Premier League Preview: Wigan - Chelsea

Red Hot Blues Visit Latics With A Point To Prove

Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Chelsea have been basking in the glow of an emphatic 4-0 opening day victory at home to Portsmouth all week, while Steve Bruce’s Wigan have been itching for the opportunity to put the record straight after losing 2-1 at West Ham. The Latics effectively gifted the game to the Hammers by conceding twice inside the opening ten minutes; but they came back strongly, halved the deficit and should have left east London with at least a point. They will be looking top start the season afresh on their own patch at Sunday lunchtime.

Over in west London last Sunday, it all went like clockwork on Scolari’s Premier League baptism. But how best to interpret that clinical mauling of FA Cup winners Pompey? Chelsea were dazzling in the opening 45 minutes, slicing through a Portsmouth side who were not at the races. The contrast between Scolari‘s side and those of Avram Grant and Jose Mourinho was striking: same formidable defence but a midfield playing with unaccustomed creativity and fluidity. It was entertainment of the sort they are more used to at Ashburton Grove than Stamford Bridge: Chelsea playing with a touch of Brazilian panache that would have warmed at least one Russian heart.

The margin of their victory propelled Chelsea to the top of the embryonic Premier League table, and promised a credible, sustained and at last attractive assault on the title that Manchester United relieved them of in 2006-7 and kept them from snatching back in 2007-08. Scolari could scarcely have asked for a better start to the English phase of an illustrious career. But Portsmouth, on the day, were feeble opposition. Much sterner challenges lie ahead, and indeed some of the Blues’ superstars looked distinctly ordinary in England shirts in midweek. So as always a sense of perspective is advisable.

Nevertheless, it would be astonishing if Chelsea were not pushing Manchester United - as well as Arsenal and Liverpool - every step of the way until May. So Bruce knows that his Wigan side, strengthened over the summer, will be given a thorough examination on Sunday, and will nee to be at the best to pass that test. Bruce was left frustrated Dean Ashton struck twice early on to leave Wigan with a mountain to climb before they‘d even broken sweat.

Bruce said afterwards: "We're disappointed with the way we started. We prided ourselves last season on being disciplined and hard to beat.

"I'm delighted with the way we played but for the first 15 minutes. We gifted them the game - that's the disappointing thing." The best laid plans, and all that sort of thing. Bruce has also had to fend off speculation that Wilson Palacios and Olivier Kapo might be leaving before the transfer window closes on August 31st. At the same time, by way of contrast, Chelsea continued their pursuit of Brazilian forward Robinho, having a bid of just under £20million for the player rejected by Real Madrid, who insist he will stay, while the player himself has made it clear that he wants to leave the Bernabeu and sign for compatriot Scolari.

Starts In Historical Perspective

Chelsea have won both of their opening Premier League fixtures in all but one of the last five seasons, and will be looking to do just that at the JJB. In fact it was Jose Mourinho’s Blues who inflicted a 1-0 defeat on Paul Jewell’s Wigan on their first-ever game in the Premier League. That was in August 2005 at the JJB, when Argentine striker Hernan Crespo finally broke the Latics’ determined resistance in the 90^th minute.

In fact Wigan have lost their opening fixture in each of their four seasons to date on the top flight; but they have only been beaten in their first two fixtures of a Premier League season once - in that inaugural 2005-06 campaign.

Chelsea are unbeaten for 22 Premier League matches - the longest current undefeated sequence in the top-flight. They are also looking for their fourth straight away league win. But Bruce can point to the teams’ last meeting, in April, for a confidence boost. That was when Wigan ended Chelsea's 100% Premier League record over them, when Emile Heskey scored an injury-time equaliser at Stamford Bridge in a 1-1 draw that, in hindsight, probably cost the Blues the title.

FORM GUIDE

Bruce steered the Latics from the bottom of the Premier League to 14^th place last season; now they go into Sunday’s clash in 15^th, after just one game of the current campaign - that 1-2 loss at West Ham, when Zaki scored a superb debut goal. They are one of nine clubs who go into the second match day without a point on the board.

Chelsea started their campaign with a bang, their thumping of Portsmouth putting them top of the table with a goal difference of plus four - goals scored by Joe Cole, Nicolas Anelka, Frank Lampard (a penalty) and debutant Deco. Joint top-scorers along with Aston Villa, Chelsea are also one of three clubs who have yet to concede a goal; the other two are fellow-Big Four members Arsenal and Liverpool.

It was Arsenal last beat Chelsea in the League - 1-0 at the Emirates December 16^th last year. That remains Chelsea’s only defeat in 32 League matches

Last Five Results

Wigan

July 29 Barnsley 0-6 Wigan (Friendly)
Aug 02 Sheffield Wednesday 2-3 Wigan (Friendly)
Aug 05 Hibernian 0-1 Wigan (Friendly)
Aug 10 FC Utrecht 0-2 Wigan (Friendly)
Aug 16 West Ham 2-1 Wigan (Premier League)

Chelsea

July 26 Chengdu Blades 0-7 Chelsea (Friendly)
July 29 Malaysia All-Stars XI 0-2 Chelsea (Friendly)
Aug 01 Lokomotiv Moscow 1-1 Chelsea (Railways Cup) (lost 4-5 on pens)
Aug 03 AC Milan 0-5 Chelsea (Railways Cup)
Aug 17 Chelsea 4-0 Portsmouth (Premier League)

TEAM NEWS

Wigan

Bruce has no fresh injury worries, striker Emile Heskey having returned from England international duty unscathed. The Latics’ boss also has Ryan Taylor available after his recovery from a shin injury. Erik Edman is out with a knee ligament injury and is expected back in October after resuming light training this week.
Squad: Kirkland, Melchiot, Boyce, Scharner, Figueroa, Valencia, Cattermole, Palacios, Kapo, Heskey, Zaki, Bramble, Brown, De Ridder, Kilbane, Koumas, Taylor, Camara, Sibierski, Montrose, Nash, Pollitt.
Possible Starting XI: Kirkland, Melchiot, Scharner, Boyce, Figueroa, Valencia, Cattermole, Palacios, Kapo, Heskey, Zaki.

Chelsea 

Midfielder Michael Ballack has been struggling to overcome an ankle injury he picked up in the first half against Portsmouth. "He will not train until Friday after which another evaluation will be made," a statement read earlier this week; but he has responded well to treatment and could start. Fellow midfielder Michael Essien could also be fit. If Ballack is not available to start, Florent Malouda is likely to start after coming on as substitute last Sunday. Strikers Didier Drogba (knee) and Andriy Shevchenko (groin) are both out, but Salomon Kalou is available after returning from the Olympics. League.
Squad: Cech, Cudicini, Bosingwa, Belletti, Terry, Carvalho, Alex, A Cole, J Cole, Lampard, Essien, Ballack, Deco, Mikel, Anelka, Wright-Phillips, Malouda, Di Santo.
Possible Starting XI: Cech, Bosingwa, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Ballack or Malouda, Lampard, Obi, Deco, Joe Cole, Anelka.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Wigan

Dutch defender Mario Melchiot will be facing his former club, having made 165 appearances for Chelsea (130 of them in the League) and scored five goals during his five seasons with the Blues from June 1999 until July 2004.

Chelsea

A key player for Chelsea could be Nicolas Anelka, who represented three clubs in the north-West (Liverpool, Manchester City, Bolton). Anelka‘s pace is likely to be a threat to Wigan, especially if the midfielders can release him with through-balls or passes over the top.

PREDICTION

The good news for Chelsea, apart from the momentum of their fine start, is that the notorious JJB pitch will be in decent condition this early in the season. On their first home game of the campaign the Latics can be expected to set about Chelsea, but Scolari’s team are experienced and talented, and should be able to cope with what Wigan throw at them. And if things don’t look like going according to plan, Scolari will have some heavyweight options on the bench to mix things up.

Wigan 1-2 Chelsea