Fulham surprised everyone with their high finish in the table last season and, after a slow start, Roy Hodgson’s side look like being just as tough to beat this term. Any hopes Wigan fans had of matching their exploits were brought down to earth with resounding thud by Portsmouth last weekend and they will be desperate to get that 4-0 defeat out of their system as quickly as possible.

Quick Check

Wigan Athletic

  • Four of the last five meetings between the two sides have ended in draws.
  • Wigan have won all four games this season when striker Hugo Rodellaga has scored.
  • The Latics have taken seven points out of nine from their last three matches at the DW Stadium.
  • Maynor Figueroa will be out for several weeks with a knee ligament injury.
  • Wigan have failed to beat Fulham in their last five games.
  • Roberto Martinez’s side has kept just one clean sheet in their last ten matches.

Fulham

  • Striker Andy Johnson could also feature after spending the last month on the injury sidelines.
  • Kagisho Dikagcoi is available to return after a three-match ban.
  • Roy Hodgson’s side has lost just once in their last seven games in all competitions.
  • Winger Damien Duff is expected to miss the game with an Achilles problem.
  • Captain Danny Murphy will be out for at least another week with a knee injury.
  • Fulham have kept just one clean sheet in their last nine league games.

Expert Advice

Wigan have been a difficult team to predict all season and last week’s abject display at Portsmouth was proof of how inconsistent they can be. Roberto Martinez didn’t hold back in his criticism of his team and a far more committed and hard-working performance is expected against Fulham at the DW Stadium. After a steady start to the campaign, Roy Hodgson’s visitors have really hit form over the last month and they fully deserved their victory over Liverpool last season. They do have a tendency, though, to ease off, against some of the lesser teams and, with this in mind, we suggest Betsson’s odds of 1.69 for there to be less than 2.5 goals as a sound bet.

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