WIGAN v SUNDERLAND
Football : English Premier League
Saturday, September 11th 2010 - Start 3:00PM GMT

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WIGAN

Right, what are Wigan playing at? I am willing to wager this is now the bookie's favourite team so far this season. On opening day, they entertained Blackpool and proceeded to bend over the the tun of 4 unanswered goals in what was the weekend's biggest upset.

Then, after another heavy loss to Chelsea (6-0), Wigan played Tottenham, who are England's newest team in the Champions League, and they did them 1-0 to walk away with all 3 points. If anyone tells you they had a bet on either of those outcomes, they're lying.

But let's have a closer look, last year, Wigan snuck in through the backdoor with a lot of 1-0 wins right, in fact that was the scoreline in almost 50% of their wins. You'll find one player, often the scorer was listed as a main man on all those games, Rodellega. He scored a club best 10 goals for Wigan and will be the main threat on Saturday as well.

Chris Kirkland, the goalkeeper for the first 2 games is injured, and was not in goal last week, when Oman international Al-Habsi took over. It was a strong display and he will play again against Sunderland. Roberto Martinez will also be without Gary Caldwell for this match. Wigan have, for the record, never lost to Sunderland here, having won 3 and drawn 1.

SUNDERLAND

Sitting 7 places above Wigan are the Black Cats. They lie 10th and I bet none of you took them to win last week, after they opened their campaign with a draw and a loss. Sunderland will argue that it was them, not Wigan, that scored the biggest upset last week, when they beat the mighty minted Manchester City by a 1-0 scoreline.

Yep, Darren Bent again. He was the main threat for Sunderland throughout, and sure enough, it was left to him to score the injury time penalty to get Sunderland their first full 3 points. Having scored the first win of the season, they now look for their first away win of the season. The funny thing is, last season, thats all they got, one away win all season, which came at Hull once they were already relegated.

Poor Steve Bruce will now be without Frazier Campbell for most of the season now as he was lost at Manchester City to an injury to his knee ligaments. Still, he still has a team buoyed by confidence and led by Bent. In addition, he will also have his new striker available for this game. The club's record signing, Ghanian World Cup hero Asamoah Gyan cost the Black Cats £13m and I think he will be a valuable addition. The price on him to score the opener is a tasty one, but I think a bet on him to score over 90 minutes looks good value.

BETTING VERDICT

I really don't think Wigan will win this. I just don't. I get the feeling it will be a very narrow win for Sunderland, or a draw.

Bent and Gyan will impress and make their mark, and so I recommend a bet either on the Black Cats winning, or at least taking them on the AH markets.

The Statistics :

The Pick :

Sunderland to win

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Consider Sunderland to win at 3.00 (Pinnacle)

HANDICAP BETTING :

Take Sunderland +0 AH at 2.20 (Bet365) - MAIN BET

Consider Sunderland +0.5 AH at 1.60 (Bet365)