Wigan Athletic FC

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• Founded:1932
• Manager:Roberto Martinez

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Preview: Wigan v Chelsea

19 Aug 2010 - 13:39:32

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After just one game of the Premier League season, there could not be more of a contrast in the fortunes of Wigan Athletic and Chelsea who meet at the DW Stadium on Saturday evening.

Roberto Martinez will have been distraught after his Latics side were humbled 4-0 on home soil by newly-promoted Blackpool last Saturday.

Last season's Championship play-off victors were supposed to be the whipping boys this term, but it was the Seasiders who served up the hammering on their Premier League debut.

Wigan's defence was all at sea from start to finish while the usually reliable Chris Kirkland had a nightmare between the sticks.

In contrast, Carlo Ancelotti's FA Cup and Premier League holders smashed West Bromwich Albion 6-0 at Stamford Bridge to show they mean business once again.

Sharp-shooting Didier Drogba notched a hat-trick, Florent Malouda grabbed a brace and England midfielder Frank Lampard got in on the act in London and they will be hoping for more of the same in the north-west this weekend.

You wouldn't bet against them either. With John Terry and Alex combining to make a powerful defensive partnership, Michael Essien and John Obi Mikel dominating the midfield and Nicolas Anelka acting as Drogba's foil in attack, the Blues look capable of going all the way again this campaign.

The visitors are still without Portuguese full-back Jose Bosingwa, but he is nearing a return from his long-standing knee injury.

Latics skipper Gary Caldwell (knee) is unavailable and Martinez will be hoping he makes a quick return to shore up the leaky defence.

Wigan enjoyed a fine win against the Blues at the DW Stadium last term when they beat their illustrious opponents 3-1.

Titus Bramble opened the scoring before Drogba levelled just minutes after the interval. Disaster struck for Chelsea though when goalkeeper Peter Cech was dismissed for bringing down Hugo Rodallega.

The striker dusted himself down before smashing the resulting penalty past substitute shot-stopper Hilario and Paul Scharner put the match beyond doubt when he slid home the third in stoppage time.

At Stamford Bridge, things couldn't have gone any worse for Wigan or any better for Chelsea as the hosts stomped to a fantastic 8-0 win on the final day of the season that ensured the Premier League title would return to the club.

Anelka opened the floodgates inside six minutes before Caldwell was dismissed. Lampard scored from the spot to make it 2-0 at the interval but Ancelotti's side ran riot in the second half.

Salomon Kalou added a third before Anelka got his second just moments later. Drogba notched before adding a penalty and, with ten minutes to go, he grabbed the match ball when he nailed his hat-trick.

England left-back Ashley Cole completed the scoring in the final minute when he steamed in to the end Chelsea's campaign on a massive high.