Steve Bruce must feel like Ebenezer Scrooge visiting the ghosts of Christmas past at the moment. The Sunderland manager saw his team lose to former club Birmingham last Saturday and another ex of his arrives at the Stadium of Light this weekend hoping to pull the Black Cats further into the mire.
Wigan Athletic have been consigned as relegation certs by some, although the Latics find themselves out of the drop zone after an excellent 3-1 win at Blackpool on Saturday which has given the Lancashire team every chance of survival. They could be a value bet at 11/4 (bet365 – £200 in free bets) to win against a side devoid of any confidence at the moment.
Roberto Martinez has never given up hope of Wigan staying in the Premier League and will hope that Hugo Rodallega (7/1 bet365) and Charles N’Zogbia (10/1 Ladbrokes – £30 free betting) supply the same cutting edge as they did at Bloomfield Road. Another 3-1 victory in their favour can be backed at 33/1 (Stan James).
Sunderland’s bright start to the campaign must now seem like a distant memory with the team stationed in 14th place and just five points above the drop zone. Bruce just needs his side to get three points in whichever way possible on Saturday and they are 23/20 (Blue Square – £10 free bet) to ease any relegation fears.
Defensive mistakes proved costly for the Black Cats at Birmingham and a scrappy 1-0 win to the home side cannot be ruled out at odds of 6/1 (Ladbrokes). Successes by a solitary goal were thrusting the team high up the table earlier this term, although neither Asamoah Gyan (6/1 Coral) or Danny Welbeck (7/1 Ladbrokes) are finding the net with the same regularity.