Wigan Athletic - Aston Villa Preview

Posted Saturday, December 18, 2010 by Goal.com

Wigan Athletic - Aston Villa Preview
PASS ENCOUNTER: Wigan Athletic's Gary Caldwell (L) heads to score against Aston Villa during their English Premier League

Promising Record

Although Wigan have not had the best of starts to the season, they do boast an impressive record against Aston Villa of late. Since earning promotion to the Premier League in 2005, they have beaten the Midlands side four times out of their 10 meetings, including three times at Villa Park.
Debut Clash In The Dugout

Roberto Martinez and Gerard Houllier come face to face for the first time in this clash, and it is also Houllier’s first visit to Wigan in the Premier League.

Martinez’s first competitive game in charge of Wigan was at Villa which they won 2-0 at Villa Park, but in the away fixture Villa, then managed by Martin O’Neill, won the game at the DW Stadium 2-1.

It will be Martinez’s 64th game in charge of the Latics and he will be hoping to add the 16 wins he has recorded since arriving in 2009. Houllier arrived at Villa Park in September and has had mixed fortunes in his 15 games in charge, winning five, drawing four and losing six.

TEAM NEWS

Wigan

Wigan Athletic - Aston Villa Preview Wigan are without three of their young stars in Franco Di Santo, Victor Moses and James McCarthy, so Roberto Martinez will look to other members of his squad to step up to the plate and build on the draws they have picked up in their last two matches.

Di Santo is suffering with an ankle injury, as is McCarthy, and Moses is looking at a lengthy period on the sidelines after dislocating his shoulder against Arsenal in the League Cup three weeks ago.

With Maynor Figueroa suspended for the match after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season, Ronnie Stam could be asked to cover at left-back.

Hendry Thomas is also missing the game due to suspension but covering his absence should not be as much of a headache for Martinez. He has James McCarthur and Jordi Gomez ready to step into the midfield, with Ben Watson likely to be given the holding role alongside Mohamed Diame.

Manchester United loanee Tom Cleverley was a doubt for the match but his rib injury is not as bad as first feared and he should be available for Martinez.

Possible starting XI: Al-Habsi; Gohouri, Alcaraz, S Caldwell, Stam; Gomez, Cleverley, Watson, Diame, N’Zogbia; Rodallega.

Aston Villa

Wigan Athletic - Aston Villa Preview Villa manager Gerard Houllier may look to stick with the side who beat West Brom 2-1 last weekend, their first victory in the league since early November. Captain Richard Dunne was dropped by Houllier last weekend and the Frenchman could keep faith in Carlos Cuellar and James Collins after they performed admirably in the centre of the defence against the Baggies.

Nigel Reo-Coker, who came off the bench against West Brom, could be restored to the starting line-up to provide much needed experience in the middle of the pitch, although it is unclear whether Stephen Ireland will be involved in the matchday squad. The former Manchester City midfielder did not feature at all last weekend and his relationship with Houllier could be limiting his chances in the first team.

Gabriel Agbonlahor is a doubt for the match as he is suffering with illness but could make the bench were Houllier to need to him.

Villa have no new injury concerns but will continue to be without Luke Young (hip), Steve Sidwell (Achilles) and Stilian Petrov (knee).

Possible starting XI: Friedel; Lichaj, Cuellar, Collins, Warnock; Albrighton, Bannan, Reo-Coker, Downing; Young; Heskey.