Wigan and Sunderland to enjoy bit of a goal fest
Published:If the Premier League table was based solely on goals scored, not much would be that different as Wigan and Sunderland would still be battling relegation.
But there are reasons to believe that both could seriously enhance their goals-for column when they clash at the DW Stadium.
Over 2.5 goals have been scored in three of the last four Premier League meetings between the pair and 1/1 is not the worst price that this line is crossed again.
After all, at least three goals have been scored in all of Sunderland’s last three Premier League games and seven of the 11 over the course of the season that they have played on the road.
Meanwhile, over 2.5 goals would have been a successful bet in eight of Wigan’s 11 fixtures in front of their own fans, including all four against those clubs currently in the bottom half of the top-flight standings.
Looking back in more detail at the most recent clashes between the clubs, it is slightly staggering how many of the goals have arrived in the second half of games.
In the last four head-to-heads, 15 goals have been netted, with 13 of these coming after the half-time interval, including all five at Wigan last season.
In fact, five of the last seven encounters have ended with more goals scored after the interval than before it.
Further indicators that this bet may land again are that Wigan have only scored seven first-half goals all season and in general in the Premier League, goals flow more regularly in the second 45 minutes of games.
It is 1/1 that supporters will witness more goals in the second half at the DW.
Wigan are without leading goal threat Arouna Kone because of his involvement at the African Cup of Nations and this is one reason why the hosts look a tad short at 23/20 for match victory.
Sunderland seem the better value at 12/5, even if an almost full-strength team were dumped out of the FA Cup in midweek by Bolton, with the draw available at 23/10.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
