Top ten facts and stats to know about Wigan Athletic.
Posted on October 15th, 2010 | 47 Comments |
United head into the game looking to find some home form following frustrating defeats to Blackpool and Stoke City. If Chris Hughton reads these important facts it might give him the tactical edge over Mr Martinez in the Wigan dug out. You never know eh?
1. There isn’t much of a history between the two sides, with only 11 meetings between the two clubs, nine of which have been since Wigan’s promotion to the Premier League in 2005. And its The Latics who hold the better head-to-head record with five wins compared our four. Newcastle fans can, hopefully, take confidence from the fact that Wigan have yet to record a victory at Newcastle with United winning three and drawing two of the matches at St James’ Park.
2. United first met Wigan on January 9th 1954 in the 3rd round of the FA Cup. United drew 2-2 that day at St James’ Park with goals from Ivar Broadis and Jackie Milburn saving United’s blushes against a side then in the Lacashire Combination League. The draw meant United faced a replay at Springfield Park and in another close game the Geordies needed goals from Broadis again and Len White to secure their first and so far only win in Wigan with a 3-2 victory infront of 26 500, a crowd the current Lactics could only dream of.
3. The first modern day meeting between the two sides saw Graeme Souness take his Newcastle side to the JJB for a 12.45pm kick-off on October 15th 2005. Newcastle fell to a 1-0 defeat to the Premier League newboys in front of the nation as the game was shown live on Sky Sports.
The Newcastle squad that day included only three current players – Steve Harper, Shola Ameobi and Steven Taylor, with the first an unused sub, the second a 37th minute sub for Lee Bowyer and the latter starting. A young Ryan Taylor was also among the second-half subs for the home side.
4. Ryan Taylor is of course one of just a handful of players to have played for both the black and white stripes of Newcastle and blue and white stripes of Wigan. Other notable names however include of course Charles Insomnia – sorry N’Zogbia, and cult forward Antoine Sibierski along with former Latics captain turned mackem rock Titus Bramble, who was named player of the year at Wigan in 2009. Chuckles (N’zogbia) picked up the award in 2010.
United could line up against a pair of former Newcastle players in the shape of Caldwell borthers Gary and Steven. Scotland’s answer to the Neville’s never really hit it off at St James’ Park and were soon sent packing.
5. I have decided that since so much attention has been given to the Zog’s first return to Tyneside since leaving he deserves his own point. N’Zogbia left United’s sinking ship for the calmer waters of Wigan Athletic in January 2009 after endless claims of wanting to play for a bigger club, the question is, is he now?
Wigan’s average attendace is 15,208 compared to United’s 45,019. United honours include being four-time league champions, six time FA Cup winners, Fairs Cup winners and the big one, the Intertoto Cup. The Lactics honours include reaching the 6th round of the FA Cup in 1986/87 and the League Cup final in 2006 (losing 4-0 to Manchester United) along with being Championship and Divison 2 runners up. Clear to see that N’Zogbia made the right move isn’t it?
6. Now the rant is out of the way, Wigan currently sit 14th in the table after a puzzling start to the season that has seen them lose 4-0 at home to Blackpool on the opening day before being hit for six against Chelsea at the DW. Then they went and beat Tottenham 1-0 at White Hart Lane. Go figure.
Roberto Martinez is in his second season at the DW after replacing Stadium of Light bound Geordie Steve Bruce in the summer of 2009. Finishing his first season with 9 wins from 38 games and a points tally of just 36, Roberto’s side still finished 16th.
Wigan’s record of conceding 79 goals and having goal difference of -42 was the worst record ever for a side who stayed in the Premier League. Heavy 9-1 and 8-0 defeats to Spurs and Chelsea didn’t help mind. His current record stands at played 51, won 14, drawn 12 and lost 25 leaving him with a win percentage of 27.45% compared to Chris Hughton’s 60% heading into his 61st game.
7. The club record signing for the DW side is Mauro Boselli who cost £6.5m, but despite some good performances the striker is yet to net in his four appearances so far this season. Hugo Rodallega is the clubs leading scorer with 2 goals this season.
Current form between the two sides isn’t to different with both sides recording just two wins. Wigan however have managed only four goals compared to United’s ten and have conceded 13 goals compared to United’s ten. Wigan goalkeeper Ali-Al Habsi tops the opta chart performance ratings for the club with 7.41 whilst former United target Tom Cleverley is second with 7.00. Joey Barton and Andy Carroll are joint top of the United stats with ratings of 7.09 this season.
8. The last meeting between the two sides was on boxing day 2009 as Wigan visited St James’ Park, and it was typically an ex-mag who levelled the scores with a 90th minute equaliser as the sides drew 2-2. Soon-to-be-mag Ryan Taylor had put The Latics into a 3rd minute lead which Steve Bruce’s men held onto until the Michael Owen’s 80th minute leveller. Obafemi Martins looked to have sealed the win in 87th minute only for Titus Bramble to level the scores.
Steve Bruce described Bramble as ‘outstanding’ as he became the 17th former magpie to net against United in the Premier League and Ryan Taylor became the 16th future mag to net against us. Quiz time again – how many of the 17 former and 16 future mags can you name?
9. United head into the game looking to end a run of nine Saturday kick-offs in the Premier League without victory. Newcastle will be looking to notch up their 250th Premership victory.
The stats of the Premier League are in United’s favour however. After 70 games played this season there have been 29 home wins (41.43%) and 16 away wins (22.86%) with 25 draws (35.71%).
10. Finally the Ladbrokes match odds. United are priced at 4/5 to win with the visitors priced 7/2 and a draw 5/2. The most common result between the two sides in recent years has been 1-0 and the chances of that again tomorrow are priced at 6/1 for United and 8/1 for Wigan.
Howay the lads!
no plas act against wigan..go for it..no pissing about for 60 mintues if we are still drawing …ranger must be playing or on the bench..or first 1 on for who ever..what does he need to do..to get a game..he is are only player who looks to get in the box and looking to get on the end of things to score…if he isnt on the bench again just to fill it with his pals then..sorry ch u need to move over and let some1 else manage newcastle…not having a go ch ..just stating the fact we need goals..he is playing for reserves and banging in the goals..so he is doing his bit..but he wont even get on the bench..i would be pissed 2..it is not about attiude..