Steve Bruce seems certain of a hostile reception when he returns to Wigan for the first time since quitting in the summer to take charge at Sunderland. Latics’ fans will have had Saturday’s date circled in the diary since the fixtures were announced and the clash at the DW Stadium will have been given extra significance following Wigan’s 9-1 capitulation at Tottenham last weekend.
Quick Check
Wigan Athletic
- Wigan are assessing the fitness of Maynor Figueroa and are hopeful the left back can return.
- The Latics are unbeaten in their last four home games, taking eight points from 12.
- Wigan have won every game in which striker Hugo Rodallega has scored.
- Roberto Martinez’s team has taken seven points from their last three home meetings with Sunderland.
- Last weekend’s 9-1 loss at Tottenham was Wigan’s worst-ever Premier League defeat.
- Martinez’s side has kept just one clean sheet in their last 12 matches.
Sunderland
- Leading scorer Darren Bent is expected to overcome a hamstring strain to play.
- Michael Turner will return in defence after serving a one-match ban.
- Sunderland’s 1-0 win over Arsenal last weekend was the first time the Gunners have failed to score this season.
- Boss Steve Bruce will return to Wigan for the first time since leaving the Latics to join the Black Cats.
- Striker Kenwyne Jones is unavailable as he serves the final game of a three-match ban.
- Midfielder Lee Cattermole missed the clash against his former side with a long-term knee injury.
- Sunderland have beaten Wigan just once in their last 12 games.
- Bruce’s team has taken just one point from their last five away matches.
Expert Advice
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez has been quick to take some of the blame this week for his side’s humiliating defeat to Tottenham but chairman Dave Whelan’s comments that some of the “weak” players on show at White Hart Lane were signed during Steve Bruce’s spell in charge will only have served to raise the stakes for his return. The home side’s players will be desperate to make amends to fans for last weekend and they will need no greater motivation than victory over their old boss. Sunderland have been brilliant at home this season on their way to victories over Liverpool and, more recently, Arsenal but they have struggled on the road and the continued absence of Kenwyne Jones in attack will be a blow. A close game looks in prospect and difficult to predict, so Betsson’s odds of 2.05 for there to be over 2.5 goals appears a sound bet.
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