Premiership / Dan Fitch / 17 October 2009 / Leave a comment Bet Now

The erratic Wigan Athletic will be looking to rise to the occasion when they face Manchester City, just as they did against Chelsea. However, Dan 'The Betting Man' Fitch expects a City win. Best Bet: Over 2.5 goals @ [1.96]

To be fourth in the league, with a game in hand on their rivals, represents a successful start to the season for Manchester City.

If they are to build on their flying start then it is vital that City pick up regular points on the road. Having lost to Manchester United and drawn with Aston Villa in their last two away games, Mark Hughes' side are due a win.

On Sunday they travel to the DW Stadium to face Wigan, who are the sort of side that these days City are expected to beat. City's away form was abysmal last season and this is where they must improve, to be able to gatecrash the top four.

Wigan may provide stiff opposition, or they may not. It's hard to say with Roberto Martinez's steam, who have beaten the likes of Villa and Chelsea this season, but have also lost to Wolves and Hull.

Martinez's side face a struggle to survive this term. Their squad was severely depleted last January when their star players Palacios, Heskey and Taylor all left, before Lee Cattermole departed in the summer.

New signings such as Jason Scotland and Jordi Gomez have followed Martinez from Swansea, but are still finding their feet in the Premier League. In terms of quality, the Wigan squad looks lighter than most in this division.

Yet the Lactics do go into this game with history on their side. In the 8 games that Wigan have played against City in the Premier League, the Lactics have won 5, drawn 2 and lost only once.

Their home record against Manchester City is particularly impressive, with 3 wins and just 1 draw. Of course though, this is a different City side that we are talking about these days and as I have mentioned, improving their way form is paramount to their hopes of success.

A price that must be paid for having such a talented squad is that the majority of your players will be called away for international duty, which can lead to injuries. City come into this game from the international break, with their defence looking considerably depleted.

Toure, Lescott, Zabaleta and Bridge will all face fitness tests, while Kompany and Onouha and definitely out. Nigel de Jong is a doubt in midfield and Robinho will not play, but City will certainly be looking menacing in attack, with Adebayor, Bellamy and Tevez all available.

Adebayor is [5.8] to score first and [2.4] to score anytime, with Belamy at [7.0] and [2.68] and Tevez at [7.0] and [2.9].

Wigan have a full squad to choose from and have Hugo Rodallega available at [9.8] and [3.9], with the on loan Scott Sinclair [17.5] and [6.4].

In the match odds Wigan are [5.0], with the draw [3.7] and City [1.87]. I think that this is a little short for an away win, but I still reckon City will win. I fancy the draw/Manchester City at [5.4], with City/City also available at [3.1].

This game certainly has the potential for goals and over 2.5 looks value at [1.96], with unders at [2.0]. a 2-1 City win is at [9.2], with 3-1 at [18.5].

To view a clip of betting.betfair's very own James Eastham and former Portsmouth striker Steve Claridge discussing the betting for this match click here.