Saturday, May 14, 2011

| by

0

15.05. (Sun) 17:00 Wigan Athletic - West Ham United



DID YOU KNOW?

* If West Ham (33 points) lose on Sunday, they will be unable to catch 17th placed Wolverhampton Wanderers (37 points) and will be relegated to the Championship.

* If West Ham beat Wigan, Blackpool fail to win and Wolves, Birmingham City and Blackburn Rovers all lose, then Wigan and West Ham will be two of six teams fighting for survival in the final game of the season.

* In 17 meetings in all competitions, Wigan have won five, West Ham have won 10 and there have been two draws.

* West Ham's 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers last weekend ended a run of five consecutive league losses.

* Wigan's last four league games have produced an aggregate score of 7-7.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Wigan Athletic (4-3-3)
Al Habsi; Boyce, G Caldwell, Alcaraz, Figueroa; McCarthy, Watson, Diame; Cleverley, Rodallega, N'Zogbia.

Latics' boss Roberto Martinez will have his fingers crossed that midfield battler Mohamed Diame passes a late fitness test. If the Frenchman returns to the starting side, expect Tom Cleverley to revert back to his position as part of a front-three with Hugo Rodallega and Charles N'Zogbia.

West Ham United (4-4-2)
Green; Jacobsen, Tomkins, Upson, Bridge; Sears, Hitzlsperger, Spector, Boa Morte; Ba, Cole.

Hammers manager Avram Grant will have his fingers crossed that talisman Scott Parker will be available after a damaging absence with an Achilles injury. The spine of the struggling side will further be improved if first choice centre-back pair Matthew Upson and James Tomkins also return from their spells on the sidelines.

Prediction
The sides are separated by one place and a crucial three points. Parker's return should be enough to see the gap levelled.

Wigan Athletic 1-2 West Ham