FA Cup Final: Mancini must decide on Dzeko or Aguero

9May 2013

FA Cup

After both final contestants played in midweek, Christian Crowther assesses the squads ahead of their Wembley showdown...

It's fair to say that Wigan's Wembley audition at home to Swansea in the Premier League did not go according to plan on Tuesday night.

Roberto Martinez was left to bemoan his side's calamitous defending in the 3-2 defeat at the DW Stadium which leaves the Latics three points adrift with only two games left to play.

Unsurprisingly, that damaging defeat sees Wigan rated 1.33 favourites to finally drop through the Premier League trapdoor.

Gary Caldwell's recall after injury was supposed to shore things up at the back but the experienced Scotsman was responsible for a woefully loose clearance which gifted Swansea their second equaliser.

Wigan's misery was further compounded by a suspected leg-break for substitute right-back Ronnie Stam who lasted under a minute after replacing Emmerson Boyce in the closing stages.

All these defensive injuries do not bode well for the FA Cup final on Saturday, for which Wigan are understandably priced as big 9.6 outsiders to win inside 90 minutes.

However, the Latics can take great heart from their display at the Etihad recently where they finally succumbed 1-0 after playing the better football for the majority of the contest.

With relegation now technically out of their hands, the underdogs can throw the shackles off for the full 90 minutes and give it their best shot.

There were no such troubles for their Wembley opponents Man City as they pulled through by that same 1-0 scoreline against West Brom to ensure they will definitely be competing in the Champions League next season.

Interestingly, in the light of Sir Alex Ferguson's impending retirement, Man City's have shortened to slight favourites at 3.0 to claim the title back in 2013/14.

Meanwhile, Edin Dzeko, the scorer of City's winner against the Baggies has given Roberto Mancini a headache over who to select up top come Saturday.

Dzeko was an unused sub in the semi-final against Chelsea after starting many of the earlier rounds but has certainly staked his claim with that goal.

It looks to be a straight choice between the Bosnian and Sergio Aguero, who scored the decider in the semi against Chelsea and, perhaps tellingly, got a full rest last night.

After sticking with second choice stopper Costel Pantilimon throughout this year's competition, Mancini has confirmed his intention to stick with the Romanian.