please log in to view this image WIGAN v WATFORD please log in to view this image Venue: DW Stadium Date: 17th March 2015 Kick Off 19:45 GMT please log in to view this image Jason Taylor, Wigan season-ticket holder for almost 40 years: "We were shaking buckets to pay the wages at one point, and he's took us from that all the way up to the Premier League, a new stadium, a League Cup final and winning the FA Cup. It's been a good ride." The 78-year-old Dave Whelan has handed over the running of the club to his 23 year old grandson, although he will remain the owner. Given Wigan's amazing rise from the fourth tier to the Premier League and FA Cup victory under his stewardship, Whelan's legacy should have been assured, yet in the final days things were soured by some of his comments. Dave Whelan appointed Malky Mackay as their new manager in November 2014. Mackay remains under investigation by the FA over alleged "sexist, racist and homophobic" text messages he sent while in charge of Cardiff City. Malky is not exactly going down well with the fans either. "It was time wasting tactics from the first minute that made it an awful game to watch. If he manages to keep us up I'd still want shot of him in the close season. He's stealing a living." and "At the weekend, after the players had applauded the away support he started walking over, clapping, and the fans started booing - so he turned on his heel." TEAM NEWS: Wigan's top scorer James McClean is suspended as they seek a first home win in seven months against Watford.The Republic of Ireland international has accrued 10 yellow cards this season and misses the visit of Malky Mackay's old club. Liverpool forward Jerome Sinclair could make his debut for Latics, after the teenager joined on loan for the remainder of the season on Monday. Leon Clarke (hamstring) will return to swell Mackay's attacking options too but Grant Holt (knee) and Emyr Huws (ankle) will not play again until next season. Watford will be without midfielder Almen Abdi, who lasted just seven minutes against Reading on Saturday before suffering a recurrence of his hamstring injury, but defender Tommie Hoban returns from suspension and striker Odion Ighalo is expected to be available after a hamstring problem. Midfielder Sean Murray is still out as he recovers from a knee operation. The head coach Slavisa Jokanovic thoughts about the game. "I say as I say before; we must be totally focused on the challenge in front of us and this is Wigan," "It will be a hard game - 100 per cent guaranteed. And if we are not 100 per cent ready, then we will be in trouble. "There is a bad pitch at Wigan and we must be ready to win however we can. Wigan will try to do the same, of course. "We have an opportunity to win tomorrow - it is nothing more than this. And these are only words, the real chance comes through action." Match Facts. • Watford won the earlier meeting this season 2-1 at Vicarage Road in December. • Watford have never won at Wigan in any competition, drawing two and losing five of the seven meetings there. • Malky Mackay's side have won three of their last four games, after winning only three of their previous 29 games in all competitions. • Wigan have not triumphed in any of their last 15 home games, losing nine. Their last win at the DW Stadium was 4-0 against Birmingham on 30 August. • Watford have won four of their last five games, drawing the other. Their last defeat was 3-0 against Norwich at home on 21 February. • They have won three of their last four away games, drawing the other. Their last defeat on the road was 2-0 at Bournemouth on 30 January. 1 Bournemouth 37 39 69 2 Watford 37 31 69 3 Middlesbrough 37 31 69 4 Derby 37 29 67 5 Norwich 37 31 66 6 Brentford 37 11 62 7 Ipswich 37 14 61 8 Wolves 37 6 59 Wherever you are in the world enjoy the game #fornicforpromotion
http://thisnorthernsoul.co.uk/2015/03/watford-vs-wigan-athletic-match-preview/? It would seem, from this preview, that we are going to win this by default. The reviewer suggests that the Wigan players will be turning up at the Vic on Tuesday. Edit. Doh! I've just realised that it is deliberate. Possibly because they think they would have a better chance if it were at the Vic.
nice thread malky has got them fired up so it will not be easy so long as we get the 1 st goal so that some of the heads drop
Wigan have taken one of our youngsters on loan. Josh Murphy, a very pacey winger, he's played several times for us this term, when we knocked you out of the cup a couple of years ago, he scored our first goal as we came from behind to win!
I have to say loaning players to clubs that happen to be playing your rivals in the same league seems like a far bigger abuse of the system than our use of international transfers of a couple of years ago for which we were vilified. Not a criticism of Norwich as the majority of clubs are doing it.
I'm happy he's getting game time, I just wish it wasn't against you! I genuinely want us both to go up!
Poor pitch at Wigan. Think we will use width and get crosses in as well as more use of through balls and less dawdling about passing difficult balls 20 yards across the back. 1-3 Watford
Long way to go blah blah blah (no there isn't!) but if we are 4 points clear of Boro & Derby AFTER Sat, (which is realistically achievable given the fixtures) then we could afford to draw with BOTH of them, and still be in top 2 - although we need to ensure our GD stays ahead of them both. It would be great if Blackburn could win their next 2 league fixtures - and so get Mgr of month !
The most important thing is we don't have that horrible bloomin' Lancashire curse hanging over us having won 2 there this term for the first time since Moses was a boy. Let's make it 3 please lads.
yes it would be nice to get some space between us and bro & derby but it looks like bourmounth and norwich will be our big problem to get that 2ond spot
Today, is it! Thanks for the thread OFH, educational as well as well written! The games come quick in this league! COYH COYH COYH ! Number 9 in the big marathon countdown to attempted promotion!!
ah, just realised today is Tuesday! Monday was a national Holiday here, hence my confusion. Ahahahahahah see you later Monday, hello short week! COYH!
Yes we should win, but there is a giant banana skin waiting for us. Wigan will be desperate to pick up some points and I think will try and disrupt our passing game. When that happens we do tend to lose our composure. They have beaten some decent sides lately away from home, and there has to be a time when their dismal home form changes. Not tonight I hope.
If Watford win tonight and Charlton Athletic lose then they will become the highest seated team who cannot catch us this season with the remaining games. Things are so different now not going to the last few games to be sure of status for next season.
They haven't won at home since I don't know when. We haven't won at their place EVER. One dismal record will change today unless it is a draw, which is no good to either side. The pitch is poor. Both coaches are canny. (Can a Serb be canny? It is a word I usually only associate with Scots.) The match will either be a free flowing, attacking spectacle, or a dour 4th division type slog.
