Premier League preview: Wigan v Sunderland

The next chapter in the Martin O’Neill revolution at Sunderland will continue on Tuesday when they travel to take on Wigan.

Sunderland stunned Premier League leaders Manchester City on Sunday courtesy of a late goal to Ji Dong-Won, to improve O’Neill’s record during his short stint in charge to three wins, one draw and one loss.

O’Neill’s men have not conceded a goal in open play in the league in more than 200 minutes, and it was the former Aston Villa boss’ masterstroke to deploy makeshift full-backs in Craig Gardner and Jack Colback that helped them steal an unlikely win over City.

For all their improved form of late, Sunderland sit six points above relegation-placed Wigan, but Roberto Martinez’s men have been in their own streak of form lately, and could easily cut their deficit on their opponents to three points at the DW Stadium.

Wigan earned hard-fought draws at home to strong sides Chelsea and Liverpool before succumbing to the class of Dimitar Berbatov and Manchester United in a 5-0 thrashing.

Wigan bounced back, however, to score twice at Stoke City, fighting back from a deficit with 10 men to secure their third point in four matches.

But only a win will help them escape the drop zone, as they begin to engage in a relegation dogfight in the second half of the season.

Wigan will be without their captain Gary Caldwell for the clash, after he was sent off for a deliberate handball against Stoke, and he will join team-mates Emmerson Boyce and Chris Kirkland on the sidelines.

Sunderland could be boosted by the return of striker Connor Wickham from a knee injury, as he was expected to return against City but was not in the matchday squad.

Craig Gordon, Fraizer Campbell and Michael Turner are all unavailable for O’Neill’s side.