League leaders Newcastle United travel to relegation scrappers Wigan Athletic in what is likely to be a rather one-sided affair on Wednesday night.
Wigan are having a bad time at the moment having lost their last two matches. Whilst the gap of two points which separates them from safety is not huge, for a team who is having a bad patch like The Lactics are, it is massive.
Goals are undoubtedly the problem for Warren Joyce’s side and they are the division’s lowest scorers with a measly 16 goals in 22 matches. This atrocious record in front of goal shows no signs of improving as Wigan have found the back of the net just twice in their last five matches. With goals as precious as gold dust at the moment, the Lactics stand no real chance of winning any matches and are likely to lose even if they concede just once.
The defence is not too bad with their record of 22 goals conceded in 20 matches bettering most teams looking to finish in the play-off places. However, facing Newcastle could change that statistic dramatically.
As previously mentioned, goals have been the problem, particularly at home in recent weeks with Joyce’s team failing to register in any of their last four games at the DW Stadium. They will really have to make sure that defence is tight if they want to have any chance of getting a result against Newcastle.
The Toon bounced back impressively by beating play-off chasing Birmingham City 4-0 after two consecutive losses last weekend. Rafa Benitez’s side may actually go into this match in second place if Brighton & Hove Albion win away at Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday and so will be determined to return to the summit by recording their second consecutive victory here.
Newcastle are essentially a Premier League club playing in the Championship as has been shown by their exploits on the field this season. Their record of 41 goals in 20 games is impressive whilst their defence also looks pretty solid – the perfect combination.
Although they did lose their last match on the road, going away from St. James’s Park has been little problem for The Black and White Army this campaign as they have taken 22 points from a possible 30 away from home.
There really is only going to be one result here and that is a Newcastle win. However, as opposed to backing the simple away win, ‘Newcastle United to Win to Nil’, at 17/10, is a much better option. I am astonished that the price is this good given Newcastle’s form and Wigan’s inability to score – especially at home. Furthermore, Rafa Benitez’s men have kept six clean sheets in ten away matches this season and I imagine they will make it seven in 11 here.
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