English Premier
2010-08-28 - Tottenham Hotspur vs Wigan Athletic
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football : English Premier League
Saturday 28 August 2010 - Kickoff 3pm
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur avoided the embarrassment of being knocked out of the Champions League before the group stages by beating Young Boys 6-3 on aggregate, and also made sure their hard work from last season was awarded. They were put in a tough group for the next stage of that competition, but a group in which they can make a real impact. Add to that the 4 points gathered so far in the Premier League and it is easy to see why Harry Redknapp is so happy with his lot so far.
Spurs won 1-2 at Stoke City last weekend, a sure sign of a side that is operating at the top of the Premier League. They were unlucky not to pick up more points against Manchester City in their opening fixture but 4 points do represent about how their season has been so far. They were an impressive 14-2-3 at home last season and had the joint best defensive record at home with Manchester United.
Huerelho Gomes is out after picking up an injury in the Wednesday win over Young Boys and will be replaced by Carlo Cudicini. Luka Modric is still missing and Jermain Defoe could play before going for groin surgery next week.
Possible Tottenham Hotspur Line Up: Cudicini, Corluka, King, Dawson, Assou-Ekotto, Huddlestone, Kranjcar, Lennon, Bale, Crouch and Defoe (4-4-2)
Wigan Athletic
If your side have conceded 10 goals in their opening 2 fixtures of the season, both at home, where is the last place you would want your next game? The answer to that is at the ground where your side conceded 9 last season. Unfortunately for the under pressure Roberto Martinez, this is the exact scenario facing his Wigan Athletic side this weekend. The Latics gained an important Carling Cup win during the week, but confidence has to be brittle at best.
Wigan were stunned 0-4 at home against Blackpool on the first day of the season and followed that up with a 0-6 loss to Chelsea. Wigan had struggled really badly away from home last season and were 3-2-14 but conceded a whopping 55 goals, almost averaging 3 a game. They conceded 4 or more goals on 6 occasions, and were also hit for 8 and 9 in games.
Charles N'Zogbia's long drawn out transfer away from the DW Stadium looks to be coming to an end after he was given permission to speak to Birmingham City. Victor Moses and Gary Caldwell will both be missing through injury.
Possible Wigan Athletic Line Up: Kirkland, Stam, Figueroa, Stephen Caldwell, Alcaraz, Thomas, Diame, McCarthy, Watson, Rodallega and Boselli (4-3-3)
Head to Head
Wigan Athletic have never won a game at White Hart Lane. Of the 6 games played there between the sides, Tottenham have won 4, including the last 2.
All 4 of the wins came by 2 goals or more, and Wigan will be hoping to reverse the form that has seen them win 1 of 11 games with Tottenham anywhere.
Prediction
Tottenham Hotspur will be on a high coming into this fixture, and the fans should be totally behind their team after their European exploits. Spurs have to be one of the better sides in the League and are going to be very difficult to play at White Hart Lane. The attacking talent ensures chances will be created.
Wigan Athletic will be wary of this game, and conceding an early goal could prove decisive in the career of Roberto Martinez at this club. The loss of Charles N'Zogbia cannot be downplayed in any manner as he is their best chance of creating goals and I really fear for them in this game. The defending will have to improve 200% from the first 2 games if they want to pick up anything from this match.
I just cannot see beyond a home win here and an easy one at that. Confidence is high at White Hart Lane and I think if they score an early goal here, then this could be a heavy beating for Wigan. The attacking talent that Spurs can offer is too much and I will take them to cover the handicap here.
The Pick :
Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 Wigan Athletic
