Our prediction for this Championship match:
After failing to spoil Sheffield United’s party at Bramall Lane, Wigan will look to give fans yet another reason for celebration when they take on Swansea in the Championship round 41. The Latics are stuck at the bottom with only 34 points on their account, eight points behind the safe zone, meaning that this has to go down as a must-win game for Shaun Maloney’s troops. Daniel Sinani will be sorely missed in Monday’s clash, with Jason Kerr and Martin Kelly remaining in the recovery room as well.
Joe Bennett is pushing for a recall to the starting line-up. The Swans, on the other hand, sit in the middle of the table with slim playoffs chances. Since Wigan want this win more than Swansea, we are tempted to put our money on the relegation-threatened side. Steven Benda and Archie Matthews should be the only absentees in the visiting team.
Highlighted Player (Joe Allen):
Joe Allen is another high-quality footballer from the new generation of Wales internationals, who was part of the team that took Swansea from League One to the Premier League, and he had no problems adapting to arguably the strongest league championship in Europe.
Allen operated as a deep-lying playmaker as the Swans impressed upon reaching the elite division, with his excellent passing skills persuading Liverpool to splash £15 million on his services. The central midfielder didn’t exactly manage to develop into an indispensable member of the side at Anfield, but he is considered an important squad player and has always performed well when called upon.
Meanwhile, he has been one of the pillars of the most successful team in the Wales history together with Gareth Bale, Ashley Williams and Aaron Ramsey, while even representing Great Britain at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Allen started five games for the Dragons as they secured the first ever appearance at the European Championship finals.
Highlighted Team (Wigan):
Wigan Athletic are one of the winners of the English FA Cup. The Latics won the prestigious trophy in 2013, with the team upsetting Manchester City in the title game. This is considered the club’s biggest success, but it has to be noted that Wigan played in the UEFA Europa League in the 2013/2014 season.
Wigan have been playing their home games at the DW Stadium since 1999 and they had played at Springfield Park in the past. Chorley are considered Wigan’s fierce rivals, but the two teams last met in 1971, when they competed in the Northern Premier League. The likes of Preston North End, Bury, Oldham Athletic, Burnley and Blackburn Rovers are regarded as Wigan Athletic’s rivals as well.
The club was founded in 1932 and they competed in the English Premier League from 2005 to 2013. The colour of Wigan’s home kit is blue and white (stripes).