The Portsmouth revival faces inconsistent Wigan
Rock-bottom Portsmouth meet an inconsistent - but ten places higher in the table - Wigan side.
Portsmouth is in the best form of the season, with four points from three games - and if that kind of points return can be maintained for the rest of the season then Pompey will finish about 15th on about 40 points. The renewed Pompey fighting spirit has yet to translate into any home points and it is about time that the Fratton Park crowd are given a reward for their faith. The money problems rumble on but Paul Hart has his side playing in a tight 4-3-3 formation almost without width - which should at least stop the flow of defeats.
The probable losses of Maynor Figueroa and Chris Kirkland will damage a Wigan side that has been rocked by Marlon King's conviction and Roberto Martinez having to make public apologies for remarks he may or may not have made regarding Rafa Benitez and Alex Ferguson. Given that Wigan can beat Chelsea one week and lose to Hull the next - predicting which Wigan team will turn up is a strain.
Portsmouth vs Wigan Athletic; Kick Off 3:00pm 31 Oct 2009
Prediction Panel
Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf).
Dave Blackburn : TBC
Chris Cox : 0 - 0
Graham Enwright : 0 - 2
Sue Gardener : 1 - 3
Chris Goodwin : 0 - 2
Paul Grech (sqf) : TBC
Colin Illingworth (sqf) : 2 - 1
Hugh Larkin (sqf) : 1 - 1
Peter Lee : 1 - 2
Don McMahon : 0 - 1
Antony Melvin (sqf) : 1 - 0
Paul O'Meara (sqf) : 1 - 2
Dave Nash : 1 - 2
Stephen Orford (sqf) : 0 - 0
Tony Ratton : 2 - 2
Peter Rendle : 2 - 1
Dan Taylor : 1 - 2
Andy Wakeman : 1 - 0
Isaac Williams : TBC
Mark Williams : 0 - 0
Panel Verdict
The panel is split on this game but is edging towards a 2-1 Wigan win.
Home: 4; Draw: 5; Away: 8; TBC: 3.
* 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!
