Opta Big Match Stats: Wigan to win ugly over Magpies

 

As Newcastle make the trip to the DW Stadium, Christian Crowther uses the Opta stats to give three tips on Sunday's televised clash...

 

Wigan average 2.5 points per Barclays Premier League home game against Newcastle, more than they do against any other team they've played more than twice

Wigan may have ventured into unchartered territory in terms of an FA Cup semi-final, but in the Premier League at least, it's very much service as normal. Wigan are the perennial escapologists of the English top-flight and, right on cue, here they are again, staring down the barrel with ten games left to play. Luckily for Roberto Martinez, this is the time of year when his side roll their socks up and start collecting those previously elusive points. Sunday's visitors Newcastle have not enjoyed these trips to the DW Stadium much either; having lost in six of their last seven attempts, including a 4-0 hammering last season.

Recommended Bet: Back Wigan to win @ 2.32

 

The Magpies have scored just two goals in six trips to the DW Stadium

While Newcastle are in good form at St James' Park, winning their last two three games, the Magpies have not been nearly as effective on the road. Alan Pardew's side have won just twice all season away from the north east, suffering two straight road defeats in the league. The main obstacle to victory for the Toon is a lack of goals. Newcastle have not managed to find the back of the net away from home in three hours of football. A large part of that problem is top scorer Papiss Cisse's recent good form in front of his fans has not been replicated away. Wigan's turf has not made for fertile pasture in the past either.

Recommended Bet: Lay Newcastle to score two or more goals @ 2.7

 

Wigan have gone 15 home games without a clean sheet in the league, conceding 33 goals in that period

While Wigan may be set to triumph, with stats like the above, it's hard to envisage Ali Al Habsi lasting the whole afternoon without retrieving the ball from his net. Keeping clean sheets is a habit that Wigan's defenders have rarely got into and this is backed up by the fact that the Latics have conceded more goals in 2013 than any other Premier League side (20) and have the fewest home points this season (10). Individual errors have often cost Wigan and, as Opta point out, Emmerson Boyce has contributed his fair share having misplaced more passes in his defensive third than any other Premier League player this season (28).

Recommended Bet: Back Wigan to win 2-1 @ 10.0

 

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