Southampton v Wigan

[ShearerTheLegend]

Saturday 25th August 2012
Kick-off: 16.00
St. Mary's Stadium



Southampton
(13th)
v
Wigan
Athletic
(17th)

Newly-promoted Southampton welcome Wigan to St Mary’s for their first home fixture in the Premier League since 2005. The Saints pushed reigning champions Manchester City all the way last weekend in their season opener, holding a 2-1 lead with 20 minutes remaining before Roberto Mancini’s side hit back to triumph 3-2. Nevertheless, the South Coast club will be boosted by their gallant performance as they look to carry an impressive recent home record into the Premier League. Southampton have won 27 of their last 35 home league matches, all of which were played in the Championship or League One, and keeping St Mary's as a formidable venue for visiting teams will be key to their survival.

Wigan head to Southampton hoping to make a better start than they did against Chelsea in their season opener last weekend. Martinez admitted his team lacked "intensity" in the opening stages as they slipped to an early two-goal deficit, but was pleased by their reaction as they matched the Blues without forcing a way back into the game. The Latics were beaten by their hosts in the only previous encounter between the clubs, which came in a FA Cup third-round tie in 1986, so Roberto Martinez's men could make a little piece of history with a win.





• Saints were the top scorers on home soil in the Championship last season, netting 49 goals.
• Wigan kept just two clean sheets away from home last season - in their first and last away matches.



Southampton are unlikely to be able to call on the services of Jack Cork once again for their clash with Wigan Athletic this weekend. Rickie Lambert would seem likely to earn a recall to the starting lineup after his cameo role and goal at City last weekend. His inclusion will give manager Nigel Adkins a dilemma - he must decide whether it will be Guly do Prado or Jason Puncheon who makes way. Steve Davis is also pushing for inclusion having scored from the bench at City and Adkins could consider going with his experience over James Ward-Prowse in midfield.

K Davis • N Clyne, J Fonte, J Hooiveld, D Fox • M Schneiderlin, S Davis • G Do Prado, A Lallana, J Rodriguez • R Lambert

Roberto Martinez will need to check on the fitness of Jean Beausejour ahead of the trip to Southampton after the wing-back missed the home clash with Chelsea with a small hamstring tear. Both James McArthur and Shaun Maloney picked up knocks in last weekend's defeat and the Latics boss will need to monitor them ahead of the Saints trip. Martinez could also make a change up front with Franco Di Santo under threat from new signing Arouna Kone.

A Al-Habsi • A Alcaraz, G Caldwell, I Ramis • E Boyce, J McArthur, J McCarthy, M Figueroa • J Gomez, F Di Santo, S Maloney

[tuit24]

same old Wigan

[antshearer]

per le neopromosse sono le gare più difficili, più dei vari united, city etc...

[Padds]

per le neopromosse sono le gare più difficili, più dei vari united, city etc...

La prossima è Southampton-Man Utd,spero tu abbia ragione

FT 0-2 Buon primo tempo riassumibile...in una traversa di Lallana e nulla più.

Nella ripresa disastro totale dopo il goal del Wigan,Do Prado inguardabile e secondo goal subito nel finale su un incredibile svarione di Fonte che nel recupero sfiora il goal non centrando la porta da pochi passi...traversa anche per Hooiveld sullo 0-1,oggi si salva solo Lallana.

Urgono investimenti in difesa,le voci son tutte concentrate su Ramirez e Del Piero...speriamo si possa sistemare qualcosa visto il calendario durissimo!

[rickyrocky]

E daje

Queste son le vittorie che fan la differenza

[Toonarmy]

Me lo sentivo troppo che i Saints avrebbero perso sta partita
Succede veramente spessissimo che quando una neopromossa che è data battuta di goleada alla prima giornata fa invece una bella figura poi immancabilmente perde la partita dopo in cui tutti si aspettano che vinca.