EPL: Manchester City- Wigan
Wigan have struggled on the road all season, where they have only claimed a single cleansheet (at Wolves) since the opening day of the campaign and no side outside the bottom three has conceded more. The problem for them, is that once they allow the first goal, the floodgates seem almost certain to open and they have conceded four or more on SIX occasions, that is a dire defensive record for any EPL team and makes even poorer reading when we see that two of those games came against Portsmouth and Blackpool ! They also allowed two at Division 2 club Notts County and Athletic can hardly travel anywhere with confidence. Even the short journey's seem to leave them travel sick and they have lost all five Lancashire derbies, with a 15-3 goal difference and despite a solid record against City, that looks set to continue this evening.
The hosts scored in their opening 17 starts at Eastlands, 43 in total at an average of over 2.5 per game, before drawing blanks in their last two, a dire stalemate with Liverpool and a loss to Everton last week, when they had plenty of the ball and goalscoring chances. It is very difficult to see them drawing blank a third time, especially with Adebayor set to return, following a four match suspension, although whether they are a better team with or without him atm, remains open to debate. Regardless of that, it at least increases Mancini's options and despite continued defensive injury concerns, he can have few excuses not to win this and close the gap on Spurs and that treasured fourth spot, to just two points.
Wigan have struggled on the road all season, where they have only claimed a single cleansheet (at Wolves) since the opening day of the campaign and no side outside the bottom three has conceded more. The problem for them, is that once they allow the first goal, the floodgates seem almost certain to open and they have conceded four or more on SIX occasions, that is a dire defensive record for any EPL team and makes even poorer reading when we see that two of those games came against Portsmouth and Blackpool ! They also allowed two at Division 2 club Notts County and Athletic can hardly travel anywhere with confidence. Even the short journey's seem to leave them travel sick and they have lost all five Lancashire derbies, with a 15-3 goal difference and despite a solid record against City, that looks set to continue this evening.
The hosts scored in their opening 17 starts at Eastlands, 43 in total at an average of over 2.5 per game, before drawing blanks in their last two, a dire stalemate with Liverpool and a loss to Everton last week, when they had plenty of the ball and goalscoring chances. It is very difficult to see them drawing blank a third time, especially with Adebayor set to return, following a four match suspension, although whether they are a better team with or without him atm, remains open to debate. Regardless of that, it at least increases Mancini's options and despite continued defensive injury concerns, he can have few excuses not to win this and close the gap on Spurs and that treasured fourth spot, to just two points.
Couple of key players set to miss out for the visitors, Charles N'Zogbia who scored in the reverse fixture will be especially missed and it is hard to see this lightweight offense causing too many problems this evening. Hosts are a very frustrating team, on a going day, they can compete and beat the very best in the EPL and on other's it is easy to think they are simply not bothered ! Having said that, they have had to stew on the loss to Everton for a week and we can expect to see their hungrier side tonight. First goal is key, if that is not stating the obvious and if it comes City's way, another four goal reverse might easily follow and that is just what the home side need, a nice confidence boosting win and under the circumstances, I will give up the bigger handicap and take the more tempting odds.
Manchester City -1.75 goals 2.35 Sbobet.
Good Luck.
Manchester City -1.75 goals 2.35 Sbobet.
Good Luck.
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