Whelan and Martinez support City's rise: Wigan preview

The backlash to the City-hating has begun in the guise of Dave Whelan and Roberto Martinez ahead of our clash with Wigan tomorrow.  In an interview with the MEN, Whelan says all the things a City fan would want to hear:

“Everybody seems to want to have a pop at City. There’s so much jealousy around. Those who are knocking City would give anything to be in the same position and have the same kind of opportunities.


“I always look forward to welcoming City to Wigan, it’s always a good game and they have a great set of supporters who are as good as anyone around.


“The City fans are tremendously loyal, they deserve to see their team be successful.  I remember playing City in the old third division in front of 40,000 fans at Maine Road."

He also points to the slowly fading hatred of Chelsea, his admiration for his friend Garry Cook, and the fact that, as the money is all City's, it is up to us to spend it as we like.

The trouble is 'it's always a good game' for Wigan and I'm sure that helps Whelan's enjoyment of City's visits.  5,000 City fans are set to travel up to Wigan tomorrow hoping to see City win their first ever game at the DW Stadium.  To fuel the statistical worriers, The Guardian published the two following facts in their 'Match Pointers section:

•  Wigan are one of two teams that City have faced twice or more and never beaten away from home in the top flight (five times, along with Arsenal)
• City haven't won away from home in the league during September since 2004

Statistics are, of course, completely useless.  Before last season we hadn't done the league double over Chelsea since the fifties.  It doesn't take me to tell you that things are changing at City.  Yet, as evidenced on the Official Site, City can use the 'jinx' to ensure that the players do not underestimate a trip to Wigan.

Despite an initial two games that caused a lot of footballing people to instantly, and foolishly, write-off Wigan from the league at this early stage - The Latics are actually only one point behind us.  A win at Tottenham and a draw against Sunderland will have done something to restore some confidence to their side.  Wigan will probably struggle this season, but directly after the famously, and officially, 'unlucky' loss to Chelsea by six straight goals is too early to call it.

With apparently no new injury concerns for Mancini to deal with, City have the option to remain unchanged from the side that triumphed in Austria this week.  The only likely changes will be for both Jo and the impressive Silva, who both looked exhausted by the end of the game.  I imagine both will have a part to play at some point, but it may well still be from the bench at this stage.

Micah Richards is likely to return at right-back, leaving Mancini with the option to switch Zabaleta to left-back as Wayne Bridge continues his comeback from injury.  Milner and Johnson could fill the other free berths.

Possible line-up, 4-3-2-1:

Hart

Richards,  Kolo Toure, Kompany, Zabaleta

De Jong, Yaya Toure, Barry

Milner,  Adam Johnson

Tevez

After two disappointing results against Sunderland and Blackburn, City will be hoping to reignite their league season at Wigan - and break a 'jinx' whilst at it!