Wigan v Southampton Prediction 2nd February 2013

Wigan v Southampton Betting Preview
A massive match at the DW Stadium for the Latics, who really need to pick up some home form at the moment. They haven’t won any of their last six there and this would be a massive win for them, as they could pull level with the Saints. Relegation will still be on the mind of both of these sides, but an encouraging start from new Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino could see the Saints edge things as favourite for the match, even if the bookies don’t think so.

Wigan v Southampton Betting Odds at online bookmaker Paddy Power
Wigan 21/20, Draw 12/5, Southampton 5/2

Wigan v Southampton Recommended Bet:
The Latics once again are in a spot of bother this season, with relegation looming over them. Despite all their good football, a lack of quality, once again is plaguing them. It is a familiar story happening over and over again for them. Their inconsistencies have kept them mired in a relegation battle at the moment, not having enough power up front and hindered by a poor back line, where they have the second joint-worst defence in the Premier League this term. Still, they have taken a couple of draws in their last three matches so there is a bit of life in them. With Reading trending around them though, Wigan could get left behind if they fall in this one. It would be a massive three points for them to pick up to pull level with the Saints so a lot is at stake. Unfortunately, the Latics are not bankers at home, not by a long shot.

This is the first time that Wigan have ever hosted Southampton at home in any competition. The Latics have lost their last three in a row at the DW Stadium and without a win in their last five there. They continue to pick up more points away from than they do in their own back yard. At home this season, Wigan have taken two wins, three draws and seven defeats and they have averaged just 1.25 goals per game. On home soil they have conceded at a rate of over two per game and they haven’t kept a clean sheet in their last thirteen Premier League home games in total. They beat Southampton 2-0 at St Mary’s early in the season though, but the Saints are a much improved side since them. Incredibly Southampton took 57% of possession in their midweek game at Old Trafford, and who does that? They still lost 2-1, but earned themselves a lot of credit. That was just their first defeat in their last seven matches in the Premier League.

So they are looking like value, especially as the bookies have them as underdogs for the match. They fired in twenty shots on goal at Old Trafford in the week, more than any other side has managed at OT this season. Their way form is standing up well at the moment having lost just two of their last seven (the defeats coming at Anfield and Old Trafford) and in a tough run of fixtures since the turn of the year, they have taken points off Arsenal, Chelsea and Everton. So they are due a lot of credit .The Saints do have more of an offensive threat to bank on than Wigan do. The Saints have scored at a rate of 1.3 goals per game on the road this season, the presence of Rickie Lambert could make the difference on the day. He is the quality act and there is more enough attacking power in the Saints side to grab something out of this.

Just worth backing an outright away win on the Saints for a price of 5/2 at online bookmaker Paddy Power, especially with Wigan struggling at home.

Form
Wigan DDWLWD, Southampton DLWDDL

Stat Attack
The Latics are without a win in their last six games at the DW Stadium
Southampton had 57% of possession in their midweek 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford
The Saints have lost just two of their last seven away matches in the EPL
Southampton have thrown away a league high 22 points from winning positions this season
Wigan have not kept a clean sheet in their last 13 EPL home games

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