Wigan Athletic vs Newcastle United: Premier League Prediction Panel 2008/9 - preview and predictions
Wigan is basing its survival hopes on strong home form (something of a forgotten art in the upper echelons of the league); and are unbeaten at home since October. Three consecutive home wins have propelled Wigan to somewhere close to mid-table and should form the basis of another good Premier League season. Wins over Blackburn (3-0), West Brom (2-1) and Everton (1-0) suggest that Wigan will have strong expectations of winning this one. With speculation mounting over bids for Heskey and Valencia Wigan could do with as many points in the bag as possible before the transfer window opens; although Wigan could try a cheeky bid for Michael Owen themselves next week.
Newcastle is in great form at the moment, sitting fourth in the current form league. This is a great indication that Joe Kinnear is getting his message across, and also that he may be considered something more than an interim manager. Interesting the news that Michael Owen is staying until the summer is helpful for Kinnear, as Owen's goals couldn't be replaced with the £4m or so that he would raise. Added to this the fact that so many players tend to relax after signing a big contract; whilst Owen is bursting to prove himself to Newcastle (or whoever) he will have an edge that could have been missing if he had committed himself. Newcastle are short of attackers in any case, with Martins, Ameobi and Smith unlikely to figure.
Level on 22 points, a win for either team could propel them into eighth - both teams are full of goals and this one could end with both sides registering.
Wigan Athletic vs Newcastle United; Kick Off 3:00pm 26 Dec 2008
Prediction Panel
Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf).
Tony Bellew : 1 - 1
Dave Blackburn : 1 - 0
Sue Gardener : 1 - 1
Chris Goodwin : 1 - 2
Paul Grech (sqf) : 0 - 0
Colin Illingworth (sqf) : 2 - 1
Hugh Larkin (sqf) : 2 - 1
Peter Lee : 1 - 1
Don McMahon : 0 - 1
Antony Melvin (sqf) : 1 - 1
Stephen Orford (sqf) : 1 - 0
Tony Ratton : 1 - 1
Peter Rendle : 1 - 1
Dan Taylor : 2 - 2
Bill Urban (sqf) : 3 - 3
Andy Wakeman : 1 - 1
Isaac Williams : 2 - 1
Mark Williams : 2 - 1
Panel Verdict
The panel is split, but a majority is expecting a Newcastle win on the back of fine recent form.
Home: 6; Draw: 10; Away: 2.
* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!
