Article

Premier League preview: Stoke v Wigan

28 January 2013 13:11

Wigan will aim to take advantage of Stoke's poor form as they attempt to kick-start yet another late-season run to avoid relegation.

With five defeats in their past seven matches, Wigan are second bottom on the English Premier League table with just 19 points from 23 games ahead of their trip to Stoke on Tuesday.

Stoke are 10th in the standings, nine spots ahead of Wigan, but having lost their past three games they present a great opportunity for the latter to claim a much-needed victory.

Spanish midfielder Jordi Gomez could be the key play for Wigan if he can translate his FA Cup form into the Premier League.

Gomez has scored in Wigan's 1-0 triumphs over Bournemouth and Macclesfield Town as moved into the fifth round of the FA Cup, making it five goals for the season across all competitions.

Wigan have only scored 25 goals in the Premier League this season, the fifth-worst record in England's top flight, but manager Roberto Martinez could at least be happy that his team have shared them around.

Gomez and another six players have scored at least two goals for Wigan in the Premier League, with Ivorian striker Arouna Kone the most prolific marksman, having hit the back of the net six times.

Somewhat surprisingly, Stoke may be an easy target for Kone and his teammates.

Stoke have conceded an average of 3.25 goals per game over their past four fixtures, in direct contrast to their usual defensive solidity under manager Tony Pulis, collecting just one draw in the same period.

Pulis will be glad to welcome back Irish defender Marc Wilson against Wigan having seen his side lose to Swansea (3-1), Chelsea (4-0) and Manchester City (3-0) in the past three games.

At the other end, Pulis may soon be without the services of Kenwyne Jones with Swansea reportedly interested in the 28-year-old striker.

While Jones has been behind Peter Crouch and Jonathan Walters in the pecking order this season at Stoke, the Trinidadian has scored three goals in the past month, more than any other player at the club.

Info

Stoke City

D L D W W

2 - 2

Wigan Athletic

D L W L W

Competition

Half-time: 1 - 0
Full-time: 2 - 2

Venue: Britannia Stadium (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire)
Attendance: 24421

Goals

R. Shawcross 23'	1 - 0
P. Crouch 48'	2 - 0
	2 - 1	50' J. McArthur (assist by R. Espinoza)
	2 - 2	61' F. Di Santo (assist by J. McArthur)

Lineups

#	Player	Bookings
1	A. Begović
4	R. Huth
17	R. Shawcross	23'
2	G. Cameron
16	C. Adam
26	M. Etherington
6	G. Whelan
18	D. Whitehead	63'
15	S. N'Zonzi
25	P. Crouch	48'
19	J. Walters
Coach: T. Pulis

#	Player	Bookings
26	Ali Al Habsi
5	G. Caldwell
17	E. Boyce
31	M. Figueroa
25	Román Golobart
22	J. Beausejour
18	R. Espinoza	45+3'
16	J. McArthur	50'
4	J. McCarthy
10	S. Maloney
9	F. Di Santo	61'
Coach: Roberto Martínez

Substitutes

#	Player	Bookings
33	C. Jerome for C. Adam 66'
28	A. Wilkinson for S. N'Zonzi 68'
9	K. Jones for P. Crouch 87'
10	M. Owen
20	M. Upson
29	T. Sørensen
30	R. Shotton

#	Player	Bookings
23	R. Stam for E. Boyce 45+4'
15	C. McManaman for J. Beausejour 83'
6	D. Jones
11	Á. Henríquez
14	Jordi Gómez
27	J. Mustoe
1	Joel

Wednesday 22 May

19:05	Pulis: I understand Stoke´s decision
18:39	Vidic reflects on ´amazing´ season
18:17	Bale: Spurs will bounce back
17:56	Petrov to become academy coach at Aston Villa
17:56	De Laurentiis begins search for Mazzarri replacement
17:52	New York City FC appoint Reyna
17:50	Pardew: We should try emulate Liverpool
17:20	Ribery: Bayern stronger than Dortmund
17:04	Conte building for the future at Juventus
16:52	Bundesliga Play-off Preview: Hoffenheim v Kaiserslautern
16:52	Ibrahimovic coy on PSG future
16:33	Goetze to miss Champions League final
16:22	Giroud wants better European showing from Arsenal
16:07	Chelsea´s England players to leave tour early
16:05	Fiorentina capture Yakovenko
15:25	Pellegrini confirms Malaga departure
15:04	Fulham sign Boateng
14:50	Green wants first-team football at QPR
14:12	Britton set for surgery
14:03	Neville interested in Everton job
13:42	Holloway: Brighton incident motivated Palace players
13:36	Rodgers confident of keeping Suarez at Liverpool
13:25	Eredivisie Preview: Twente v Utrecht
13:21	Etherington praises Pulis´ work at Stoke
13:17	Vlaar excited for new season at Aston Villa
12:01	Badstuber sidelined for 10 months after knee surgery
11:21	Clichy: Manchester City were right to sack Mancini
11:10	Cole set for West Ham departure
10:27	Lampard: It was tough under Benitez
10:11	Mourinho branded a ´failure´
06:44	Carroll out of England squad
05:37	Nasri throws support behind Pellegrini
05:07	Kewell unhappy with Australia omission
04:58	Messi: Neymar would be a wonderful addition
01:22	Doll: Dortmund are not underdogs

Tuesday 21 May

23:08	AFC Champions League Wrap: Seoul, Buriram, Al Ahli, Al Shabab advance
22:27	Pulis leaves Stoke
21:08	Sanogo relishing Arsenal move
21:05	Galtier signs extension at Saint-Etienne
20:32	Baines explains appearance record
20:28	Pulis future in doubt amid exit rumours
20:12	Swansea coach Tucker praises goalkeepers
19:25	West Ham sign Rat
19:10	McAuley eager to keep improving
18:43	Ribery keen to end career at Bayern
18:36	Reina plays down Barcelona speculation
18:20	De Boer agrees new Ajax deal
18:13	Sheffield United make McCall move
18:11	Heldt: Schalke interested in Santana
18:06	Messi urges Barcelona not to change
17:41	Manchester City agree MLS club deal with New York Yankees
16:57	Cech confident Chelsea will attract big names
16:48	Blackman urges Reading to be more ruthless
16:47	Montanier leaves Sociedad for Rennes
15:38	Rodgers pleased with Coutinho impact
15:30	Leonardo: Ibrahimovic and Silva to stay
15:08	Carroll thanks West Hams fans after loan spell
14:31	De Laurentiis confirms Dzeko interest
14:16	Wilshere dreams of England captaincy
14:14	Mourinho a ´scourge´ on Spanish football
14:02	Moratti will not rush decision on Stramaccioni´s future
13:43	Klopp warns Dortmund stars about leaving
12:44	Schneiderlin backs Southampton to improve
12:29	Podolski delighted with fourth spot
12:12	Sigurdsson targets improvement at Tottenham
11:17	Di Canio criticised by PFA chief
10:50	Steaua owner Becali jailed for three years
10:00	Hummels pledges future to Dortmund
09:46	Retiring Ferguson ´overwhelmed´ by recognition
09:31	J.League Preview: Top three expected to win
06:34	Argentine Primera Division Wrap: Tigre earn point at Lanus
06:21	Galtier wants Ancelotti to stay
06:09	Pique, Barca playing for record haul
04:41	Gazidis, Arsenal target silverware
03:17	Juan plots Inter redemption
03:08	Gibbs wants to build on strong finish
02:58	Racism will not drive out Drogba
02:28	Martinez coy on Wigan future
02:17	Fernandinho still seeking City switch
02:01	Roberto Carlos set to coach Sivasspor
00:13	Ferguson named LMA Manager of the Year

Monday 20 May

21:07	Inter, Roma fined for racist abuse
20:15	Mourinho in quotes
20:14	Real Madrid part company with Mourinho
20:03	Rodwell called up by England
19:40	Messi keen on Barca stay
18:39	Atletico Madrid ready to sell Falcao
18:35	Abbiati extends Milan deal
18:32	Terry misses Chelsea tour
18:30	Schwarzer unaware of new contract offer from Fulham
18:19	O´Brien proud of West Ham finish
17:34	Doncaster appoint Dickov as manager
17:07	Hearts avoid SPL points deduction
16:53	Galliani to hold talks with Allegri
16:52	Hill blasts Hughes´ QPR signings
16:36	Lampard: I have not performed at World Cups
16:20	Kacaniklic targets first-team place
16:13	Jardim replaces Ferreira at Sporting Lisbon
16:10	Indonesia fined for crowd trouble
15:57	Mignolet not worried about speculation
15:42	Neville uncertain on future
15:07	Hummels could make Champions League final
15:01	Napoli stars hail departing Mazzarri
14:44	Juninho: Donovan gets advantage with referees
14:32	Harper hails ´incredible´ reception
14:27	Giovinco not leaving Juve
14:21	Lambert ´proud´ of top-flight return
14:21	Torres targets improvement
14:06	Fernandinho wants to join Manchester City
13:49	Galliani relieved with Champions League spot
13:33	Stramaccioni bemoans injury-hit season
13:19	Lewandowski focused on Wembley
12:57	Reading owner confirms Pogrebnyak clause
12:51	Owen thanks Stoke for ´great experience´
12:36	Rizzoli to take charge of UEFA Champions League final
12:18	Raheem Sterling case dismissed
12:14	Schuerrle expects Leverkusen exit
12:03	Howson delighted with Norwich progress
11:53	Milan players targeted in Florence
11:32	Lukaku: Fans inspired my performances
11:24	Williams dismisses Arsenal links
10:52	Scolari: Neymar will be a Barcelona idol
10:45	David Luiz praises ´amazing´ Benitez
10:22	Walcott wants title tilt next term
10:12	Carragher´s final Liverpool appearance full of emotion
10:05	Carrick: United must move on from Ferguson
09:56	Villas-Boas confident Bale with stay at Tottenham
09:13	AFC Champions League Preview: Guangzhou eye last eight
08:26	Ecuador Primera A Wrap: Nahuelpan class buoys Barcelona
07:58	Liga MX Wrap: America, Cruz Azul reach final
07:53	MLS Wrap: Johnson does Dallas, Salt Lake sink Chivas
07:40	Peru Primera Division Wrap: Sporting Cristal shine on top
07:09	Paraguay Division Profesional Wrap: Melgarejo on a winner
06:48	Chile Primera Division Wrap: Top two win again
06:20	Colombia Primera A Wrap: Tolima strike late to go top
05:56	Costa Rica Primera Division: Cartagines v Herediano
05:24	Cahill in top form in New York
04:45	Henry: Galaxy were better than New York
04:35	Fulham plan Schwarzer solution talks
04:13	Vilanova staying, says Roura
04:05	Merrick joins Phoenix as coach
03:53	Juric signs with A-League´s Wanderers
03:14	Mazzarri leaves second-placed Napoli
03:03	Campeonato Paulista: Santos 1 Corinthians 1 (3-2 agg)
00:47	La Liga Wrap: Barcelona, Deportivo notch victories
00:40	Allegri refuses to be drawn on talk of future
00:32	Ibrahimovic, Ancelotti land Ligue 1 honours
00:09	Primeira Liga Wrap: Porto confirm title, Moreirense relegated

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