Starting Line-Up:
(4-5-1) Al-Habsi
Boyce Caldwell Alcaraz Figueroa
Watson
McCarthy Diame
Gomez Moses
Di Santo
Result: 0-0
Man of the Match: Jordi Gomez
It is safe to say that my prediction’s for this fixture did not come to pass. Having expected an open, end-to-end fixture with several goals, I was ultimately disappointed by the quality of this match. Whilst Swansea dominated possession in the opening stages, they rarely posed a real threat to the Wigan goal. Interestingly, on the rare occasions which Swansea managed to translate their possession to chances, it was often Nathan Dyer who created them down the right-hand side with Scott Sinclair cutting a peripheral figure out on the left. This could be something to consider for Fantasy Premier League managers.
Roberto Martinez sprung a surprise with his team selection by recalling Antolin Alcaraz following his Copa America exertions. However, it later emerged that his reintroduction was enforced by Antonio Lopez’s failure to recover from the Basil Fawlty style knock to the head he suffered against Norwich on the opening day. The fact that Martinez may have been forced to rush Alcaraz back sooner than planned became plain when the Paraguayan was forced off with a serious looking calf injury.
One positive to emerge from this game for Wigan was the performance of Jordi Gomez. Often a much maligned player amongst the Wigan faithful, Gomez looked Wigan’s most likely source of a goal in the absence of Hugo Rodallega, who was again resigned to the bench for the best part of seventy minutes. Gomez even upstaged the much discussed Victor Moses in this particular fixture. Furthermore, there is a small possibility that Gomez could benefit from Ben Watson’s missed penalty. Martinez has been known to switch unsuccessful penalty takers in the past and Gomez has been known to take them on occasion for both Wigan and Swansea.
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