West Ham United will travel to the DW Stadium on Saturday for the first time since they suffered the heartbreak of relegation in 2011 in search of their first back to back wins of the season.
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West Ham and Wigan have had differing starts the season with the Hammers lying in 7th after smashing Southampton 4-1 at Upton Park last weekend whilst Wigan are placed in 16th after suffering defeat in Wales last weekend. Sam Allardyce’s side will travel to the DW in confidence after a good return to the Premier League; meanwhile the Latics will look to gain their first home win of the season.
The Hammers have had a relatively poor recent record at the DW and you have to look back at that stunning one touch passing and bending finish from Carlton Cole for our last 3 points against Wigan away. Only a few people in the current squad were playing in that game in 2011, and I’m sure Mark Noble, James Tomkins, Winston Reid and Carlton Cole will look for revenge for the heartache they suffered and pile more misery on the struggling Latics.
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Sam Allardyce doesn’t think the side will suffer too much about the side’s last visit he told WHUFC.com, “Looking at the side I think there are only Winston Reid, Mark Noble, James Tomkins and Carlton Cole so I do not think that will be an issue on Saturday. Those players will remember the bitter disappointment of being 2-0 up and losing 3-2 but I do not think it is our make up for that to happen again. We are a very different team now and if we go 2-0 up I believe we can protect that lead.”
Big Sam will be desperate for 3 points as he knows the up and coming fixtures will be tough with champions Manchester City, Newcastle United, Tottenham and Manchester United all to play in the next 5 games. The Hammers will be desperate to pick up their first back to back wins of the season and Big Sam said, “”Can we now go and get our first back-to-back wins in the Premier League? When you’ve won a game, to go and try to win the next one is a massive ask and it makes a huge difference. That’s our aim.
Wigan will look to put their poor home form behind them and gain a valuable three points ahead of a tricky set of fixtures for the Lancashire club which sees them play Tottenham, West Brom, Liverpool and Manchester City in the month of November.
The Latics will take heart from their last encounter against the East End club having smashed the Irons 4-1 in the Capital One cup earlier this season at Upton Park.
The Hammers must not underestimate the Latics, they have some quality players in their ranks, top goal scorer Arouna Kone is a real talent and has pace to burn as well as having great vision Reid and Collins will have to keep a close eye out for him. In James McCarthy they have a very talented midfielder who has a great eye for a pass and has a wicked shot on him. As well as those two they has Franco Di Santo who has already bagged 3 goals this season, the intelligent forward was looked at by big Sam in the summer and I’m sure the Hammers boss will know all about his talents.
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The nearly men of the Premier League for all the wrong reason, Wigan will look to not have the nerves they suffer most season and the Wigan faithful will want a quiet season for a change rather than battling against relegation again. Notoriously slow starters this season has been no different having still not picked up a win at home this season, but in Roberto Martinez they have a talented manager who always seems to get the most out of his players at key points of the season.
The Hammers on the other hand have had a flying start to their season exceeding even Sam Allardyce’s expectation as the Hammers boss said on Monday having told WHUFC.com, “We’ve done the job better than I expected with 14 points from eight and we’re on two or three points more than I had hoped.”
Sam Allardyce will want to collect his first back to back wins of the season as they head into their trickiest month of the season similar to Wigan’s nightmare month. So both sides will see this as a must win fixture.
Overall record v Wigan Athletic (all competitions) W 10 D 2 L 7
Team News
Wigan are still missing Antolin Alcaraz (groin) who has been missing since the Capital one cup tie against Nottingham Forest.
Whilst winger Albert Crusat is unlikely to feature in this must win encounter as he continues to suffer with his niggling knee problem.
Wigan will give a late fitness test to Japan star Ryo Miyaichi ahead of the game.
West Ham will continue to be without Wembley hero Ricardo Vaz Te (shoulder) who is still in rehabilitation for his shoulder injury his pick up against Arsenal.
Joey O’Brien has returned to fitness following a hamstring problem and is expected to feature but Matty Taylor (calf) and Guy Demel (groin) are unlikely to recover in time.
The Hammers will also be without long term injury victims Alou Diarra (Hamstring) and Jack Collison (Knee).
Next 5 fixtures:
Wigan:
BPL Saturday November 3rd Tottenham 15.00 A
BPL Saturday November 10th WBA 15.00 H
BPL Saturday November 17th Liverpool 15.00 A
BPL Saturday November 24th Reading 15.00 H
BPL Wednesday November 28th Man City 20.00 H
West Ham
BPL Saturday November 3rd Man City 17.30 H
BPL Sunday November 11th Newcastle 15.00 A
BPL Monday November 19th Stoke City 20.00 H
BPL Sunday November 25th Tottenham 16.00 A
BPL Wednesday November 28th Man United 20.00 A
