Wigan Athletic vs Fulham: First goal wins?
Not usually a high scoring game between Wigan and Fulham as the history of this fixture in the top flight (8 games) has seen just 9 goals. This is a game between two evenly matched sides with similar budgets and adjacently placed in lower mid-table - this really could be a case of first goal wins.
Wigan has not lost at home to Fulham in the top flight and this will be something to draw on as Wigan tend to be a bit erratic under Martinez, especially at home where there have been just two league wins this season - one of which was against League leaders Chelsea. Roberto Martinez reckons that Wigan is lightweight in attack, but Rodallega andScotland both look good enough to get 10 league goals this season and that will be good enough to stay away from trouble.
Fulham may have beaten Liverpool last game out but after a draining away defeat in Europe on Thursday there has to be some question marks over the stamina levels in the team. The Liverpool defeat was achieved by taking chances on the break - but Fulham's forward play rarely seems clinical when Andy Johnson is absent; if only Nevland had a better all round game because he looks like the best finisher at the club. Duff, Murphy and Johnson could be big misses.
Wigan Athletic vs Fulham; Kick Off 3:00pm 08 Nov 2009
Prediction Panel
Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf).
Dave Blackburn : 1 - 0
Chris Cox : 1 - 2
Graham Enwright : 0 - 2
Sue Gardener : 2 - 4
Chris Goodwin : 1 - 2
Paul Grech (sqf) : TBC
Colin Illingworth (sqf) : 1 - 1
Hugh Larkin (sqf) : 1 - 1
Peter Lee : 0 - 1
Don McMahon : 1 - 2
Antony Melvin (sqf) : 1 - 0
Paul O'Meara (sqf) : 1 - 0
Dave Nash : 2 - 1
Stephen Orford (sqf) : TBC
Tony Ratton : 1 - 2
Peter Rendle : 0 - 2
Dan Taylor : 2 - 1
Nick Tomkins : TBC
Bill Urban (sqf) : TBC
Andy Wakeman : 1 - 0
Isaac Williams : TBC
Mark Williams : 1 - 1
Panel Verdict
The panel is very split - but favours a 2-1 Fulham win.
Home: 6; Draw: 3; Away: 8; TBC: 5.
* 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!
