Wigan - Crewe, English Division 1
2004-03-06 16.00 CET
Pick: Wigan
Stake: 3%
Odds: 1,60
Final reason for bet
· Wigan is one of the form teams at the moment.
· Wigan is able to continue with almost the same starting eleven as lately.
· Wigan has no crucial players missing.
· Crewe is in bad form.
General comment about the game
For the second consecutive weekend Wigan will play at home on JJB Stadium. As last Saturday they will also this Saturday be visited by a struggling opponent near the relegation zone; Crewe. Third placed Wigan is flying at the moment. They are one of the form teams in the league managing impressive 6/4/1 at this crucial stage of the season. Altogether they have made a sensational first season in this division. With almost 75% of the season played they are only four points behind direct promotion to the premiership and with one match less played than West Bromwich at second place. In midweek they should have travelled to Gillingham but that match was postponed due to the bad weather. Instead their lastest game was last weekend at home to Walsall. After a daft first half Wigan started to perform in the second half. It was only Walsall’s good goalkeeper that denied Wigan until top striker Nathan Ellington fired home a well deserved winner ten minutes before the end. Earlier this week, Ellington got a fine reward when he was voted Nationwide League Division One player of the month for February. On Saturday Wigan will have to do without newly signed striker Jason Roberts (6 apps, 2 goals) from Portsmouth. He starts his three match ban for his sending of against Stoke lately. Also fring defender Steve McMillan (13(1) apps, 0 goal) will be missing through injury alongside long term injury victim Gary Teale (12(10) apps, 2 goals) who sustained a crucial injury against Stoke two weeks ago.
Crewe is nearing the dangerous relegation battle. Currently they reside on 15th place six points clear of the drop zone. Their current form is not good and that is the reason why they are approaching the relegation battle. Since New Year teams such as Crewe, Walsall and Gillingham has taken very few points and when other struggling teams such as Nottingham, Derby, Watford and Burnley has started to collect points on a regular basis the gap between these two groups of teams has vanished. In midweek Crewe played away against Derby in a goalless draw. Derby was by far the better team and created numerous chances but was denied any goal much due to Crewe’s on the night outstanding goal keeper Clayton Ince. Crewe’s manager Dario Gradi also thought that they had to withstand tremendous pressure and he felt relief after the final whistle was blown. He was happy that the team showed strength and character during the game and hope that they can continue that in upcoming fixtures. Crewe will miss midfielder Dave Brammer (10 apps, 1 goal) and defenders Chris McCready (9(4) apps, 0 goal) and Adie Moses (8(3) apps, 0 goal) and striker Luke Varney (5(3) apps, 1 goal). However, they will get back midfielder David Vaughan (19(1) apps, 0 goal) who is fit once again.
Wigan is a good team especially playing at home. Now they are in a position just behind the top two teams and we believe that the Wigan squad can coupe with the pressure that arouse in this situation. They have a very stable and mature manager in Paul Jewell that knows that it is much too early to look at the attraction of the premiership. Therefore we believe that the team will not drop any unnecessary points on Saturday against a struggling and out of shape Crewe team. Medium stake 3% is suggested.
Recent games for home team
|
2004-02-28 |
Wigan-Walsall |
1-0 |
|
2004-02-21 |
Stoke-Wigan |
1-1 |
|
2004-02-14 |
Wigan-Derby |
2-0 |
|
2004-02-07 |
Ipswich-Wigan |
1-3 |
|
2004-01-31 |
Millwall-Burnley |
0-0 |
Recent games for away team
|
2004-03-03 |
Derby-Crewe |
0-0 |
|
2004-02-24 |
Crewe-Sheffield United |
0-1 |
|
2004-02-21 |
Bradford-Crewe |
2-1 |
|
2004-02-07 |
Walsall-Crewe |
1-1 |
|
2004-01-31 |
Crewe-Millwall |
1-2 |
Home table
|
Wigan |
17 |
9 |
6 |
2 |
21-10 |
33 |
Away table
|
Crewe |
17 |
2 |
6 |
9 |
16-28 |
12 |
Links for this game
|
Wigan: |
|
|
Crewe: |
|
|
|
|
|
Livescore: |
|
|
|
|
|
League: |
|
|
|
|
// SportsObserver 040305
