Once again, Wigan will be playing minus Gary Caldwell – serving the 2nd game of a 3-match suspension.
After missing the last three matches due to a back injury, Emmerson Boyce may be well enough to return while a final decision is still pending on Hendry Thomas’ ability to play.
On a positive note for Portsmouth, Anthony Vanden Borre will be returning after a suspension but Nadir Belhadj and Tal Ben Haim with both remain sidelined.
Danny Webber and Hermann Hreidarsson will both be out for the rest of the season.
Wigan Player Status:
Injured: Richard Kingson
Suspended: Gary Caldwell
Doubtful: Boyce (back injury), Thomas (unspecified)
Portsmouth Player Status:
Injured: Belhadj (pulled hamstring), Ben Haim (groin injury), Hreidarsson (Achilles tendon), Webber (knee injury)
After a horrible season, Portsmouth is sorely anticipating the prospect of an FA cup at season’s end.
The Portsmouth club may be down – but their fans certainly aren’t as boss Avram Grant’s team maintains their ability to play with pride.
With the drop zone just 4 points after the weekend’s results, this is the kind of game that fixture hosts Wigan are not looking forward to with the gap between them.
Roberto Martinez’s players are finding themselves facing increasing pressure with the demands of matching the fire that Portsmouth demonstrated at Wembley. If not, we may well be seeing these two sides face off against each other in the Championship next season.
Some other interesting points:
- By beating Liverpool and Burnley 1-0, the Latics have won 2 of their last 3 home games. These are their only victories in the last 13 Premier League games.
- In their last 13 Premier League games, Roberto Martinez’s club has failed to score more than one goal.
- Wigan threw away 19 league points this season. A dubious feat only matched in the Premier League by Stoke.
Watch: 18th April: Wigan v Arsenal, 13:30
