bandwagon.
There will be changes for the game today though. Emmerson Boyce and Scott Carson are now on the injury list with a return date not yet specified. Suspension wise the solid Ben Watson in the midfield will be missing for the game today, that give someone else to shine we hope.
Two players do return to Wigan though for the festive period. Both Frazer Fyvie and Nouah Dicko have been brought back into the squad from loan spells and Uwe continues to assess the strength and depth of the player he has at the club. Hopefully Dicko can continue his fine run of form from Rotherham and bag some goals in Wigan colours.
Keep the Faith!