I remember City losing against Wigan 4-0 when Alan Cork was boss, all goals came from corners and all headers....Cork was sacked the following day! Wigan Athletic v Cardiff City DW Stadium, 7.45pm Likely line-ups Wigan (4-4-2): Al Habsi; Perch, Pearce, Maguire, Taylor; Pennant, Kim, McCann, Ojo; McLean, Fortune. Cardiff (4-4-2): Marshall; Connolly, Manga, Morrison, Peltier; Noone, Gunnarsson, Whittingham, Kennedy; Doyle, Jones. Team news Wigan: Winger Leon Clarke was stretchered off and taken to hospital in the defeat to Charlton with what was feared to be a spinal injury. It turned out to be a shoulder problem, but he will miss this clash. William Kvist hobbled off with a knee problem too and will miss tonight. On-loan Aston Villa midfielder Chris Herd suffered a season-ending knee injury in the win at Reading last week. Wales international Emyr Hughes (ankle) and Grant Holt (knee) will not feature again this campaign with their injuries. Cardiff: Scott Malone will miss the clash after coming off with a hamstring injury at Huddersfield....(well thank fug for that). Fabio and Federico Macheda have made progress with their respective injuries and could be in contention. Striker Joe Mason could be available in the middle of next month following his hamstring injury. Anthony Pilkington had a setback with his hamstring problem, but could be back in training next week. Ones to watch Wigan - Jermaine Pennant: The former Arsenal and Liverpool wideman, who was a free agent, has signed for the Latics until the end of the season. The 32-year-old will be out to impress on his debut and should ask plenty of questions of the Cardiff defence. Cardiff - Eoin Doyle: The new arrival had been tearing things up in front of goal at Chesterfield and although he might still be settling into his new club, like all strikers, he will thrive on confidence and a first Cardiff goal will boost that no end. ' Match odds Wigan 7/5, Cardiff 2/1, Draw 9/4. Last time they met Back on August 19 the Bluebirds beat Wigan 1-0 in the Welsh capital thanks to a rare goal from Nicky Maynard. The last time the two teams faced off in Wigan was in the Championship way back on August 30, 2004. An Alan Lee penalty proved a consolation for the visitors that day after goals for the Latics from Nathan Ellington and Jason Roberts took the points for the home side. What the managers say Malky Mackay: “It’s nothing other than three points, it’s just another game. Right now we’re doing nothing other than focusing and concentrating on ourselves. It’s the only way that we’re going to get out of what we’re in right now. It’s never about proving a point. I’ve been in football a long time and I’ve had various football clubs. You make friends and you have special moments at every club you’re at. They are the things you hold on to.” Russell Slade: “I’ll feel positive before the match. We are making progress. We’ve only conceded one goal from open play in our last four games. The goals aren’t coming for us, but if we keep playing the way we are then the wins will come. It was frustrating we could not come away with three points against Huddersfield, but there is an honesty and good attitude about the performances.” Who’s the ref? Andy Woolmer (Northamptonshire): Has been in charge of 24 games so far this season and has issued 75 yellow cards, but he is yet to send a player off this campaign. The good news for Cardiff? The last time Woolmer took charge of a Bluebirds match he proved a lucky charm. Back in November he oversaw their 3-1 win over Leeds in the Welsh capital. What will be the result at the DW this evening? Wigan win Draw Cardiff City win Did you know Parity against Sheffield Wednesday, Brighton, Blackburn and Huddersfield means the Bluebirds have now drawn their last four games on the bounce. You do not need to go back too far to find the last time they did that. Cardiff drew the final four games on the 2012-13 season under the leadership of current Latics boss Mackay. The atmosphere during that run though was slightly different to now. In the first draw at home to Charlton the Bluebirds secured promotion to Premier League, in the second, at Burnley, they won the Championship title and a home draw with Bolton and an away draw at Hull were seen out in celebratory fashion. And another thing The Bluebirds look likely not only to face a former manager in Mackay tonight, but also two former players too. Left-back Andrew Taylor should start for the Latics whilst South Korean international Kim Bo-kyung seems set to do similae in midfield. Don Cowie and Leon Barnett are the two other former Bluebirds currently with Wigan. Steve Tucker says An emotional evening really as the Bluebirds face the man that finally delivered the Premier League dream for them. On the pitch though the battle should be fierce and competitive. The Latics are fighting for their lives whilst Slade’s Bluebirds need the points just to give themselves that bit more breathing space. Don’t rule out a fifth Cardiff draw on the bounce here. 1-1.
Just another game for Malky Eh? Another defeat then and it isn't even a Saturday! Wigan Athletic manager Malky Mackay says he has no point to prove against his former club Cardiff City when the two sides meet in the Championship on Tuesday. Mackay was sacked by the Bluebirds in December 2013 having led them to promotion to the Premier League. He is still being investigated by the Football Association after claims he sent texts of a homophobic, racist and sexist nature while at Cardiff. "It's just another game," said Mackay. Cardiff City are 17th in the Championship, seven points above the relegation zone. They travel to next to bottom Wigan to face Mackay for the first time since he was dismissed by Bluebirds' owner Vincent Tan. The Latics are nine points from safety, 13 points behind the Bluebirds who are without a win in their last eight matches. Mackay says although he had good memories of his time in south Wales he is fully focused on trying to avoid relegation. "Right now we are doing nothing other than focusing on ourselves," said the former Scotland, Celtic and West Ham defender. Malky Mackay factfile Born in Bellshill in Scotland on 19 February 1972. Played for Queen's Park, Celtic, Norwich, West Ham and Watford during a professional career spanning 16 years. Earned five caps for Scotland, the first of which came at the age of 32. Took over at Watford in 2009 following the departure of Brendan Rodgers. Left for Cardiff in June 2011 and led club to the League Cup final in 2012 and promotion to the Premier League a year later. Sacked by the Bluebirds in December 2013 with the side only one point above the relegation zone. In August of this year, it was reported Mackay sent texts of a racist, sexist and homophobic nature during his time at Cardiff. Mackay began his managerial career at Watford in 2009 and spent two seasons at Vicarage Road before joining Cardiff. He led the Welsh club to the 2012 League Cup final, which they lost on penalties to Liverpool, and won the Championship title a year later, ending Cardiff's 52-year exile from the English top flight. But Mackay was dismissed in December 2013 with the Bluebirds only one point outside the Premier League relegation zone. Mackay insists he remembers his time with the Bluebirds fondly, despite the way he left the Welsh club and the fall-out since . "It's never about proving a point," he said. "You make friends and you have special moments at every club you're at...and they are the things that you hold onto. "It's a really terrific City and a place a loved living and I have a lot of friends down there. "I have very, very good memories of my time at Cardiff - the fans are sensational and the football team and staff in general all came together and we managed to do something that hadn't been done for 50 years. "I had great times down there. It's absolutely a large part of my life."
Marshall, Ralls, Manga, Morrison, Conolly, Kenedy, Gunner, Whitts, Noone, Doyle and Jones. 2 changes at the back. Is Peltier injured?
What about Peltier, Slade said he had a good game on Saturday, and then he drops him! Doesn't even make the bench.
That'll do...clean sheet and first double of the season! Looks gloomy for Wigan, Blackpool, Milwall and Fulham too!
