Wigan Athletic V Bolton Wanderers

Monday 21^st December – 20:00 GMT

TV Coverage: ESPN

Wigan Athletic

League Position: 14th

Recent Form: LWLDL

Wigan went down to their ninth defeat of the campaign on Wednesday night, losing 2-1 at Anfield against a Liverpool side on the rocks. Now they must pick themselves up for a game with Bolton Wanderers, a team they simply have to beat if they want to keep the relegation zone at arms length. Also, defeat for Wigan would see them fall at least one position as Bolton would leapfrog them, dragging Wigan closer to the relegation scrap in the process.

Although Wigan were outplayed for most parts of the game with Liverpool on Wednesday, the Latic’s weren’t without clear cut chances of their own. However, unlike the 2-2 draw at Stoke last Saturday, Wigan spurred the opportunities that did arise and duly paid the price in defeat. Jason Scotland will have to shoulder most of the blame after thumping a sitter against the crossbar, only to see Fernando Torres score up the other end within minutes. The Trinidad & Tabago international is still awaiting his first Premiership strike and misses like that will only result in less opportunities, more likely another bench appearance for him in this ESPN clash.

On the whole, Wigan aren’t all that bad a team… on their day. That’s the problem with Wigan nowadays. If you’re plucky enough to have a bet on them then you’re basically hoping for a good day at the office as betting on Wigan on an off day only ends in tears. However, with Wigan putting in a couple of decent displays against Stoke City (2-2) and Liverpool (2-1), Roberto Martinez must be wary that his side are now overdue another shoddy performance.

The positives for all you Wigan backers is that despite losing on nine occasions already this season, only once have they lost back-to-games although that was a run of three straight defeats and that was in the early part of the season. However, now they  muist avoid a similar fate but do have an ideal opportunity to avoid such a feat when they go head-to-head against a Bolton side rejuvenated by their midweek win over West Ham United. Whereas confidence in the Wigan camp won’t be at it’s highest after a run of three games without a win.

Wigan have been an inconsistent outfit all around and playing at the DW stadium hasn’t made the slightest bit of difference. Their form at home this season; 3-2-3, with Wigan winning just one of their last four games at home. That one win coming over a Sunderland team struggling for form. The Latic’s have also conceded more than they’ve scored at home, shipping 12 whilst managing just 9 in return, which isn’t at all surprising considering Roberto Martinez loves to play Hugo Rodellega as a sole striker which often leads to him being very isolated up top.

Bolton Wanderers

League Position: 17th

Recent Form: LDLDW

Bolton fans were well overdue some good fortune and were duly given something to cheer about on Tuesday when Bolton notched up just their fourth win of the campaign. West Ham were their victims in a 3-1 defeat and now Gary Megson will be plotting his next plan on how to overhaul a Wigan side that can be absolutely anything on the day.

That win over a struggling West Ham did boost their mediocre points tally but it also took them out of the bottom three. A welcome relief all round. They were the better side on the whole but their victory was largely down to West Ham’s defensive mishaps. When you are at the pit of the league, though, you need some rub of the green and Bolton certainly got theirs on the night, although it wasn’t as if it was undeserved as they were better than a poor West Ham.

Now, though, Bolton go on their travels. Just a few words that will send shivers down the backs of all Bolton fans as they’ve been terrible away from home of late. In seven away outings this season, Bolton have lost four times. To add to their travelling fans woes, Bolton have lost three of their last four away games, with their last away win in the league coming back in September, a 2-1 win at Birmingham City. They have, however, managed to score in six successive away games, with their 1-0 defeat away at Hull City their only goalless away game.

Gary Megson knows he has a hard working group of players but players with actual quality are at a premium, but Megson has known that for some time and has coped stoutly. He has instead built around the main strengths of the team and it’s just that – strength. They work hard and battle hard, and although the points don’t stream in on a consistent basis, every single year they just seem to do enough by winning the big games, the crunch encounters, and perhaps their 3-1 success over West Ham in midweek will give them the belief to push on at a venue which Bolton are more than capable of winning at.

Head-to-Head (Last 10):

Wigan Athletic W: 4 Bolton Wanderers W: 2 Draws: 2

Although Wigan have edged in front, their record against Bolton at the DW stadium isn’t all that good. In four meetings in Wigan territory, just twice have Wigan recorded victories, with last season’s encounter being the only draw, 0-0, but Bolton did manage a win back in 2007, winning 3-1. Also, an interesting trait is that whenever there has been a goal in this fixture, Wigan have been the first team to strike, three out of four occasions.

Match Verdict: Bolton Wanderers to WIN – 3.80 Boylepsorts

Wigan are too blooming frustrating to back and Bolton are the value at the odds. Wigan are actually odds-on with some firms, absurd, whereas a workmanlike Bolton can be had at nearly 3/1 (3.80) with Boylesports. In a match that won’t attack too many neutral spectators, Bolton get our vote in a game that doesn’t have any stand out selection or picks as neither have put together a consistent run this season. Bolton, though, have began their climb from the pits of the table and we fancy them to continue out of their slumber, leapfrogging Wigan in the process.

Match Odds:

Wigan Athletic – 2.10 Bet365

Draw – 3.40 SkyBet

Bolton Wanderers – 3.80 Boylesports

SoccerBetting Value Tip: Kevin Davies Anytime Goalscorer – 3.75 SkyBet