MATCH PREVIEW | CARDIFF CITY vs WIGAN ATHLETIC
Match Previews
28th October
Cardiff City welcome Wigan Athletic to South Wales on Saturday looking to continue their excellent recent form.
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The Bluebirds have taken seven points from new manager Neil Warnock’s first three games in charge.
THE OPPOSITION
Wigan arrive in the Welsh capital without a win in their previous four Sky Bet Championship matches. The Latics also parted company with manager Gary Caldwell this week after eighteen months in charge.
Wigan’s last league win came at the end of September when they overcame Wolves 2-1 at the DW Stadium. Adam Le Fondre, on loan from the Bluebirds, put the Latics in front and fellow striker, Will Grigg scored the winner with two minutes of the ninety remaining. The Latics lost their most recent game, however, going down 1-0 at home to Brighton and Hove Albion thanks to a second half strike from Dale Stephens.
City will need to be wary of Northern Ireland international Grigg who is the Latic’s top scorer this season with six goals in all competitions. The forward also finished as the League one top goal scorer last season, netting twenty-five times as Wigan were promoted as champions.
CLUB CONNECTIONS
Six members of Cardiff City’s 2012/13 Championship winning side subsequently went on to play for Wigan. Don Cowie, Kim Bo Kyung, Nicky Maynard, Leon Barnett, Andrew Taylor and Kevin McNaughton all made important contributions in that historic campaign before later playing their football at the DW Stadium.
Club legend and former captain Graham Kavanagh left the Bluebirds for the Latics in the January of 2005. The Irishman went on to make nearly 50 appearances for Wigan before moving on to Sunderland in the summer of 2006.
Another City fan favourite, Jason Koumas, joined the Latics on a permanent transfer from West Brom in 2007, having previously lit up Ninian Park with his performances whilst on loan at Cardiff during the 2005/06 campaign. The Wales international then rejoined the Bluebirds, again on loan, from Wigan for the 2010/11 season.
MEMORABLE MEETING
The Bluebirds’ last home win over the Latics took place on 19th August 2014. City came away 1-0 winners with the victory stretching their unbeaten run to three Championship matches.
Cardiff nearly took the lead inside the opening couple of minutes when Aron Gunnarsson fired a shot through a crowd of players that was well saved by Scott Carson in the Wigan goal. After that, the sides frustrated each other with chances at a premium and it was goalless at the interval.
The Bluebirds stepped up their performance as the second half began. Nicky Maynard latched onto Kenwyne Jones’ knock down from a corner and fired the ball home from the edge of the six yard box. The Bluebirds defended well for the rest of the match and saw the game out to secure their first win over the Latics in 12 meetings.
WIGAN FACTS
- Wigan Athletic were founded in 1932, following the winding up of Wigan Borough the previous year.
- In the 2012/13 season, the Latics upset the odds to triumph over Manchester City in the FA Cup Final at Wembley. Ben Watson scored the winner late on to secure a 1-0 victory.
- Wigan were promoted from League One as champions last season. The Latics finished with a total of 87 points, two ahead of runners up Burton Albion.
DON'T MISS A MOMENT!
LISTEN: Supporters can listen in live on Cardiff City Player HD* for all the action from City vs Wigan.
WATCH: Extended highlights of the match will be available to subscribers of Cardiff City Player HD*
SOCIAL: Live updates from CCS will come via our official Twitter account, @CardiffCityFC.
*Search ‘Cardiff City’ on the App Store and Google Play Store to view Cardiff City Player HD on Smart Phones, with content available to subscribers 24/7.
