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The 8th May 2005 and Wigan Athletic host Reading in the Championship. Latics looking to win promotion to the Premier League, by beating the royals, and trumping Promotion hopefuls Ipswich Town to an automatic promotion spot.
Fast forward eight years and the two teams meat again back in the Championship. On that day in May Wigan went onto win the game, get promotion to the Premier League and start a journey of a life time for staff, players and the fans. Since then Ipswich haven't challenged again for Promotion.
Since then four managers have been and gone as they struggled to find their feet and really rekindle their ambitions as a Premier League club.
This season the club is sitting pretty in the middle of teh table on ten points under the guidance of Mick McCarthy. the former Wolves manager is a sound choice as they now look to build and hopefully reach the heights they always dreamt of.
Two back to back home wins are seeing the side build some confidence.
Only one win in August and that was in the Capital One cup as they struggled to find their feet. But an end of month draw started the form and they have won two on the bounce subsequently. Five goals in and only two for a reply. Finding the net may not be something they will struggle with against a sorry Wigan defence.
That leads us into what can we expect from Wigan? Changes from the game in mid week is a certain. The defensive partnership will more than likely return to a duo of Thomas Rogne and Leon Branett, as for who will play full backs, Emmerson Boyce is a sure starter on the right, the left is harder to guess.
The midfield will see the return of Roger Espionza and Shaun Maloney to the team. The two were missed in mid-week as the team lacked that extra dynamic they give to the midfield and the attacking options further up, to help support Marc Antoine-Fortune; who will surely start against Ipswich.
The need for rotation with three games in six days is massive as Latics head to Manchester City of Wednesday night. Saying that the need for a league one is getting more and more important now.
Can we get another home win? If the supporters step up and spur the lads on like we have the past few games, then I see why not. The lads themselves must know that is time they started to live up to their ability on the pitch.