Wigan v Fulham - Match Preview
last updated Wednesday 04th December 2002, 10:51 AM
JJB Stadium
Wigan
4th December 2002 |
Wigan |
Fulham |
| Games |
20 |
16 |
| HOME |
| Games Won |
6 |
4 |
| Games Drawn |
3 |
2 |
| Games lost |
1 |
2 |
| Goals scored |
18 |
12 |
| Ave goals per game |
1.80 |
1.50 |
| Goals conceded |
9 |
8 |
| Ave goals per game |
0.90 |
1.00 |
| AWAY |
| Games Won |
7 |
1 |
| Games Drawn |
2 |
2 |
| Games lost |
1 |
5 |
| Goals scored |
16 |
9 |
| Ave goals per game |
1.60 |
1.13 |
| Goals conceded |
4 |
14 |
| Ave goals per game |
0.40 |
1.75 |
| DISCIPLINARY |
|
Fouls
|
236 |
242 |
| Fouls per game |
11.8 |
15.13 |
| Yellow Cards |
29 |
27 |
| Yellows per game |
1.45 |
1.69 |
| Red Cards |
3 |
4 |
| Reds per game |
0.15 |
0.25 |
Fulham and Wigan will be meeting in their first Cup meeting, in any competition, tonight in Wigan.
Fulham last visited Wigan in their Division 2 Championship year in Dec 98 when they lost 2-0.
The Cottagers have played away at Wigan 12 times over the years winning four times in all.
The last time a Fulham squad won at Wigan was 6 visits ago in Sept 92 when they won 3-1 in Division 2 under Don Mackay. The season ended with Fulham in midtable and Wigan relegated.
Fulham winger Bjarne Goldbaek's first priority is a Worthington Cup fourth-round tie at Wigan on Wednesday night when Tigana must decide whether to bring a few younger faces into his side.
Former Denmark international Goldbaek could also feature after being on the bench in his side's 2-1 defeat at Blackburn last weekend.
With Fulham being without the like of Steve Marlet and Rufus Brevett because of suspension - while Louis Saha is still recovering from his hamstring operation and Barry Hayles suffering pain in his neck and perhaps needing surgery.
As for tonight's game, England Under-18s defender Dean Leacock is among a group of Fulham youth products who could feature at least on the bench.
The other up-and-coming youngsters include 20-year-old centre-back Mark Hudson, 19-year-old Zesh Rehman and 22-year-old striker Elvis Hammond.
Squad News
|
 Paul Jewell will be hoping to create the upset of the night at the JJB stadium where Wigan, the second division leaders are enjoying an exceptional run of form.
Paul Jewell scooped the second division Manager of the Month award this week, which came as little surprise. The Latics have won four straight league games and conceded a solitary goal in seven games. Even more impressive is that they have lost just once (an LDV Vans tie against Doncaster) in twenty games. Wigan beat West Brom in the second round of this cup and then knocked out a full-strength Manchester City side in the last stage.
In such form, they must have a great chance against 5/4 favourites Fulham. Jean Tigana’s team have played more games than any other Premiership side and this appeared to catch up with them last month, when they endured a torrid time. Tigana fielded many reserves in the last round against Bury and he seems set to do so once again with many games on the horizon, including next week’s UEFA Cup tie with Hertha Berlin.
Wigan are hardly going to be short of confidence in their current vein of form and with two Premiership scalps already under their belt particularly against a Fulham side for whom the Worthington cup is not a major priority.
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MATCH BETTING ODDS
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Opinions seem to be mixed in relation to whether or not The Latics can turn Fulham over.
Wigan have already knocked out West Brom and Man City and at the moment sit on top of Division 2 after losing just two games in 20.
Fulham arrive at JJB Stadium stadium with 5 away victories in 30 games with most of the wins being in European competitions.
It will be a tight game but depending on team selection Fulham class should show through.
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MATCH DAY REF
M R Halsey - Welwyn Garden City |
 Mark Halsey enjoyed a fairly meteoric rise to the Premier League referees list having only taken up the profession in the 1988/89 season. The 41-year-old self-employed driver - or white van man - caught the refereeing bug in the Hertfordshire County League, before joining the football league as a linesman in 1993.
Halsey came into the Premiership with a reputation as a lover of injury time. He was in charge of the 1998/99 Division Two play-off final in which Manchester City scored in the 95th minute to equalise with Gillingham, before winning the match on penalties.
This season, so far, he has reffed 9 Premiership games, whistled for 265 fouls, given 21 yellows, 1 red and 3 penalties.
(Ed. Mr. Halsey is of course the so-called Ref that did not want to know about Gardner's foul on Barry Hayles in the Tottenham game. Fortunately the linesman held his ground, despite or perhaps because of a particularly inept performance that had given Tottenham their two goals, and Halsey in the end had to give the penalty that brought us level. On his performances in Fulham games Halsey still has a lot to learn.) |
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