Wigan Athletic boss Roberto Martinez has been having nightmares about Tottenham Hotspur since they were thrashed 9-1 at White Hart Lane in November, but so has Spurs boss Harry Redknapp. Tottenham have managed to win just four league games since putting the Lactics to the sword and have seen their Champions League dream stumble. Can they get back their season back on track here today?
Spurs have picked up just 18 points from a possible 42, have lost to Wolves twice and failed to beat the likes of Hull City and Aston Villa at home. Their saving grace is that those in and around them in the hunt for fourth spot have also been dropping points like confetti. But Redknapp will be demanding all three points this afternoon against a Wigan side that collapsed like a pack of cards earlier this season.
However, Wigan will have revenge on their mind following their horror show at the Lane and have drawn their last two home games – v Stoke City and Bolton Wanderers. Wigan have beaten the likes of West Ham and Chelsea at home but their last win on home soil was against Sunderland the week after the Spurs defeat.
Tottenham have only won at the DW Stadium once since Wigan entered the Premier League back in 2005 and a late Figueroa effort handed Wigan all three points in the corresponding fixture last year – their only win against Spurs home or away. There have been four draws between the sides in the past five seasons and this has all the makings of another one.
Wigan Athletic v Tottenham Hotspur; Kick Off 4:15pm 21 Feb 2010
Prediction Panel
Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf).
Dave Blackburn : 0 - 0
Chris Cox : 0 - 1
Graham Enwright : 0 - 2
Sue Gardener : 1 - 2
Chris Goodwin : 1 - 1
Paul Grech (sqf) : TBC
Colin Illingworth (sqf) : 2 - 1
Hugh Larkin (sqf) : TBC
Peter Lee : 1 - 2
Don McMahon : 0 - 3
Antony Melvin (sqf) : 1 - 2
Paul O'Meara (sqf) : TBC
Dave Nash : 0 - 1
Stephen Orford (sqf) : TBC
Tony Ratton : 1 - 1
Peter Rendle : 0 - 1
Dan Taylor : 1 - 3
Andy Wakeman : 2 - 1
Isaac Williams : TBC
Mark Williams : 0 - 0
Panel Verdict
The Panel fancies Spurs to get their season back on track with an away win.
Home: 2; Draw: 4; Away: 9; 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!
