Premier League: West Bromwich Albion v Wigan Athletic match preview

A look ahead to this weekend's Premier League fixture at The Hawthorns

Wigan's Callum McManaman, second right, celebrates with team mates after he scored to put his team 2-1 up early in the second half (Getty Images)

Wigan will travel down to the Midlands this weekend looking to gain maximum points in the fight to avoid the drop. A late Emerson Boyce own-goal last weekend prevented the Latics from taking all three points against Spurs and leaves them five points adrift of safety.

Roberto Martinez’s side are still to play Swansea, Arsenal and Aston Villa and will cite Saturday’s fixture as an opportunity to narrow the gap on their relegation rivals. Wigan are also in the odd position of having to prepare for an FA Cup final in the middle of their four remaining fixtures. Whether this will prove a distraction ahead of this weekend’s game remains to be seen.

West Brom currently sit comfortably in 8th place. However, last week’s 3-0 win against Southampton suggests Steve Clarke’s side will be looking to amass as many points as possible from their remaining games. Their supporters will look for a repeat performance of the reverse fixture in November, a 2-1 away win for the Baggies.

KICK-OFF:Saturday, 3pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Wigan 1 (Kone) West Brom 2 (Morrison, Caldwell), Premier League, November 2012

Wigan 1 (McArthur) West Brom 1 (Scharner), Premier League, March 2012

West Brom 1 (Reid) Wigan 2 (Moses, Gomez), Premier League, December 2011

STATS…

In the last five league games between the two sides, West Brom have only managed one win and that was this season’s reverse fixture.

The Baggies have to look back to the 08/09 season for their last win against Wigan at the Hawthorns.

Wigan have kept a clean sheet in all four of their away wins this season.

Wigan on average concede 1.65 goals per away game, two goals per home game.

ODDS…

West Brom to win: 2.37

Wigan to win: 3

Draw: 3.3

TV: highlights on BBC1 at 10.30pm.