English Premier
2011-12-10 - West Brom vs Wigan
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Saturday 10 December 2011 - Kick Off 3pm
West Brom
Roy Hodgson has not really worked the miracles of his time at Fulham since taking over the job at West Brom, especially not at the beginning of this season where they are struggling for consistency. The Baggies were saved from the drop last season by Hodgson and could be in for another flirt with relegation this year.
West Brom are 14th in the Premier League table having gained 15 points this season and that leaves them 5 points clear of Blackburn Rovers in the final relegation place. The team have struggled at the Hawthornes more than expected and have compiled a 2-1-4 record, scoring 6 goals and conceding 9. Only Blackburn and Bolton have lost more games at home this season so far.
The team earned a 1-1 draw at QPR last week but that means they have only won 1 of their last 5 games in the Premier League. West Brom have lost 2 of their last 3 games at home, but those came against Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur and they have secured wins over Wolves and Bolton here already this season. They have not secured a clean sheet in any of their last 6 games.
Zoltan Gera is a long-term injury concern for Roy Hodgson and will be a miss when it comes to creativity for the team.
Wigan
Wigan owner Dave Whelan made it clear that he is not entertaining thoughts of sacking his loyal manager Roberto Martinez, but things are not getting any easier for a team that has come close to relegation in the last few seasons. They have had a really tough start to this season and come in off a 0-4 home loss to Arsenal.
The team moved to the bottom of the table following that loss as they have an inferior goal difference compared with Bolton Wanderers. Wigan have earned 9 points from their opening 14 games, leaving them 2 points from Sunderland in the final position of safety in the Premier League. Wigan are 1-1-5 away from home, scoring 4 goals and conceding 13 making the team the joint lowest away scorers in the League.
Things were looking bleak for the Latics when they lost 9 straight games in all competitions, but they finally picked up some good news by gaining 4 points from back to back League games. The loss to Arsenal was disappointing, particularly the ease in which they were brushed aside. Wigan beat Sunderland in their last away game, but they had lost 6 away games in a row in all competitions before that win.
Roberto Martinez has no new injury worries to contend with in this important game. Wigan are due to face Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United in the coming 3 games following this one.
Head to Head
West Brom and Wigan drew 2-2 in this fixture last season and that is not the first high scoring game between the teams at the Hawthornes.
In fact, the last 5 League games here have seen at least 3 goals scored between the teams.
Prediction
On the face of things, you wouldn't really expect this to be a high scoring game, but I have a feeling we will see a few goals on Saturday in a fixture that has usually produced goals.
West Brom will know the importance of creating more separation between themselves and a potential relegation rival and I am sure they will look at this fixture as one they should be winning. The team have been scoring goals at home in recent games and they have the likes of Shane Long and Peter Odemwingie who should cause problems.
The key to the 'Over 2.5 Goals' coming in could be whether Wigan can find some scoring boots. They have managed to do that in games at the Hawthornes in recent seasons, and they did score 5 goals in 2 games before the 0-4 home loss to Arsenal last week.
Roberto Martinez is unlikely to set his team out to defend as the 3 points could be critical for their chances of survival- they have 3 tough fixtures after this one where they will not be expecting too many points and could find themselves a little detached from the safety zone if they get nothing from this game.
Neither side is known for their defensive prowess so I do expect chances to be created in the game and will back the 'Overs'.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
West Brom 2-1 Wigan
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.95
