Wigan Athletic V Everton Betting: Saturday, 30th January

Wigan Athletic V Everton

Saturday, 30^th January – 15:00 GMT

Wigan Athletic

League Position: 14th

Recent Form: LDLWL

After crashing to their ninth defeat of the season on Wednesday night, losing 2-1 at Blackburn, question are starting to be asked about whether Roberto Martinez really is the right man at the Wigan helm as the Latics drop yet more points and slide ever closer to the relegation zone. Wigan, whom have just one league win in seven to their name, are now just two points above the drop zone and are in desperate need of some points before their situation could become drastic.

There are several teams in the Premiership that could best be described as ‘Jekyll & Hyde’ but none more so than Wigan Athletic, who have ranged from the sublime to the ridiculously bad this season. We didn’t see a dreadful performance from Wigan in midweek but it wasn’t satisfactory and didn’t look like a side willing to fight for every ounce to avoid the drop. The Latics, under Martinez, are a team who only play well on their day and these ‘days’ have been rare… Too rare if you’re a Wigan fan as the relegation zone draws nearer with every missed opportunity.

You would like to think that, at The DW, Wigan would be confident of gaining all three points but they’ve been just as inconsistent there as anywhere else. Their last league win in front of their fans came over two months ago in a 1-0 victory over Sunderland. That is their only win in five at The DW and have suffered two disappointing results there since. There were beaten 2-3 by Birmingham City early on in December last year, while they were held to a dull 1-1 draw by the team that beat them on Wednesday night, Blackburn Rovers. Both those fixtures were winnable, and while a home fixture with Everton still provides them with an excellent opportunity to add three vital points to their lacklustre points tally, they will know they’re facing an Everton side with a new found belief after going eight unbeaten in the league.

To add fuel to the fire, Martinez expressed his anger at a recent bid for Maynor Figueroa, their Honduras star, of whom scored a wonder goal earlier in the season in a 2-2 draw with Stoke City in which Figueroa scored from inside his own half. Martinez claims this could disrupt not only Figueroa’s concentration but also that of his team mates, and considering Wigan have lacked an awful lot of mental stiffness in recent months, that’s terrible news and a factor which could hinder their chances on Saturday.

Everton

League Position: 9th

Recent Form: DWDWW 

David Moyes, once again, is the miracle worker at Goodison Park and appears to have turned a corner with this Everton team. The Toffee’s made a disastrous start to the campaign when they kicked off with a 6-1 home thrashing by Arsenal, which then led to a spiral of poor results. However, Everton have looked mighty impressive since the start of December and have now gone nearly two months without losing a Premiership fixture, a run of eight games without defeat.  

Everton have also been winning games, which was a rare sight for fans in the early part of the season, and now have back-to-back league wins under their belts after their most recent success; a 2-0 victory over Sunderland. However, those pair of victories, the first being an impressive 2-0 win at home to Man City, did come in front of a roaring home support at Goodison Park and a huge cause for concern will be Everton’s poor away run of five games without a win. Their last away victory came nearly three months ago in a 2-1 win at Upton Park, West Ham.  

David Moyes & Co are, however, unbeaten in their last three away adventures, drawing three away games on the spin. All of which were very impressive results; Chelsea (3-3), Sunderland (1-1) & Arsenal (2-2). You will notice that two of those teams mentioned are vying for the Premiership title so credit where credits due, David Moyes has done a miraculous job in the last two months with an injury ravaged squad. However, this away drought is beginning to increase and it’s imperative Everton notch up an away win as soon as possible and a trip to Wigan looks a fantastic opportunity to do just that.

Everton did succumb to defeat at The DW stadium last season, losing 2-1. However, Everton should fare a lot better after managing two goals in each of their previous four games in the league and have put two and three respectively past Arsenal & Chelsea this season, away from Goodison Park. They have, though, not kept a clean sheet away from home in their last seven and so Everton will probably need at least two if they wish to end their baron away run in the league this Saturday.

Match Verdict: Everton to WIN – 2.50 totesport

Wigan could, quite literally, turn up and play like Real Madrid, such is their contrast in displays this season. However, their inconsistent nature makes them a terrible proposition in just about every fixture they play and preference is for a rejuvenated Everton side who go in search of their first away win since November, last year. They’ve been scoring goals and keeping it tidy at the back, albeit having not kept an away clean sheet in seven. They have, though, not conceded a goal in over 180 minutes of play, both were at Goodison Park mind, but that will boost the confidence of the defenders as well as the strikers as Everton have scored two goals exactly in their last four games. Moreover, Mikel Arteta is back in the fold for Everton and he will bring about some added creativity in that Everton midfield.

Match Odds:

Wigan Athletic – 3.20 VCbet

Draw – 3.40 SkyBet

Everton – 2.50 totesport

SoccerBetting Value Pick: Everton to score EXACTLY 2 goals – 3.75 SkyBet