Off to the sports shop

David Wright

Wigan have led the table this season but were knocked off their lofty perch after Ipswich won on Sunday, a day after Wigan secured a point in a 3-3 draw at Wolves.

Paul Jewell has it easier than many managers in the division given the financial backing he gets from former Blackburn player Dave Whelan although previous managers will tell you that the job can be difficult given the interference from Whelan.

But it does mean they never have the problem of having to sell players and are always able to strengthen their squad as and when required.

Jewell was able to make four additions to his squad during the summer, two of them making the short journey from local Premiership rivals Bolton Wanderers. They were Danish midfielder Per Frandsen and Brazilian defender Emerson Thome.

Both had been more or less regulars in the Bolton side last season and it was something of a surprise to see them both leave the Reebok.

Frandsen has stepped straight into the Wigan side although Thome’s appearances have been from the bench,

The other signings were defender David Wright from Crewe and Torquay’s Scottish striker David Graham. Graham, like Thome has been on the bench although Wright is an ever present in the side.

The only departures were Peter Kennedy, now at Peterborough, and former Burnley loan player Gareth Farrelly who is now back in Ireland whilst they currently have four players out on loan.

One of them, Tony Dinning, is incredibly on a loan deal at Ipswich, the only team above them in the table.

The season could hardly have got off to a better start and strikers Nathan Ellington and Jason Roberts have already scored eleven league goals between them, four more than the Clarets have in total to date.

They both scored again at Wolves with Matt Jackson getting their opener. It was a game they should have won and would have done but for a late goal from Wolves sub Colin Cameron.

Click HERE to see all Wigan’s results this season.

Manager Paul Jewell has already said that the team to take on the Clarets will be the same as the one that played at Molineux and that will be:

John Filan, David Wright, Matt Jackson, Ian Breckin, Leighton Baines, Gary Teale, Per Frandsen, Jimmy Bullard, Lee McCulloch, Nathan Ellington, Jason Roberts. Subs: Gary Walsh, Emerson Thome, Nicky Eaden, Alan Mahon, David Graham.

It’s unlikely there will be much, if any, change to the Burnley team. Micah Hyde is still out suspended although the second signing of the weekend Amadou Sanokho could come into the squad provided international clearance arrives on time from Italy.

The starting eleven is certain to be the same and we will line up: Danny Coyne, Michael Duff, Frank Sinclair, John McGreal, Mo Camara, Lee Roche, Richard Chaplow, Tony Grant, Graham Branch, Ian Moore, Robbie Blake. Subs from: Brian Jensen, Ryan Townsend, Joel Pilkington, Amadou Sanokho, Matt O’Neill, Jean-Louis Valois.

Last season’s encounter ended in a 0-0 draw on the day when the Clarets had three new loan players in the squad in Bradley Orr, Paul Rachubka and Neil Wood.

It was played on a wet day with a pitch devoid of any grass and difficult to play on. Robbie Blake had our best chance of the afternoon but Filan saved well from him whilst the Clarets main problems seemed to come from long distance free kicks.

The teams were,

Wigan: John Filan, Nicky Eaden, Leighton Baines, Ian Breckin, Jason De Vos, Gary Teale, Jimmy Bullard, Jason Jarrett, Lee McCulloch (Andy Liddell 70), Jason Roberts, Nathan Ellington. Subs not used: Gary Walsh, Matt Jackson, Steve McMillan, Michael Flynn.

Burnley: Brian Jensen, Lee Roche, Mark McGregor, David May, Mo Camara, Glen Little (Bradley Orr 88), Richard Chaplow, Tony Grant, Neil Wood, Robbie Blake, Ian Moore. Subs not used: Paul Rachubka, Dean West, Graham Branch, Luke Chadwick.