Preview: Wigan Athletic (Away)

As games go, away at Wigan Athletic isn't really one i tend to look forward to. The week leading up to the fixture will generally involve soundbite king Dave Whelan; a legend in his own lunchtime, self-appointed spokesperson for working-class Northerners, but in reality, Peter Kenyon aside, the most punchable man involved with Premier League football, lording it up on Sky in his typically droll and reactionary style.

The afternoon itself will mean a trip to a completely characterless town famed only for a literary classic from way back yonder, and the fact that a few residents quite like eating pies, lovely. An identikit new-build ground, could easily be Reading, or Derby, or Hull, or wherever, surrounded, as you might expect by an eyesore industrial park. Drums, horns, quite probably music after goals, everything that's wrong with modern football.

I'm really not sure why it's Wigan Athletic in particular who get my goat. The story in itself is quite an interesting one. A side of considerable non-league pedigree sail through the divisions under a local businessman-done-good, there is a certain Roy of the Rovers element to it, sure, and as football fans it's perhaps something we all have far-flung dreams of trying, but it's hard to find anything endearing about the club whatsoever.

On an impressive opening day win against a now-rejuvenated Aston Villa, Whelan, never a man to miss a potential opportunity for a few quid, was already hawking his new manager about, 'one of the best young managers in Europe' and 'destined for a big job in La Liga' were quotes he was quick to get to press, chairman's code for '£5m and you can have him'. Six defeats in eight games later and the Jack Walker wannabe's words would appear somewhat naive.

As managers go, Martinez is one i quite like. A cliche now amongst football fans but his Swansea side were beautiful to watch last year, and on hearing the Spaniard speak you can't help but feel an immediate sense of respect, he talks sense, he's a football purist, there's little to not like, he's one of the good guys, just, again, a shame he's now employed by a football club who are such a stain on the division they play in.

Given the form of both sides so far this season, we should, in theory at least, go there and roll them over, but their recent result over champions-elect Chelsea means we should perhaps not take them so easily. They were excellent that day, albeit aided by some comedy defending by John Terry, and a rash error from the now wobbly Peter Cech. Odds are they'll be up for a similar battle tomorrow.

This added to the fact that they, meaning their comical chairman and sporadically-attending support, not to mention the story-sniffers at Sky, will paint this out to be some sort of good against evil, littl'uns sticking it to the moneymen, David versus Goliath affair, we might well meet a sort of Stoke-like, kick and run, get yer elbows ready, potential sleepy Sunday afternoon humbling.

Our main concern will be getting a side out on the pitch at all. With Pablo Zabaleta picking up a hamstring strain late on at Villa Park there's the real danger that we may have to wheel Micah Richards out once more. Kolo Toure, Joleon Lescott and Wayne Bridge are also injured, the latter during England's 3-0 win over Belarus midweek. Backup defenders Nedum Onuoha and Vince Kompany are still missing, meaning our first-choice central pairing might have to play through the pain barrier. Nigel de Jong's another carrying a knock, but should take part.

Most worryingly, recent hero and occaional rag-puncher Craig Bellamy's ankle problem could leave us without a left-winger at all, given Robinho is still missing and Martin Petrov also returned from international duty with a tweaked knee. Michael Johnson and £17m Paraguayan striker Roque Santa Cruz remain some way off full match fitness.

I'm expecting a bit of a dust-up, and not a game that's easy on the eye. Spoilers Scharner and Diame will most probably be under strict instructions to stop us playing at all costs, and they'll fancy their chances from set-pieces. Whoever starts in the centre of defence for us will be in for a battle, Scotland will put himself about and the impressive Rodallega will need watching. I think we should have enough to win, but given our poor record at the now sycophantically-named DW Stadium, nothing would surprise me.

Possible teams:
Wigan: Kirkland, Melchiot, Figueroa, Boyce, Bramble, Scharner, Thomas, Diame, Scotland, Rodallega, N'Zogbia

City: Given, Richards, Sylvinho, Toure, Lescott, de Jong, Barry, Ireland, Tevez, Adebayor, SWP

Prediction: Wigan 1 City 2