Cardiff City v. Wigan Athletic - Match Preview

The Latics were tipped by many to be dark horses for the division this season, and with an ambitious chairman, manager and players there is belief at the JJB Stadium that the club can go up to the Premiership at the first time of asking.

Wigan currently sit 2nd in the First Division table, taking an impressive twenty points from their opening nine league fixtures, and only a single goal on goal difference denies Paul Jewell's side a place at the top of the division. Challenging for promotion is nothing new to Wigan supporters. The Latics outclassed everyone in Division Two last season, cruising to the title with a phenomenal 100 points, and they had appeared in the divisions Playoffs 3 times in the 5 years before their title win.

The Latics came up to the Second Division in 1996/1997 after winning the basement title on goal difference to Fulham, and since then the Lancashire outfit have gone from strength to strength.

Lennie Lawrence is expected to name an unchanged line-up to the one that eased passed Crewe on Saturday, with Graham Kavanagh the only slight doubt for the City boss. The Bluebirds skipper picked up a knock on the weekend, but is almost certain to shake it off for tomorrow's game.

This will leave the Cardiff City line-up as follows:
Alexander, Weston, Vidmar, Gabbidon, Barker, Langley, Boland, Kavanagh, Bonner, Earnshaw and Thorne.

John Robinson still hasn't recovered from a groin problem and with Jason Bowen, Layton Maxwell and Gareth Whalley all also injured, City are struggling with the fitness of their midfielders. Alan Lee is also still recovering from injury, after undergoing a cartilage operation, and will not be back to first-team affairs for a couple of weeks yet.

Wigan have only one doubt for the clash, with Lee McCulloch unlikely to start after sustaining a head injury in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Coventry City at Highfield Road. Jason Jarrett would replace McCulloch, while Stephen McMillan is fit again after recovering from a groin strain.

The last meeting between the two sides was the 0-0 stalemate in City's last home league game of last season. Wigan, who had already been crowned champions, fielded a weak side due to a large number of injuries, but a solid defence stood firm and kept the City attack out to deny the Bluebirds any chance of automatic promotion.

The game at the JJB Stadium ended in a 2-2 draw, with Robert Earnshaw hitting a brace for the visitors. City's previous visit to Wigan before that was the game that turned the 2001/2002 season. City were hammered 4-0 in Alan Cork's last game in charge of the Bluebirds, and Lennie Lawrence took over and began a miracle turnaround with a scrappy 1-0 victory over Bury, as City made it into the Playoffs, only for Stoke City to knock us out in the most dramatic fashion.

One to Watch - Geoff Horsfield
The Wigan striker was linked with a move to the Bluebirds before joining Wigan for a fee believed to be in the region of £1,000,000. Horsfield has already made a major impact at the JJB, and is strike partnership with former Bristol Rovers attacker Nathan Ellington is looking one of the best in the league.

Bluebird to the Bone Prediction - Cardiff City 1-0 Wigan Athletic
I can see City getting a vital victory tomorrow against a strong Wigan side, although expect a tough time along the way! Robert Earnshaw to be on the scoresheet.

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