Wigan Athletic Preview

By Mark Heys
February 3 2006

Bolton Wanderers will be hoping to make it third time lucky this weekend as they welcome local rivals Wigan Athletic to the Reebok Stadium for the first time.

The Trotters have lost the last two meetings against this seasons Premiership's surprise package as games in the League and League Cup have gone the way of the Latics.

In October goals from Henri Camara and a stunning volley by Lee McCulloch won the game for Wigan at the JJB Stadium and a few days before Christmas a Jason Roberts double convincingly knocked Bolton out of the Carling Cup.

Wanderers have lost just once in all competitions on their home turf this season and will be going all out to ensure that Paul Jewell's side do not claim a hat trick of wins against them.

A win for seventh placed Bolton would help them leapfrog Wigan who currently lie two places higher having gained one more extra point during the course of the season so far.

Sam Allardyce has no fresh injury problems for this game as both Nicky Hunt and Khalilou Fadiga the pair shrugged off recent doubts over their fitness in the midweek draw against Portsmouth.

Irish youngster Joey O'Brien may once again be called upon to operate in his more natural midfield position due to the enforced absences of Ivan Campo and Abdoulaye Faye.

Meanwhile Matt Jansen looks likely to be preferred over Jared Borgetti in the Wanderers attack having impressed during his first full start in the last game down at Fratton Park.

Wigan are without Henri Camara who is on African Nations Cup duty with Senegal and fellow striker Jason Roberts is serving a suspension having been sent off in the recent game against Everton.

Ex-Wanderer Emerson Thome is a long term absentee with a cheekbone injury as is full back Ryan Taylor who has a broken foot. Lee McCulloch, David Connolly, David Wright and Stephen McMillan are all doubtful of making the game due to various injury problems.

Recent Latics signings Paul Scharner, David Thompson and Neil Mellor are expected to once again play a key part in the game as is the Bolton-born goalkeeper and League cup hero Mike Pollitt.

PREMIERSHIP RECORD

02/10/2005 WIGAN ATHLETIC 2 (Camara, McCulloch) BOLTON WANDERERS 1 (Jaidi)

PREMIERSHIP FORM GUIDE:

Played: 1

Won: 0

Drawn: 0

Lost: 1

CONNECTIONS

John Ball, Malcolm Barrass, Brian Bromley, Paul Comstive, Walter Crook, Ernie Corfield, Wayne Entwistle, Simon Farnworth, Gareth Farrelly, Dave Felgate, Per Frandsen, Scott Green, Ken Grieves, Ralph Gubbins, Derek Hennin, John Higgins, Paul Jones, Tony Kelly, David Lee, Paul Lodge, Dave McKearney, Tommy Neill, Neil Redfearn, Bruce Rioch, Ian Seddon, Geoff Sleight, Stuart Storer, Greg Strong, Steve Taylor, Emerson Thome, Chris Thompson, Gavin Ward, Stuart Whittaker, Roy Wilkinson, Tom Woodward.

IT HAPPENED WHEN BOLTON PLAYED ATHLETIC

Experienced striker Bobby Campbell scored a hat trick for Wigan to send them through from the First round of the League Cup in August 1987. Bolton's Jeff Chandler suffered a serious ligament injury in that game and was ruled out for the majority of the Wanderers promotion campaign from Division 4.

Ex-Wigan midfielder Tony Kelly made a bustling run from the Bolton midfield to score in the last ever meeting at Springfield Park.