English Premier League, Week 8 Preview: Newcastle Seeks Return To Form Against Visiting Wigan

Successive 2-1 losses on the heels of their win at Goodison has seen Newcastle fall toward the drop, though their pre-break performance at Eastlands shows a team still destined for mid-table, if not more. On Saturday they face a Roberto Martínez team that's rebounded from early-season blowouts and climbed to 14th. People will concentrate on Wigan's goal difference (with good reason), but the Latics defied that convention last season, and with Martínez willing to change (as evidenced by the move away from Chris Kirkland), the -9 may be historic relic, not harbinger.

Key Battle: Whether Andy Carroll or Shola Ameobi starts for Chris Hughton, it will be incumbent on Antolín Alcaraz and Steve Gohouri to keep the Magpie striker from wrecking the defense, creating space in which Kevin Nolan and Joey Barton can be dangerous. That can be done with part organization, part winning individual battles. Both Alcaraz and Gohouri are going to have to trust that their partner can handle Hughton's choice.

Battle Within The Battle: Andy Carroll's pony tailed brilliance has been well documented, bringing some much needed follicular flare to the England talent pool. Against the Latics he will up against Hugo Rodallega's braided brilliance, a style second to only Florent Malounda's for best kept in the Premier League.