 | #10. Blackburn Rovers versus Wigan AthleticLocation: Ewood Park (Blackburn)Date: Saturday, November 6 Time: 11:00 a.m. Eastern Records (W-D-L, +/-, Place): Blackburn, 2-3-5, -3, 18th Wigan, 2-4-4, -11, 17th |  |
English Premier League Week 11 Preview: League Stragglers Blackburn and Wigan Square Off
It may only be November, but this match-up between Blackburn and Wigan Athletic could end up having relegation implications. Neither club has looked impressive in the season’s early going and they sit 17th and 18th in the table, completely fair positions for their quality of play. Wigan’s numbers have been worse than Blackburn’s, ranking second from the bottom in goals conceded and tied for the fewest goals scored in the Premier League and while Blackburn is right around the median in goals conceded, they’re third from the bottom in goals scored. It’s been an ugly season for both clubs and neither has shown that they will make it far above the relegation zone all season so this one could come back as a key match in who gets dropped at the end of the season.
Wigan's play is on the uptick after picking up five points from four matches in October, even if the month concluded with a 2-0 loss to Fulham last week. On the flip side is Blackburn, who managed just one point from four October matches and will be without Steven N'Zonzi, who has an injured hamstring. Add Keith Andrews, who will miss the match with a groin injury, and Blackburn will be counting on Martin Olsson and El-Hadji Dioufto pass late fitness tests. Emmerson Boyce is the only notable injury to Wigan, although they will have to get used to life without James McCarthy, who will be out three months after ankle surgery.
Projected Lineup, Blackburn: Robinson, Salgado, Samba, Nelsen, Givet, Emerton, Jones, Dunn, Pedersen, Mame Diouf, Benjani
Projected Lineup, Wigan: Al Habsi, Alcaraz, Caldwell, Stam, Figueroa, Cleverley, Diame, Thomas, Gomez, N'Zogbia, Rodallega
Key Battle: Both teams versus the goal. As mentioned above, Blackburn and Wigan are two of the worst teams in the Premiership at scoring goals and even though Wigan doesn’t defend well either, it may be a struggle for either of these teams to get goals. N’Zogbia and Rodallega should be creating chances for Wigan and Benjani has returned from injury so Blackburn should be able to get chances through him, but should has not turned into goals this season for either team.
Battle Within the Battle: Can Blackburn get Olsson and Dioufto through their fitness tests? If the two are good to play they could step in and give Blackburn a better chance to grab three points at home, but if they can’t then you have a bad Blackburn club played even more shorthanded. When teams are struggling it is almost unfair for them to take some knocks, but Blackburn has and they need to get what they can back for Saturday.
Pick: It’s unlikely that either side will do much to entertain viewers, but Benjani and N’Zogbia will each knock one with the help of shoddy defending to split the points, 1-1.
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