Wigan v Newcastle – Match preview.

Posted on January 2nd, 2011 | 72 Comments |

Not a good sight for Newcastle!
Not a good sight for Newcastle!
Newcastle head to Wigan this afternoon in what is shaping up to be a very important game for both sides aspirations of staying in the Premier League this season.

A win for Newcastle will take them to at least 10th, whilst a win for Wigan will see them leapfrog us and will ensure that Newcastle drop down two places in the table, ever closer to that rather ominous Premier League trap door.

Given the way we generally play when we go to Wigan, I have to say that I am not entirely confident about getting a result, although I do live in eternal hope that we can perhaps one day end our run of poor results, and poor performances, that seem to harvest themselves every time the team set foot in Lancashire!

Both teams are missing key men, with the main question being which team will miss their key player the most? Charles N’Zogbia will miss the game for Wigan as he starts his three match ban after being sent off against Arsenal, whist Newcastle look set to be without Andy Carroll after he picked up a thigh strain. Who is going to miss their player the most? I fear it may be us…..

Kevin Nolan, Shola Ameobi, Jose Enrique and Sol Campbell are ready to be called upon again after missing out last time through various injuries and suspensions, whilst Steve Harper looks set to reclaim his place in the Newcastle goal at the expense of Tim Krul, which seems harsh to me in all fairness, and let’s not forget to give an honourable mention to Dan Gosling who is included in the match day squad for the first time since he arrived from Everton.

Having digested all of that I would suggest that we will equip ourselves to tackle Wigan with a team of;

Newcastle: Steve Harper, Danny Simpson, Steven Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Wayne Routledge, Cheik Tiote, Joey Barton, Jonas Gutierrez, Kevin Nolan, Shola Ameobi.

Wigan have their own injury concerns for the match this afternoon. Antolin Alcaraz is rated as ’50-50′ to make the match after picking up a thigh problem, but the hosts will definately be without Emerson Boyce, James McCarthy, Franco di Santo and Victor Moses, aswell as Charlie boy as I mentioned earlier.

Last time out, Wigan managed a very creditable 2-2 draw with Arsenal, despite being down to ten men. In that game they lined up with a team of;

Wigan: Ali Al Habsi, Ronnie Stam, Gary Caldwell, Antolin Alcaraz, Steve Gohouri, Hendry Thomas, Mohammed Diame, Tom Cleverley, Ben Watson, Charles N’Zogbia, Hugo Rodallega.

Newcastle have lost all four previous league visits to Wigan, conceding five goals and scoring only once. The only Newcastle player to score at the DW Stadium is Danny Guthrie on Boxing Day 2008.

Wigan are the least potent side in the division, scoring only 17 goals in 19 matches. Ben Watson became the Latics’ seventh different goalscorer this season when he scored against Arsenal. Only Sunderland, with five scorers, have fewer.

Newcastle have lost their last three away games conceding 10 goals in the process whilst Wigan are unbeaten in six matches at the DW Stadium.

All in all, as I mentioned earlier, I have a horrible feeling about the match today. I hope I’m wrong as I am travelling up to the game and hope that we can get at least a share of the spoils, but our recent form at Wigan is something that leaves me feeling less confident about achieving that.

My prediction: Wigan 2-0 Newcastle.

Howay the lads!

Date: Sunday, 2nd January, 2011.

Kick-off: 4:00pm.

Venue: The DW Stadium, Wigan, Lancashire.

Referee: Howard Webb MBE.

NUFCBlog Author: toonsy toonsy has written 643 articles on this blog.

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72 Responses

  1. Our first game of 2011 :) It will be very tough game without Carroll but hopefully we can bounce back after 2 defeat in Boxing day.

  2. Toonsy do you remember the last time you predicted a Newcastle win. My prediction Wigan 1 Newcastle 3

  3. It’s going to be a big game today! We needs points but I’d like to see this team out:
    Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Enrique, Barton, Tiote, Nolan, Jonas, Ameobi, Ranger.

    It looks unlikely as Harper will in all probability start in goal, which is unfair on Krul. Why not drop him after the City game? He was my man of the match for us against Spurs and now he gets dropped. I think it’s a poor decision. I think if he wants to freshen things up after two defeats why not drop Taylor and bring in WIliiamson for what has he done wrong to be overlooked each time since his come back. Just hope we get the three points. That would be a great birthday present!

  4. If Shola plays then he must have a partner up front in a 4 4 2, he doesnt have the movement and energy to operate as a lone striker, i liked Ranger on the right hand side in the league cup games, a draw wouldnt be a bad result.

  5. its looking a rather simple propersition this is the first of two must win games. Win one and were up to nine but we still have no real distance between us and the bottom end of the table going into two very tough games. Shops needs to put a shift in in the absence of Carroll or just ship him out as this is the time we need him to prove he’s worth keeping around.

    Pardew has had two games to see what hughton worked out early doors that 4-5-1 does not work as it’s easier to contain Carroll / lone striker as our wide men aren’t able to make it a 4-3-3 in attack for some reason. Whether it be ability or the management.

    Really will be all fingers crossed for a win, preferably with a good performance.

  6. The good news is……

    That Carroll will have a fitness test before the match. Hopefully he is fit, but at least it looks better for the West Hame game.

  7. Thank fcuk for that Carroll news, Also it might not be popular but i hope we are in for Bentley we are crying out for a winger who can cross a fecking ball…

  8. Has anyone seen this thing on twitter about Smith apparantly resuming his strikers role under Pardew… :shock:

  9. Smithy as a striker..OMG, he couldn’t hit a cows arse with a banjo.

    We MUST play 2 up front today.

    This is a big day for Pardew who must adjust his tactics and show more attacking options.

    We have a horrible reco

  10. toonsy,

    Are you on route to the match and are you meeting up with any of the bloggers?

  11. TGS – I know jay jay will be there, and marktoon, so I’ll meet up with them. Any others, I will be in the Red Robin in about an hour or so.

  12. gotta play 442 am sick of that 451 with nolan off the striker n if your playin ameobi n nolan its the slowest strike partenship goin, 451 one say were worried by the oppostion instead of worrying the oppostion

  13. load of crap from now until window closes belive nowt.
    even heard BATTY turned over a new leaf,hes ganning straight just all rubbish

  14. Hullo and Happy Hogmanay to all.

    Lots of dire predictions today, but I’m hoping for the best. Tugboat will rally the lads. Howay!

    –Cybertoon

  15. BATTY getting there m8,but son been canny ill in hospital,since xmas eve home now starting to pick up but still weak.
    you have good hols?
    ganning to see what the snide got in his locker now m8

  16. icedog says:
    January 2, 2011 at 1:52 pm

    “WORKY your avatar m8 not mine lol”

    I haven’t had one for ages, Ice. It was a picture of batty anyway.

  17. WORKY good thinking m8 that jumper was getting worn oot,he might have got a new one for xmas

  18. I just want to see us attack Wigan and go for the win. Not sure I’ll get my wish though.

  19. STU thats my worry m8.

    fear he may go for a defensive mode for a few games,and imo we getting the basic defendening wrong at the mo anyway so we must attack where poss

  20. DAVE really dont know m8 would like to see line-up,but if we go defensive we will turned owr imo

  21. Ice my sister inlaw hasn’t had water from xmas eve :( thankfully we have been ok mostly, it do’s get turned off for a few hrs every couple of days mate but we can live with that

  22. Ice im the same would like to see what way we’ll be set up, but I think if we stand off them we might get a beating. But I would be happy with a 1pt if as it seems Carroll is out.

  23. BATTY that a worry the teams around us seem to be kicking on,ime holding on to the way it normally goes.
    the three teams in bottom three at xmas gan doon,i live in hope m8

  24. I’m sorry but however young Ranger might be, he give us more than Lovenkrands.

    This highlights our ridiculously piss poor squad if them two are up front when Carroll is out.

  25. Cheers to Chelsea for suddenly becoming bloody useless!

    As for the whole Smith thing, i’m pretty sure that’s just someone having a laugh at us on Twitter given the fact Carroll is out. It would be beyond mental to put a lad up front who literally hasn’t scored for years on end. Ranger and Shola i’d imagine. I dont know how they’ll play together or who’ll get the goals..but..hope for the best like.

  26. Harper
    Simpson, Taylor, Colo, Enrique
    Barton, Nolan, Tiote, Jonas
    Shola, Loverman

    Krul, Williamson, Perch, Smith, Routledge, Ranger, Best

  27. Ice-Aye mate not too bad like, how bout you? You on the mend aye? Forster played in the Old Firm the day. Celtic won it 2-0, didn’t look like he had much to do from what I saw of it.

    Bloody hell, 3-3. How have Chelsea let that happen.

  28. Ice-Sorry mate, i searched for a FL in my head, couldnt think of one and thought you just meant FF haha. Nah Ljungberg didn’t play from what I saw, i was only having a quick flick every now and again but I didn’t see him like.