Wigan Athletic V Aston Villa Betting: Saturday 9th January

Wigan Athletic V Aston Villa

Saturday, 9^th January – 15:00 GMT

MATCH POSTPONED – We regrettably have to inform you that the following game has been postponed due to severe weather conditions. Although the pitch has been confirmed as ‘playable’ the surrounding area; roads, pathways, steps etc… have been deemed a hazard and a risk to those fans who will attend the game. 

Wigan Athletic

League Position: 16th

Recent Form: LDLDL

(Wigan have failed to beat Aston Villa in their previous three attempts at the DW)

Roberto Martinez has taken a while to find his footing at Wigan but a win at home over a resurgent Aston Villa could take them four points clear of the relegation zone. However, were the Latics’ to falter in front of their home fans then the drop zone could beckon for them, although even a draw might see them spend the rest of the week as a relegation occupier. That’s what its like at the bottom nowadays, so evenly balanced that one result could heavily affect where you end up come the end of the weekend, which, in Wigan’s case, could be in dire straights.

After Wigan’s opening day heroics over Aston Villa, at Villa Park, there won’t have been too many ready and willing to lump on Wigan for the drop. However, their recent run of five leagues games without a win, a run which consists of three defeats and two draws, would indicate that Wigan are heading one way and one way only– down the table.

28^Th November, The DW Stadium, the setting for Wigan’s last league success; a 1-0 victory over Sunderland, but that was five matches ago and now their only league win in nine outings. The Latics didn’t manage a single in the month of December, nosediving into the new year with no form and very little momentum. Now, though, it’s imperative that they push on as a similarly bad month in January could see Wigan become accustomed to life in the basement of the Premiership.

A big boost to the confidence of those in the Wigan dressing room will have been their weekend FA Cup success; a 4-1 hammering of a hapless Hull City. Their reward was an away encounter with Notts County or Forest Green, so Wigan could actually progress as far as the fifth round this season, which could be seen as a double-edged sword considering that it might boost the morale of the troops but also take their minds off the real task at hand – avoiding relegation. Fitness levels will also take a dip as a trip to lower league opposition is never easy, so it will be interesting to see how Wigan fare in the forthcoming month or so as Wigan enter a critical stage of the season.

Aston Villa

League Position: 6th

Recent Form: WWWLL

(Haven’t lost three successive league fixture since April last year )

Martin O’Neill will have been chuffed to bits with his sides response to that bitter and late defeat to Liverpool. Villa wiped the floor with Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, winning 3-1, but what came before that result was a potentially morale bashing defeat at home to Liverpool, unfortunately Villa’s most recent league encounter. The players, though, to their credit, responded in the perfect manner and, in combination with the knowledge that Villa lost to Wigan earlier on in the season, we expect Villa to be fired up for this contest as they aim to gain both revenge over the Latics’ and, more importantly, to get their season firmly back on track with all three points at the DW.

Villa were largely untroubled at home to Blackburn last Saturday, although they were made to sweat a tad when Blackburn pulled one back, despite Rovers being reduced to 10 men. Still, Villa hung on in their and duly got their rewards through progression, in which they will face one of the more easier ties in the next round; a home encounter with Brighton Hove & Albion. Martin O’Neill will be delighted with that draw as he will eye that fixture as a chance to use some of the fringe players once more as the league now takes on even more significance considering that Villa are firmly in the hunt for a top four finish for the second season running.

Progression in the cup was good but it will be nothing compared to what victory will feel like over Wigan this weekend. Villa’s priority this season is the league, without a doubt, and victory over Wigan will mean so much more to them than their 3-1 victory over Wigan last Saturday in the cup as it could potentially see them return to the top four. They would need those around them to slip up but it’s been one of those seasons where even the unthinkable tends to happen so the incentives are certainly there for Aston Villa heading into this clash.

However, we mustn’t get too carried away and neither should the Villa players as we must not forget that they have lost back-to-games in the league after defeats to Arsenal & Liverpool, the first time they have suffered two straight defeats this season, and defeat at Wigan could make it three successive defeats on the spin, what would be their first since April last year. Villa were, though, on a two match winning away streak before their defeat at The Emirates, but Villa’s away record on the whole does leave a lot to be desired (4-3-3). However, they’ll be desperate to return to winning ways on Saturday and eager to avenge their opening day defeat to the very same opponent.

Head-to-Head (Last 10):

Wigan Athletic W: 4 Aston Villa W: 2 Draw: 3

Last Meeting: Aston Villa 0-2 Wigan Athletic (15/08/09)

I was pleasantly surprised to see that Wigan lead the way in the h2h department, and to hear that Wigan have never lost at Villa Park in a Premiership fixture; drawing 2 but winning 2. However, they’ve also succumbed to defeat themselves at home on a couple of occasions and the regular pattern in previous meetings is that home advantage counts for nothing, with Wigan’s 3-2 win back in April, 2006, the only meeting going the way of the home side.

To sum it up; Wigan have won 1, lost 2, and drawn 1 at the DW against Aston Villa.

Match Verdict: Aston Villa to WIN – 2.38 Bet365

Villa are going through a tough spell at present but we think it’s just a blip and fancy Villa to bounce back with a win in the new year away at Wigan, a venue they’ve lost just once at in four visits. The players should require very little inspiration other than to look at their performance in their 2-0 defeat to Wigan earlier in the season for a reason as to why victory is so important this weekend, as well as losing two league games on the spin. A third would be catastrophic for Villa’s top four chances but also for the morale of the camp but we don’t expect that to happen this weekend. O’Neill gave some of his key players a welcomed rest on Saturday and we fancy a fresh Villa to sprint out of the blocks and come away from the DW with all three points.

Match Odds:

Wigan Athletic – 3.10 Bet365

Draw – 3.30 Expekt.com

Aston Villa – 2.38 Bet365

SoccerBetting Value Tip: Gabriel Agbonlahor Anytime Scorer – 2.80 VCbet

Odds correct as of 12:29; 4/1/10.