The Ten Game Run in For Wigan Athletic

So here it is the countdown of the final ten games. We have an equal split of home and away games, which could give us an edge over the rest of the pack (more about them in the next few weeks). At home we have struggled this season, but with some winnable games coming up we should be looking to gain some points.

Away from home we seem to make a better go of it, and I would expect the team to do better in the away matches that we will be taking part in.

Newcastle Utd (Home)

Massive game this weekend, we have to beat Newcastle. There win last weekend meant they pulled away from us and the bottom three, and more or less ruled themselves out of going down this season, getting a win and putting the pressure on the teams around us will be key.

We have a good record at home against Newcastle United, last season’s 4-0 win was a testament to how we can play football, and the lads must be looking to go out and play the same again this time round.

Norwich City (Home)

The second of three big games in a row, as we face the slightly out of sight Norwich at home; we lost 2-1 in opposing fixture this season and we should be looking to make amends for it with a win here. Norwich are a team we have to look to beat, not only to pick up points but to keep them close to the bottom three.

If we play like we did against Everton, then Norwich will struggle to really threaten us. That is the thing though, which Wigan team will turn up.

QPR (Away)

So far this season we have won away at all three of the bottom five teams, now it’s time to make it four wins out of four. This will be a massive six pointer, the winner could dictate who stays up and who goes down at such a pivotal game, with only seven to go.

If we managed to win this one, it could put us out of sight of QPR. That is had we managed back to back wins in our two previous games.

Manchester City (Away)

Away at the champions chasing United, anything other than a loss here would be a bonus, what more can you say?

West Ham Utd (Away)

Winnable game? Hard to tell really, Sam Alladyce will have his team set up to win this one, and Wigan will have to be at their best. We managed a superb 2-1 win over the London club earlier on in the season, and the same sort of performance again could render a similar result and those all-important three points.

Tottenham Hotspur (Home)

We have reached the half-way point, and a game against a team chasing a top four place; hard one to call as we have very mixed games against Tottenham, as much as we have mixed games ourselves. Depending on how we are doing in the league, we may have to go for broke in this one and look for all three points.

When we play Tottenham I always feel we have a chance of getting something off them.

West Bromwich Albion (Away)

A team we have a good record against away from home. Last season’s 2-1 at Christmas was an important three points to keep us in the hunt for survival. This time round another set of three points would be nice. West Brom have dipped recently, not as confident as they were at the beginning of the season.

With nothing to chase complacency could settle in on the midland side allowing us to take three points back to the North West.

Swansea City (Home)

Hard one to call, the League Cup Champions have had a really good season. But aren’t closing it in very good style, Wigan may be able to take advantage of the Swans players thinking about their forth coming sun beds as they don’t need to look over their shoulders nor look ahead for green pastures. The middle of the table suits the Swans for a second season, and hopefully that will suit Wigan with three points.

Arsenal (Away)

Last year we did the impossible at Arsenal racing into a 2-0 lead before holding out for a 2-1 win; one of the three figure head performances from last season campaign and a repeat maybe in order. Arsenal though are in fifth and with no Champions League anymore, they will now have to concentrate on getting back into the competition for next season.

The gunners currently sit in fifth and will need to rack up more or less a perfect run in to stand any chance of a top four finish. So watch out for a rocking Arsenal side.

Aston Villa (Home)

This could be a decider, and then maybe it won’t be. By now all the games are played out, and if we do need three points a home tie against a limping Aston Villa side would be a good way to end the year and hopefully gain survival for yet another season.