Prediction: Wigan vs Tottenham

23rd September 2011

Having recorded three straight defeats on the travels, Wigan will be happy to return to their JJB Stadium, where they have picked up four points from two games this season. Tottenham, on the other hand, have finally hit the ground running and they can be forgiven for feeling optimistic about their chances in this clash following the impressive 4:0 win over Liverpool.

Season after season, Wigan are considered one of the main candidates for the drop, but they somehow always manage to survive. This season is no different when those predictions are concerned, but there are several things that make me believe that the Latics will not be able to avoid the drop this term. First of all, the club failed to bring proper replacements for two key players, Tom Cleverley and Charles N’Zogbia, and that alone could cost the team Premiership survival. On top of that, they had the misfortune to stay without Antolin Alcaraz and Hugo Rodallega, who are set to miss the first part of the season through injury, which is definitely a big blow, especially if we take into consideration a very small squad Roberto Martinez has at his disposal. The players are really low on confidence after losing three straight games and they are likely to find it tough against in-form Tottenham.

Spending the entire summer pursuing numerous targets and worrying whether he will be able to hold on to key players, Harry Redknapp didn’t really have enough time to fully prepare his squad for the new season. Even with that in mind, heavy defeats to Manchester rivals were seen as major disappointment, but Spurs quickly managed to recover and appear to be back on track. The 2:0 win at Molineux, the same ground where sides like Chelsea and Manchester United were beaten last term, was definitely seen as a step in the right direction, but it was the amazing 4:0 win over Liverpool that acted as a real boost to their top 4 hopes. Harry Redknapp rested most of the starters in the Carling Cup defeat to Stoke, thus showing Premier League remains the priority, and Spurs now have a great chance to record another win on the travels. Emmanuel Adebayor and Scott Parker are already proving to be excellent additions to the squad, whereas every Spurs fan is happy to see Luka Modric and Gareth Bale back to their best.

Conclusion

Wigan are in big problems at the moment, with Hugo Rodallega’s injury only adding to the worries, and I really doubt they have what it takes to stop high-flying Tottenham. Spurs have really raised their game of late and they look like genuine top 4 side at the moment. Therefore, my advice is to bet on away win.

Verdict: Away win Tottenham (2)

Best Odds: 19/20

Bookmaker: 888Sport