Tough fixture list to condemn Wigan to relegation

Wigan’s upcoming home game with Aston Villa may take on even greater importance as they have now become joint favourites to finish in the bottom three this season.

Roberto Martinez’s men remain third from bottom after their 3-0 defeat at Arsenal and are now 4/7 in the Premier League betting odds to be relegated this season.

Part of the reason for this could be because Aston Villa gave themselves some breathing space from the drop zone with a win over Manchester City, but the fixture list also looks reasonably unkind to Wigan for the remainder of the campaign.

Although they have some massive home games to come against many of the teams battling relegation around them, they also have to travel away to the leading title contenders.

Wigan may have got their trip to the Emirates out of the way, but away clashes at Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea are still to come and can virtually be written off as fixtures where they are 99 per cent certain to lose.

This will put added pressure on their home games, particularly as Aston Villa, West Ham, Blackburn and Birmingham are all yet to visit the DW Stadium this season.

Wigan certainly need to win more games if they are to stay up as they have triumphed just four times in 23 league games, while their home form has been particularly disappointing.

Nobody has won fewer than the two home wins achieved by Wigan in the Premier League this season, and only Blackpool have taken less points on their own patch.

This does not bode well as Wigan prepare to host an Aston Villa side, who would have gained a major lift from not only their win over Manchester City, but also from the big signing of Darren Bent.

Wigan’s betting odds are 21/10 to beat Aston Villa, but it is a home fixture they have lost in each of the last three Premier League seasons.

A £25 stake on Wigan beating Aston Villa 1-0 would return £175. New customers can sign up here for a free £25 bet.