West Ham v Wigan: Away Team to Prevail Once More?
Alan Curbishley’s injuries woes of last season seem to have followed him into the 2008/09 one. Having seen much of last season from the stands, Craig Bellamy finally looked set to make his mark in a Hammers jersey…only to limp off in pre-season with a hamstring strain. The Welsh striker will now reclaim his stadium seat until mid-September. And the injury train doesn’t stop there with Anton Ferdinand looking doubtful for the opening game with a hamstring problem of his own.
One Hammer who is back from injury and raring to go is Dean Ashton and after an impressive pre-season and determined to make a claim on an England place, Ashton could hold the key to West Ham’s season. But wise words from Irish writer James Joyce continues to ring in my ears - “Mistakes are the portals of discovery”. The Hammers struggled with injuries for large parts of last season making adding to the squad essential if they are to improve on their foundations. But with only three new faces gracing Upton Park, I can’t help but wonder if Curbishley has learnt from his.
Wigan have injury concerns of their own with Heskey (ankle) and, no prize for guessing, Kirkland (back) doubts for this clash. However, the Latics pre-season has, on the whole, given pause for hope. Four wins from four including a 0-1 win away at Hibernian
The Latics capitalised on Birmingham’s plight, nabbing de Ridder and Kapo from the relegated side as well as securing the deal for Middlesboro’s Lee Cattermole dubbed as their best acquisition as Wigan look desperately to add some protection to their back four particularly on the road.
There is an interesting pattern stemming from the results of matches between these two teams; it is the away team that tends to triumph. This has been the case for the prior three seasons (excluding that of the latest one). Steve Bruce would love to start that pattern again this time round.
Pundits Pick: There’s often something in history (away win)
Read our statistical guide to the New Foreign Signings, ‘Home Bankers’ & ‘Away Specialists’.
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Tags: Football Predictions, footy 15, Hammers, Latics, Premier 10, Premier League, West Ham, Wigan Athletic
