PREVIOUS MEETING
December 12, 2009 – Premier League

STOKE CITY 2
(Tuncay 37, Shawcross 74)

WIGAN ATHLETIC 2
(Boyce 15, Figueroa 72)

A TELEVISED game forever remembered for Maynor Figueroa’s extraordinarily free-kick goal from the half-way line.
At least Stoke were on their toes elsewhere in the game to ensure an entertaining and deserved draw once Ryan Shawcross headed an equaliser just two minutes after Figueroa’s wonder shot.
The star of the show was Tuncay, however, as he lit up a home debut with a goal and man-of-the-match performance.

Stoke City: Sorensen, Huth, Wilkinson, Shawcross, Abdoulaye Faye, Delap, Diao (Whelan, 62), Whitehead, Etherington, Tuncay, Fuller (Beattie, 83).
Wigan: Kirkland, Melchiott, Figueroa, Boyce (Sinclair, 47), Bramble, Gomez, Diame, Scharner, Koumas (Scotland, 78), N’Zogbia, Rodallega.
Attendance: 26,728.

FORM GUIDE
Wigan: DLLLD
Stoke: WDWDW

WHO WE’D LIKE TO SIGN
Maynor Figueroa: If only to prevent further embarrassment at the hands of his left foot, so to speak.

WHO TO BOO
Paul Scharner: His meaty and occasionally tardy challenges have been known to incite the odd visiting fan.

MAN IN THE MIDDLE
Andre Marriner (West Midlands): We’ll always be grateful for him disallowing Steven Gerrard’s early goal in the 0-0 draw at Anfield last season.

PROBABLE TEAMS

Wigan: Kirkland, Boyce, Figueroa, Bramble, Caldwell, N’Zogbia, Diame, Scharner, Thomas, McCarthy, Rodallega.

Stoke: Sorensen, Wilkinson, Higginbotham, Huth, Shawcross, Whitehead, Diao, Whelan, Etherington, Sidibe, Tuncay.

PREDICTION
All is quiet until Andy Wilkinson over-hits a quick free-kick from the half-way line and watches it sail in for a 73rd-minute Stoke winner.