06-02-2010 Sunderland vs Wigan Athletic

This match up sees the Premier League’s two worst performing teams face each, with both hoping to pick up a crucial three points.

Sunderland sit bottom of the formtable  in the Premier League, having picked up a paltry four points from their last ten games. We have to go back to November for their most recent victory. Steve Bruce has not been helped by injuries to key players but worryingly for the club the return of some of these figures in recent weeks has not seen an uplift in results. Bruce wil hope that new signings Kilgannon and Hutton can shore up the creaking defence while Benjani, a last gasp signing from Man City, will be expected to add to the fire power of Darren Bent. Sunderland narrowly missed out on signing Maynor Figueroa during the transfer window and relations between the two clubs are at an all time low. Steve Bruce will be desperate to win this one, after receiving stinging criticism from his former Chairman at Wigan.

Wigan Athletic are not faring much better than Sunderland and follow them in the charts of poorest performing team in the league. Unfortunately their season never really took off prior to their slump in form and they find themselves perilously close to the foot of the table and just one point off the relegation Zone. Wigan also managed to strengthen their squad in the transfer window and they will hope that the exciting youngster Victor Moses can make an immediate impact. Wigan have an almost fully fit squad to choose from, although there will be osme concern over the absence of first choice ‘Keeper Chris Kirkland.

This is a really tough game to pick, with so much at stake between these two teams both in terms of points and pride. I think that Sunderland will have their vociferous support right behind them for this one and I would expect them to scrape a marginal victory.

Verdict: Sunderland home win

Odds: EVS

Bookmaker: Sporting Bet