Opta Big Match Stats: Man City to clinically beat Wigan

Vincent Kompany shrugs off Fernando Torres on Sunday

Christian Crowther recommends three bets as the champions aim to equal last season's 14-game unbeaten start against Wigan...

Wigan v Manchester City (Wednesday 20:00, Sky Sports 2)

Manchester City have won six and lost none of their last seven Premier League games against Wigan
Wigan may have beaten Reading at the death on Saturday but, with Manchester City the next visitors at the DW Stadium, it's difficult to see another Jordi Gomez hat-trick making the headlines. The Latics have fared particularly badly against the champions in recent times as the above-mentioned stat highlights and, in that run of seven games, Wigan have only found the net once. In fact, they have failed to score in the last five, with last season's meetings producing a 1-0 Manchester City win in this fixture and a 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium. Four clean sheets in five league games for Roberto Mancini's side suggests it will be a mightily tough task for the hosts to penetrate here.

Carlos Tevez has scored four goals in five Premier League games for Man City against Wigan
After starting on the bench against Real Madrid and then Chelsea on Sunday, Carlos Tevez should be in line for a starting berth against Wigan. Especially if anyone has mentioned this particular stat which weighs in the Argentine's favour. This fixture coincided with Tevez's extended period of absence last season, though the season before that, he grabbed the opener in a 2-0 win. Although the controversial striker has been a little sporadic with his goalscoring this season, Mancini will be aware his last start rewarded the Italian with a brace against Aston Villa.

If City avoid defeat in this game they will match their unbeaten start of 14 unbeaten last season - only two teams (Arsenal twice and Man United) have gone on longer unbeaten runs at the start of a Premier League season
Manchester City will need no reminding they're nearing their unbeaten record from last season and surpassing it will surely be on the players' minds. For City, knowing that they then went on to win the title from a similarly robust start last time around makes equalling the feat an important psychological milestone to reach. As if the omens and recent history against the champions are not daunting enough for the home team to contend with, this extra motivational factor will only serve to make the Latics' task tougher. City have not pummelled opponents on the road, averaging only 1.17 goals per league game, though they have scored twice in three out of six away assignments.

Recommended Bets:
Back Manchester City to win to nil @ 2.8815/8
Back Carlos Tevez to score @ 2.11n/a
Back Manchester City to win 2-0 @ 9.28/1