Southampton v Wigan: Saints target three points from Wigan
Southampton almost beat the champions Manchester City on their Premier League return last weekend. This Saturday the Saints are expected to get their first win under their belt against Roberto Martinez's Wigan Athletic.
Nigel Adkins's men were tipped to follow Norwich and QPR last weekend and be beaten by a cricket score at the Etihad. Instead the Saints marched into the champions' back yard and almost left with a share of the spoils. Their slick attacking play won many admirers and they enter this game as favourites.
Wigan were two down within 10 minutes in their opener against Chelsea on Sunday, but although they managed to shut up shop after that, the damage had already been done. Martinez will have been focusing on the defensive aspect of the team over the past five days. The loss of Victor Moses will be another huge blow for the Spaniard.
This will be the first ever league meeting between the two sides. Their only previous encounter came in the FA Cup in 1986. The Saints ran out 3-0 winners that day and the majority of our pundits are expecting a similar outcome this weekend.
Southampton v Wigan; Kick Off 3pm April 25 2012
Prediction Panel
|
Arsenal |
Shub Chaterjee |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Aston Villa |
Frank Pattison |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Chelsea |
Joe Tyler |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Everton |
Chris Goodwin |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Fulham |
Neil Springate |
3 |
V |
1 |
|
Liverpool |
Dave Disciascio |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Man City |
Callum Rothwell |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Man United |
Alex Richert |
0 |
V |
0 |
|
Newcastle |
Greg Hall |
3 |
V |
2 |
|
Norwich |
Sue Read |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
QPR |
John Jaycock |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
Reading |
Jon Keen |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
Southampton |
Andy Saunders |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Stoke City |
Jack Heaney |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Sunderland |
Tony Ratton |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
Swansea |
Jim Barry |
3 |
V |
2 |
|
Spurs |
Mike Richards |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
West Brom |
Andy Wakeman |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
West Ham |
Matt Beeby |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Wigan |
Jimmy Shine |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OUR EXPERTS |
|
|
|
|
|
Writer |
Colin Illingworth |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Writer |
Steve Coulter |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Hugh Larkin |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Mitch Waddon |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Writer |
Chris Pettitt |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
Writer |
Sarshar Hossiennia |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
Blackburn fan |
Terry Kennedy |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Bolton fan |
David Blackburn |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Boro fan |
Sue Gardener |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Pompey fan |
Dan Taylor |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Pompey fan |
Peter Rendle |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
West Ham fan |
Nigel Telfer |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
Wolves fan |
Chris Cox |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Editor |
Antony Melvin |
2 |
V |
1 |
Panel Verdict
It looks as though it will be a winning Premier League return for the Saints at St Mary’s.
Home: 27; Draw: 5; Away: 1. TBA 1
* Do we have it right or do you know better? We’d love to hear from you.
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