Wigan v Sunderland preview

Figueroa back for Latics; Bent fighting to be fit for Black Cats

By Elliot Ball   Last updated: 27th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Wigan v Sunderland preview

Bent: Aiming to pile more misery on the Latics

PREDICTIONS:

Skysports.com prediction: Wigan 3-2 Sunderland

SKY BET odds: Wigan 7/5, Draw 12/5, Sunderland 9/5

One to Watch: Hugo Rodallega

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Wigan welcome Sunderland this weekend as they return to Premier League action hoping for a response from last Sunday's pummelling by Tottenham.

Spurs have announced they will be releasing a DVD of their emphatic 9-1 mauling of the Latics, while Roberto Martinez's charges have said they will refund the travelling Wigan fans who witnessed their side come within a whisker of equalling the all-time record defeat in the Premier League.

Martinez's side have been licking their wounds since last weekend's reverse, the Wigan boss even revealed he watched the footage of the Spurs defeat 10 times to see what went so wrong in North London.

But the Spaniard can take comfort that his North West outfit return to home soil where they have beaten the likes of Chelsea already this season.

Overshadowed by the Latics' heavy defeat last time out, Steve Bruce makes his first return to the DW Stadium since quitting the club for Sunderland in the summer.

Backlash

The Black Cats boss has warned his side of a backlash ahead of Saturday's contest and is fully aware his former team are capable of victory having claimed maximum points against the likes of Aston Villa and Burnley this term.

But Bruce will be hoping to get one over his old club and is boosted by the news star striker Darren Bent has a fighting chance of being fit for the weekend trip.

Scans have shown the England international did no lasting damage to his hamstring in last weekend's 1-0 win over Arsenal, and could be okay to lead the line for the Wearside outfit with striker Kenwyne Jones still absent through suspension.

Summer signing Michael Turner returns to the Sunderland starting XI after the defender served a one-match suspension, although a difficult decision on who partners Turner awaits Bruce, after seeing Paulo da Silva and John Mensah stand firm against the Gunners.

Midfielder Lee Cattermole could be as little as three weeks away from a return despite early fears that his medial ligament damage could have put paid to the England Under 21 performer's season, but goalkeeper Craig Gordon is out for three months with a broken arm.

Faith

Wigan boss Martinez has no fresh injury concerns to add insult to the Spurs defeat and the Latics boss has been pleased by the reaction from his players in training, so the Spanish boss could keep faith in the XI who shipped in nine in London.

Defender Erik Edman, who perhaps suffered the worst indignity after being embarrassed almost at will by Spurs winger Aaron Lennon, looks the likeliest to get the chop with regular left-back Maynor Figueroa back in contention after making an early comeback from a knee injury.

Should Martinez opt to shuffle his pack, last Sunday's substitutes Jordi Gomez and Cho Won-Hee could also be pushing for a starting berth in a more attacking line-up which could see Paul Scharner drop back into defence at the expense of Emmerson Boyce, who also endured a torrid time at White Hart Lane.

Possible starting XIs:

Sunderland: Fulop, Richardson, Mensah, Turner, Bardsley, Reid, Cana, Henderson, Malbranque, Campbell, Bent.

Wigan: Kirkland, Figueroa, Scharner, Bramble, Melchiot, Rodallega, Gomez, Diame, Thomas, N'Zogbia, Scotland.

Wigan v Sunderland Correct Score: Wigan 3-2 25/1