Against All Odds: Latics to provide tough test for City

The Wigan forward line is looking as potent as it's ever been

Manchester City are long odds-on for their trip to Wigan this evening but with the Premier league champions having drawn four of their six away games this year, Paul Robinson thinks they are a value lay.

Wigan are 15th in the league with 14 points from their opening 13 matches and while that isn't great, it's miles better than their recent standards. Roberto Martinez's side are perennial slow starters but this year they've managed to continue on some of the success they achieved with the 3-4-3 formation they adopted at the back end of last season. 

Jordi Gomez hit the headlines for Wigan in the 3-2 win over Reading on Saturday but from where I was sitting, the Latics improved dramatically for the introduction of Franco Di Santo at half time. He is sure to start on Wednesday as Shaun Maloney is injured, and him, Gomez and Arouna Kone should cause plenty of problems for the City defence.

Roberto Mancini's side are still undefeated in the league and they picked up a decent point at Chelsea under difficult circumstances. My concern about them winning here though is that the Italian manager will likely rotate and I can see him possibly benching Sergio Aguero. I also wonder if Vincent Kompany will be given the night off as he clearly played through the pain barrier at Stamford Bridge. 

City have drawn four of their six away from the Etihad this season and while their defence have been performing better lately, Wigan's three pronged attack have been in good form and I can see them ending their two match clean sheet run. 

Wigan have often raised their game against the so called bigger teams, defeating Manchester United, Spurs, Arsenal and Liverpool in 2012 already. Man City may well be the winner come the final whistle tonight, but there is no way they should be as short as 1.528/15 and that's why I'm making them my lay of the day.   

Recommended Bet
Lay Man City v Wigan @ 1.528/15

2012 P/L (1pt each bet)

Wagered: 271 pts
Returned: 277.17 pts
P/L + 6.17 pts