Wigan ready for Robinho - Bruce

Wigan prepared to meet Robinho challenge head-on

By Ashley Marshall   Last updated: 27th September 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Wigan ready for Robinho - Bruce

Robinho: Attacking threat

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Wigan manager Steve Bruce insists his side has the ability to shut down the free-flowing Manchester City attack on Sunday, despite having not a specific gameplan to deal with Robinho.

Bruce says Wigan's defenders will relish the chance to pit their wits against the exciting Brazilian, and he believes his team has every chance of extending its unbeaten run to six games.

Robinho scored his second goal in three matches when he inspired City to a 6-0 drubbing of Portsmouth last week, but the Latics boss says his back four are good enough to keep the fleet-footed forward at bay.

"There's no real specific orders to do anything with Robinho," Bruce said.

"When you're playing against the likes of Robinho, the Arsenal boys or the Manchester United boys, you've got to be at your best.

"When you're up against Robinho, Jo, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Elano, the one thing you've got to do is defend well."

Both Jo and Shaun Wright-Phillips were on target against Pompey, but Bruce is confident Wigan can nullify City's exciting new strike-force.

Despite sitting 14th in the Premier League after five games, Wigan have not lost by more than a single goal in either of their two defeats - a 2-1 opening day loss to West Ham and a 1-0 home defeat to Chelsea the following week.

Bruce says he would like to see his team continue to defend well, and he is certain Wigan can leave the JJB Stadium with three points if they perform to their ability.

"You want your defenders to pit their wits against these players and we have defended well of late," he said.

"Our players have risen to the challenge of that over the last eight months in particular, especially against the big boys, and this is another big challenge for us.

"We've got to keep them quiet on the day and then see if we can impose ourselves on them because we've got something going the other way as well, and I hope we can cause them a few problems."