Wigan vs Portsmouth Preview

Last updated : 23 May 2009 By Jim Bonner
Pompey travel to the JJB Stadium with the prize of 12th place on offer if they can win and Bolton fail to win at Man City.

Wigan were in contention for Europe not so long ago but they have fallen away in dramatic fashion having lost 6 games in 7 after reaching the 40 point mark. Victory for Portsmouth will see them jump the Latics, such has been their fall down the table.

Like Pompey fans, Wiganers will almost certainly be boding farewell to some of their best players after the summer and so tomorrow may be the last time that the players of both Wigan and Pompey will turn out for their clubs.

One player who will not be playing his final game for Wigan is Luis Antonio Valencia who will be missing with a hamstring injury and is 99% certain to leave the club in the summer.

Paul Scharner, Mido and Chris Kirkland are also doubtful for the Latics whilst Amr Zaki will also be missing after Steve Bruce decided against signing him permanently because of his attitude problems.

David James and Niko Kranjcar won't be available to Paul Hart who may be in charge of the team for the last time. David Nugent is booked in for surgery on Tuesday but may grit his teeth and feature in the match tomorrow as I can't see Jermaine Pennant making an appearance.

The biggest talking point of Paul Hart's team selection will be whether Kanu features at all for Pompey because he is entitled to a new one year deal if he makes an appearance tomorrow, having made the number required to trigger the clause in his contract.

Hart has also stated that he will be more cautious after the second half against
Sunderland on Monday. So it will be interesting to see if the goalscorers in that game will start tomorrow. I expect Armand Traore may start on the left but John Utaka will be left on the bench.

I can't see this being a great game as both teams canter to the end of the campaign despite their respective managers asking the players to dig deep. At least we can be comforted in the fact we don't support one of the four clubs taking part in "Survival Sunday" tomorrow.

Given what has happened this season a 12th place finish would be something of an achievement. If we fail to win and Blackburn get a result against West Brom tomorrow then we will finish 15th.

It has been dramatic and at times very painful but at around 5:45pm tomorrow afternoon it will all be over.

Predicted Starting Line-Ups

Wigan

GK: Richard KINGSON

RB: Mario MELCHIOT
CB: Titus BRAMBLE
CB: Emmerson BOYCE
LB: Maynor FIGUEROA

RM: Jason KOUMAS
CM: Lee CATTERMOLE
CM: Michael BROWN
LM: Charles N'ZOGBIA

CF: Olivier KAPO
CF: Hugo RODALLEGA

Pompey

GK: Asmir BEGOVIC

RB: Younes KABOUL
CB: Sol CAMPBELL
CB: Sylvain DISTIN
LB: Hermann HREIDARSSON

RM: Glen JOHNSON
CM: Sean DAVIS
CM: Richard HUGHES
CM: Hayden MULLINS
LM: Armand TRAORE

CF: Peter CROUCH

Last Time: Wigan Athletic 0 Pompey 2

Benjani scored a late goal from Sulley Muntari's cross to give Pompey the lead and Glen Johnson scored his first goal for the club minutes later to wrap up the win against Chris Hutchings' side.

Pundit Watch

Lawro: Home Win (2-1)
Sky Sports: Draw (0-0)
Soccernet: Home Win

My Prediction: With both sides safe I can only see a bore draw here as the players will be looking forward to their holidays and wondering where they'll be playing next season.

Wigan Athletic 0 Pompey 0