Tottenham Hotspur v Wigan Athletic
White Hart Lane
Saturday 28th August 2010
Kick Off 3.00pm
Tickets
The DW Stadium ticket office will be closed on Saturday and tickets for this fixture WILL NOT be available on the day of the game. All tickets for this fixtures MUST be purchased before 3pm on Friday 27th August.
Listen
You can listen to full match commentary online on Latics Player at www.wiganathletic.com/player. Remember, if you're not already a Latics Player subscriber, you can get immediate access by [clicking here].
Watch
See Antolin Alcaraz's video interview ahead of the game. [watch]
See Roberto Martinez's pre-match video interview. [watch]
See highlights of Hartlepool v Latics. [watch]
Preview
Wigan Athletic are in their sixth year in the top flight of English football, yet such is the nature of the TV driven World of the Premier League, that this will be the first time that Wigan have played Spurs away on a Saturday afternoon.
However, to the annoyance of Wigan fans everywhere, I can guarantee that will not be the statistic that most will think of ahead of this Saturday's game - it will almost certainly be last season's 9-1 scoreline - but I assure you that is the last time it will be mentioned in this match preview.
Team News
We were expecting to say that Maynor Figueroa would not be in contention for this fixture and Latics would once again be travelling to North London without their first choice left-back. However that is not the case with the Honduran now expected to take his place in the Wigan defence having played 90 minutes against Hartlepool on Tuesday night, despite being stretchered off against Chelsea three days earlier, his ankle twist apparently now fully healed.
Wigan will though, continue without Gary Caldwell, who remains on the sidelines following his summer hip operation. The side will not be totally 'Caldwell-less' though, Steven Caldwell could be set to make a Barclays Premier League debut for Roberto Martinez after joining the Latics on Monday and playing 90 minutes on Tuesday night.
Victor Moses will miss the game, he's expected to be on the sidelines for up to 3 weeks. The England U21 international picked up a knock on Tuesday night late in the game, victim of a challenge that the Wigan boss described and "ridiculous." Steve Gohouri may also be back in contention as he continues to nurse the injury he picked up on the opening day against Blackpool.
For Spurs, Carlo Cudicini will replace first-choice Tottenham keeper Heurelho Gomes, who injured his groin in midweek.
Striker Jermain Defoe, who hopes to avoid groin surgery, could play but is rated as doubtful, but midfielder Luka Modric is again ruled out.
The Manager
Roberto Martinez has said that his side have been boosted by the win in the Carling Cup in midweek and is glad to see his players desperate to show what they can do.
"There's always a great mood about the club after the first win of the season," said Martinez.
"It breathes confidence around the place and helps the players during their work through the week.
"Everyone is trying to get that opportunity to show what they can do and after the results we've had there are many places up for grabs in the team at the moment.
"It's important that the entire squad is ready and focused for what will be a like a cup-final for us going in search of our first league win of the season."
Head to Head
| |
Spurs Wins |
Draws |
Latics Wins |
| League |
5 |
4 |
1 |
| FA Cup |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| Total |
6 |
4 |
1 |
Wigan Athletic have just the one win against Spurs, that came courtesy of a last minute headed corner from Maynor Figueroa back in January 2009.
Last Six Meetings
21/02/2010 - Premier League - Latics - Spurs 3
22/11/2009 - Premier League - (I said I wouldn't mention it again)
11/01/2009 - Premier League - Latics 1 Spurs 0
02/01/2009 - FA Cup - Spurs 3 Latics 1
21/09/2008 - Premier League - Spurs 0 Latics 0
19/04/2008 - Premier League - Latics 1 Spurs 1
Last Line Ups
Tottenham (v Stoke [A] W2-1): Gomes, Dawson, Assou-Ekotto, Bale, Kaboul, Corluka, Jenas, Huddlestone, Lennon ( Walker, 87 ) , Palacios, Crouch.
Subs not used: Alnwick, Kranjcar, Rose, Bassong, Naughton, Livermore.
Latics (v Chelsea [H] L0-6): Kirkland, Gohouri, Stam, Figueroa (Boyce, 84 ) , Alcaraz, N'Zogbia, Diame (McArthur, 80 ) , McCarthy (Watson, 79 ) , Thomas, Rodallega, Boselli.
Subs not used: Scotland, Al Habsi, Moses, Gomez.
Hot Shots
The leading scorers for Wigan Athletic and Tottenham Hotspur.
Latics
Jordi Gomez - 1
Victor Moses - 1
Spurs
Peter Crouch 3
Gareth Bale - 2
Jermain Defoe - 1
Sebastien Bassong - 1
Roman Pavlyuchenko - 1
One 2 Watch
Aaron Lennon. The 23 year-old had the game of his life for this fixture last season. The Leeds-born winger is probably one of the quickest in the Premier League and uses his relatively short stature and low centre of gravity to his advantage. Lennon already has over 140 appearances under his belt for Spurs as well as 19 caps for England. He is undoubtedly one of the biggest threats that Spurs have in their arsenal.
Match Officials
Referee: Phil Dowd
Assistants: Simon Long & Glen Turner
4th Official: Tony Bates
