Wigan at West Ham

West Ham are likely to cede possession to Wigan, and rely on sharp counter attacks through Jarvis, Carroll and Nolan.

Wigan must avoid a repeat of the breakaway goal scored by QPR. Perhaps Boyce will mark Jarvis as a conventional right back.

Gomez and McManaman are both better going forward than back. Their creativity may produce a goal, but their presence may make Wigan more vulnerable to a counter attack.

Martinez brought back Robles and Di Santo for the midweek game. I expected more changes in what is a crucial week for Wigan.

I don't know if he will introduce more fresh players on Saturday - McManaman and McArthur for example - or retain the same players.

West Ham sit comfortably in mid-table. They have drawn their last three games and I expect Wigan to pick up at least one point.

Lacked concentration against Madrid....huh?? Lucky against west ham....explain that one?! United battered them in the 2nd half, very unlucky not to win.

Now van Persie has recovered his scoring touch, Wigan are relying on United to turn in a good performance against Aston Villa on Monday night.

But United seem to have relaxed after establishing an unassailable lead in the league. Unusually for them, they have lost three recent home games in three different competitions.

They lost at home to Real Madrid. Yes, I know Nani was sent off, but it wasn't a good performance.
"Manchester United should have responded better after Nani's red card" - David Lacey in The Guardian.

They threw away a two goal lead at home to Chelsea in the Cup, and then lost the replay. And Chelsea had to play four games in eight days too.

They lost the derby match at home to their great rivals Manchester City.

On Wednesday, they came away from West Ham with a point after a late goal scored by van Persie in an off-side position.

Correction; they've lost two recent games at home.

The cup defeat to Chelsea was, of course, in a replay at Chelsea.

Wigan started brightly at West Ham, but it was West Ham who scored first through Jarvis.

Wigan then dominated the second half, but again couldn't take their chances. West Ham scored a second goal through Carroll and Nolan.

The other strugglers did well, creating a gap above Wigan and Aston Villa. But Villa have to visit Manchester United on Monday, and play at Wigan in the last game of the season. It's nail-biting stuff.

And Cup Final tickets go on sale tomorrow!

The semi-final was a great occasion, with a display of good football from Wigan in overcoming the challenge of Millwall.

But the Cup Final is in danger of being an anti-climax, with Wigan still fighting for their place in the Premier League.

Even an unlikely win against Manchester City would be little compensation if Wigan again face the trip to Doncaster.

Did you bother watching the Madrid game?? As you clearly didn't. United played very well and were the better side as Jose admitted. The sending off changed the game as the reason united went out.....but you're talking cobblers if you think uniteds performance was poor......they were winning and winning well!!!!

By the way the van persie goal was off side, so what?? After carrols none sending off 3 times I think united deserved a little luck, but overall they played well. City was poor but united are top by 13 points, not bad for a rank average side that's playing rubbish.....the drivel on here sometimes is laughable!

Shouldn't you really be supporting Wigan? And, as a matter of fact, I did attend the Real Madrid game.

Daniel Taylor in The Guardian reported;
"Unfortunately for them, Welbeck is still an erratic finisher and Van Persie is going through what, by his lofty standards, equates to a poor spell. Over the two legs they missed far too many chances between them and that, too, should be a serious form of disappointment. When the goal came it was scruffy in the extreme, Ramos jutting out his right boot to turn Nani's cross into his own net."

After Nani was sent off, United simply surrendered possession and fell back to their penalty area. Real Madrid brought on Modric and dominated until the end of the game.

And you now agree that United were lucky to get a point at West Ham, just as Wigan were unlucky not to get one.

Only United fans could think that having a winger sent off could lead to their defence collapsing.