Match Preview: Coventry City vs Wigan Athletic

The first game of the season then is finally here, the question is are Wigan Athletic ready for the kick off? That question will be answered come 5:30 pm Saturday evening. With the last two showings in pre-season the question marks are definitely there if the team is ready to make the jump into Saturdays game.

This isn't anyone's fault, unfortunately due to the sheer turn over in players it takes time for them to gel together as a team and that unit of a strong starting 11 really take shape. It also helps when some of your better players aren't out injured.

Wigan Athletic go into the game without Jason Pearce and Emyr Huws two players who will be influences on the forth coming campaign. Whilst a midfield shortage has prompted the club to bring in another loan signing in Sean Murray from Watford FC. The 21 year old will more than likely feature on the bench on Saturday.

The other question that the rises up is just who will partner alongside Will Griggs upfront? It has become very apparent that Gary Caldwell sees the team playing in a 3-5-2 formation, but who is is second striker? Will Craig Davies still not fully fit it could see the likes of Samni Odelusi or Michael Jacobs given the chance along our big money striker.

Will this be our starting line up on Saturday? I don't think it will be far from what we see.

Who will see it is a horde of hungry Wiganers looking for a win. The club have twice sold its allocation with our sales somewhere in the region of 1,600 for the game, a trend I would expected to see more and more of this season. The prices for the game are very good with adults at £17 which will continue to encourage people to attend the games compared the high prices we have previously experienced in the Premier League and in the Championship.

So lets turn our attention to the team we will face Coventry City.

Now under the management of Tony Mowbray after years of off the pitch struggles they are now hoping to take one giant leap forward and return to the higher reaches of the footballing pyramid. To get there though you have to earn your stripes and they will looking to be taking our scalp coming the opening day.

They have undergone strengthening  their defense so far having brought in experience defender Sam Ricketts whilst they have sought out young midfield talent to add energy and pace. After a difficult season last year, they will hope they can start to build a solid platform.

New signing Samni Odelusi spent last season with the Sky Blues and they were reportedly interested in his return before he chose to sign with us. That eliminated one threat for the opening weekend, but Coventry have the likes of experience striker Marcus Tudguy to call upon when they need the goals.

Will be a very interesting game, as all opening day games are. Both teams won't want to give too much away early on and yet will want to show their fans what they are capable of. The question that hangs over both teams though, is just who is ready for the kick off.