EPL: Tottenham Hotspur V Wigan Athletic – Saturday, 28th August

Tottenham Hotspur V Wigan Athletic

Saturday, 28th August – 15:00 GMT

Tottenham Hotspur

League Position: 8th
League Form: DW

Harry’s Tottenham completed the start of their Champions League journey in midweek when despatching of Swiss club Young Boys in comprehensive fashion, but now it’s back to business for Spurs who must repeat their feat a weekend ago when registering a 2-1 win over battlers Stoke City immediately after an energy-sapping Champions League fixture – Will they follow up with another back-to-back European/League combo by seeing of the league’s slowest starters, Wigan Athletic.

After losing the first leg of their Champions League qualifier 3-2 in Switzerland, many skeptics were doubting whether Spurs would falter in Europe before they were even ahead of steam. That certainly wasn’t the case though, as Spurs cruised to victory and will now avert all their attention to the Premier League, where Tottenham will look to continue their positive start following a decent point at home to Man City, that despite dominating proceedings, and a hard-fought win away at Stoke City, a venue even the big guns dread playing at.

Tottenham fans will have fond memories of the last time these two met in the league, with Spurs going goal crazy when putting nine past a despairing Chris Kirkland in the Wigan goal. Jermain Defoe scored four that day but the England striker, who scored Tottenham’s second on Wednesday night in a stunning 4-0 win over Young Boys in their Champions League qualifiers – sailing through as comfortable 6-3 aggregate winners, is unlikely to feature against a team he’s enjoyed a lot of success against in recent meetings as he recently signed up for surgery on a troublesome groin injury. Defoe did comment after Tottenham’s win in midweek saying he wasn’t sure whether he would go through with the operation, although Redknapp appeared eager to quash Defoe’s eagerness to avoid surgery and continue playing in a bid to get Defoe back to full health ahead of an exciting but difficult European adventure.

But that’s the beauty of this Tottenham team, their strength in depth means even the absence of their star striker won’t be too crucial to their plans, as the likes of Roman Pavlyuchenko and Giovanni Dos Santos are waiting in the wings and eager to impress Harry Redknapp at the prospect of playing a key role in a big season for Spurs. Luka Modric missed Wednesday’s game and should be available for the game with Wigan, although Harry maybe reluctant to risk the Croatian schemer against a team Spurs should beat with the eyes closed. Peter Crouch, though, is a certain starter following his hat-trick haul in midweek, and the former Liverpool striker will be hungry for more goals against the Latics on Sunday, as will every Spurs player, as the smell of goals hovers above White Hart Lane as the visit of Wigan looms ever larger.

Wigan Athletic

League Position: 20th
League Form: LL

The Latics only narrowly avoid the drop last season, when finishing down in 16th position and just six points ahead of the relegated trio of Portsmouth, Hull and Burnley, but manager Roberto Martinez seems to have another energy-sapping season ahead with a team more than likely to spend most of the campaign fighting for their Premiership survival.

On Saturday, Wigan bettered their humiliating start to the season when losing 4-0 at home to Blackpool by getting smashed off the park by Chelsea, once again at the DW stadium, conceding an astonishing six goals to take their goal difference to negative 10 despite playing just twice. The writing is well and truly on the wall and bookie’s now have Martinez as the overwhelming favourite to be relived of his managerial duties first. That doesn’t seem a half-bad bet considering Wigan look a team capable of shipping any amount of goals right now, while they still appear far too lightweight up front despite splashing out on Argentine Mauro Bolselli in the summer, as well as adding to their defence.

Martinez has at least bolstered his defensive options ahead of another daunting clash with Tottenham Hotspur at White Lane. I’m sure no Wigan has ever forgotten the nightmare trip they made to North London last season, when Spurs put a staggering eight goals past Chris Kirkland in the Wigan goal. The centre-back combination of Steve Gohouri and Antolin Alcaraz clearly isn’t having the desired affect, so the capture of Steven Caldwell, brother of Gary, could prove a smart move, although the defensive standard at the club is low right now that virtually anyone, even Titus Bramble, could walk into the Wigan defence and a make a positive difference. Steven Caldwell could be thrown in at the deep end by Martinez on Saturday in a desperate bid to reduce the amount of goals being shipped.

On the plus side, Wigan are facing a team reporting back to league duty just days after taking on Young Boys (Swiss) in a Champions League qualifier. The Latics should have the edge in the fitness department, late on into the game in particular, but they still require a significantly improved performance in order to take anything from a fixture which has brought them nothing but misery in recent meetings.

Match Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur to WIN – 1.25 Coral

I just don’t see where Wigan’s next goal will come let alone their next set of points, and we definitely don’t see them ending their baron run at White Hart Lane where they conceded a staggering eight goals last season.

This Wigan side genuinely have the look about them which says ‘Goals, how many you want?’. They’ve been woeful up till this point; pathetic against Blackpool on match day 1 when shipping four goals to the weakest team in the league on paper, while Chelsea compounded their woes with a 6-0 whitewash at the DW last weekend. It doesn’t get any easier though, and we don’t expect the goals to stop rolling in either, so Tottenham not just to win but to win with authority, even without striker Jermain Defoe who misses the next month after his operation to mend a groin problem.

Spurs are riding high and have re found their taste and love for goals. We wouldn’t put anyone off a small flutter on a repeat 8-0 scoreline (250/1 PaddyPower); with Tottenham possessing the quality in the final third to carve out numerous openings against an opponent with the potential to concede excessive amounts -  This could turn crazy for the second meeting running.

Match Odds:

Tottenham Hotspur – 1.25 Coral
Draw – 6.00 Ladbrokes
Wigan Athletic – 13.00 SkyBet

Soccer-Betting Tip: Peter Crouch First Goalscorer – 5.00 Bet365