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Deep In My Heart
Wigan Athletic vs. Middlesbrough, September 18th 2005, JJB Stadium.
James Keen
I have to take my hat off to Wigan. Well at least I would if it was the 1950's and I actually wore a hat. But the mighty Latics have battled and bundled their way from lower league obscurity to the Premier League, and they've done it without kicking up too much of a fuss.
The Wimbledon for the modern era, Wigan will find themselves in unfamiliar territory this season, namely Stamford Bridge, Old Trafford and Highbury, but their desire to prove the doubters wrong and their sheer will to win may just see them safe this season.
Helped along by the millions made available by JJB Sports owner Dave Whelan, Wigan have mounted their charge to the Premiership with saddle bags brimming with money. But they haven't spent much yet.
With players like Nathan 'The Duke of' Ellington jumping ship in the summer for the more stable shores of West Brom, Athletic have had to delve a little into the coffers and the signing of David Connolly from Leicester for £3million represents a hefty outgoing when you consider Middlesbrough paid a reported £2.5 million for our latest Brazillian saviour, Fabio Rochemback.
But Wigan are likely to utilise some of Uncle Dave's pocket money in January on way or the other, and are more than likely to make some audacious bids, just as they did in the summer: Michael Owen, Josep Guardiola, Dean Windass.
Wigan's strength this season will come not from their money however, but from their organisation and spirit. Paul Jewell has got them all fired up, and after guiding Bradford to safety in his first Premiership campaign he will be looking to do it again.
Shrewd moves for experienced Premier League players like Stephane Henchoz and Arjan De Zeeuw, although unspectacular signal Jewell's desire to sign fighters, scrappers and players who really do need one last shot at the top flight. A potent mix!
Boro should be wary of the threat posed by Wigan, and all the more so after a European week. These Sunday games have so often been the downfall of the Premiership's UEFA and Champions League representatives.
But Boro should be able to equip themselves well after resting the cup-tied Rochemback, captain Southgate, Queudrue and Yakubu. And so we should be looking at a fairly fresh side and one that should be good enough to beat Wigan.
It's likely that after two great performances in the space of six days Massimo Maccarone will be rested making way for Yakubu to step back into the fray. And after his net-busting goal against Arsenal at the weekend he should be chomping at the bit to get at Wigan's backline.
If Boro are to come away from the JJB with something, they've got to out battle the Latics, because it is apparent that Boro have the higher quality and higher pedigree, we just need to make sure we have the higher workrate and higher determination.
It seems, and I say this with great trepidation, as though Boro have learned from the Charlton debacle, and after two straight victories we should really be looking for a third.
Utilising our midfield engine room we should be able to control the game. Although Wigan's highly rated Jimmy Bullard, and former Boro 'favourite' Graham Kavanagh will be doing his best to get in amongst the Boro stars and make them have to play to win this game.
And more importantly, Middlesbrough really have to be careful that they don't turn up expecting a win, because those are the times that the banana skin is let loose, and Boro just can't help but stand on those pesky banana skins!
In the last two games my head and heart have both managed to get a score each spot on, so go with whichever you will. But my head is telling me a 2-1 victory for Boro, while my heart thinks that Wigan's lack of fire power will see us comfortable at 2-0.
Probable Teams;
Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Xavier, Queudrue, Ehiogu, Southgate, Boateng, Rochemback, Johnson, Parlour, Viduka, Yakubu
Wigan Athletic: Pollit, Chimbonda, De Zeeuw, Henchoz, Baines, Bullard, Kavanagh, Francis, McCulloch, Connolly
Form;
Middlesbrough: DLWLWW - Wigan Athletic DWLLWW
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