Saturday 28th April 2012
Everton v Fulham 15:00
Stoke City v Arsenal 15:00
Sunderland v Bolton Wanderers 15:00
Swansea City v Wolverhampton Wanderers 15:00
West Bromwich Albion v Aston Villa 15:00
Wigan Athletic v Newcastle United 15:00
Norwich City v Liverpool 17:30
Sunday 29th April 2012
Chelsea v Queens Park Rangers 13:30
Tottenham Hotspur v Blackburn Rovers 16:00
Monday 30th April 2012
Manchester City v Manchester United 20:00
DW STADIUM - WIGAN ATHLETIC
What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters?
Away fans are located in the North Stand at one end of the stadium, where up to 5,400 visiting supporters can be accommodated. The stadium is functional and the facilities adequate, but it just seems to lack something, to give it that memorable feeling. The view of the playing action and leg room are generally adequate. To the left of the away section, tends to be the Wigan fans who wish to sing congregate, who are aided by a drummer. On the concourse alcohol is available in the form of Tetleys and Carling. To try and bring some the order, there is a queuing system in force which is overseen by the stewards (plus if I remember correctly you could only buy two beers per person). Apart from the beer, I did enjoy one of the best meat and potato pies, that I have had in a long time.
Scott Carpenter a visiting Newcastle fan adds; 'the concourses seemed too small for the large amount of away fans attending on my visit, which led to it being rather uncomfortably crowded at half time'. Pat Bird a visiting West Bromwich Albion fan informs me; I was very impressed with the price to get in (£20), for a seat right behind the goal. The end given over to visitors was steeply banked with generous leg room. So far so good, however, I would have to agree with the comments of the Newcastle fan. It was an almighty struggle to get through to the loos at half-time. The concourse and toilet areas did not seem adequate to cope with a large away following. We parked in the car park behind the visitors end, which was fine, however, it took an age to get away after the match. For anyone visiting the DW you could do worse than have a meal after the match in one of the nearby restaurants before heading for home. Within 100 metres of the ground there is a Franky & Bennys, an Indian restaurant and a number of other establishments'.
Where To Drink?
Simon Wright a visiting West Bromwich Albion fan informs me; 'Beside the away turnstiles is a very large Marquee, which contains a bar specifically for the use of away fans. It has the usual bar, big screen television and sells pies, as well as teas and coffees. It's a great facility and welcomes families'.
The traditional pub for away fans visiting the DW stadium is the Red Robin, which is only a few minutes walk away from the ground opposite the Cinema Complex.
Otherwise in the centre of town is a Wetherspoons outlet called the 'Moon Under Water' which was popular with away supporters on my last visit. Also worth a visit is the award winning 'Anvil' pub, which is located next to the bus station. Both these pubs are listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide. Also worth a mention is the Berkeley on Wallgate (near the railway station). This fair sized pub, had a good mix of home and away supporters on my last visit, serves five ever changing real ales and shows Sky Sports on a huge screen.
The 'Swan & Railway' pub in the town centre, opposite the entrance to Wigan North Western Railway Station is best avoided by away supporters. Otherwise alcohol is available inside the stadium.
How To Get There By Car & Where To Park
From The South:
Leave the M6 to Junction 25 then take the A49 to Wigan. After around two miles you should pass an Aldi store on your left, before reaching a large roundabout, that is traffic light controlled. Turn left at this roundabout into Robin Park Road and continue into Scot Lane. The ground is down Scot Lane on your right.
From The North:
Leave the M6 at Junction 26 and follow the signs for Wigan town centre (this road meets the A49) then turn left into Robin Park and continue into Scot Lane. The ground is down Scot Lane on your right.
Paul Heywood adds; 'I would recommend that away supporters, travelling from the South, should come off at Junction 26 (see From The North) as there are often queues from Junction 25 towards the stadium.
Car Parking:
There is a large car park at the stadium, specifically for the use of away supporters, which costs £4 per car or motorbike, £10 for mini buses and £20 for coaches. As you may expect though, there is sometimes quite a delay in getting out of this car park after the game, especially of there has been a larger than normal crowd in attendance. Make sure though that you avoid parking on the nearby Retail Park, as parking there is restricted to two hours and I have been informed of a number of fans who have ended up getting parking tickets (£50) because of this.
By Train
Wigan's central railway stations (Wigan North Western & Wallgate stations) are a good 20 minute walk from the ground. So either take a taxi, or break up the journey with a few pub stops on the way!
On exiting Wigan North Railway Station turn left and go down the road heading under a railway bridge. On leaving Wallgate station turn right and go down the road passing Wigan North station on your left and then proceed under the railway bridge. It is a fairly straight walk along Robin Park Road passing the Jacobs Well Pub (at Wigan Pier) on your left, which is okay for away supporters. When you reach the Seven Stars hotel, you should be able to see the stadium over on your right. Either at the Seven Stars Hotel turn right and follow the locals on a shortcut along a canal to the stadium, or take the next road on the right.
Adam Hodson adds; 'I caught the train to Wigan Wallgate, crossed the road in between the two stations and I jumped on the 621 First Manchester Bus which dropped me off outside the Red Robin Pub. I then had a short 3-4 Minute walk from the Bus stop to the stadium. Bus No 600, a more Frequent service, runs up to Robin Park Roundabout from the two stations, It's about a 5-10 Minute walk from the roundabout to the Stadium.
LAST TIME WE WENT TO WIGAN:
2010/11 WIGAN 0 NEWCASTLE 1
WIGAN: Al Habsi, Stam (McManaman 84), Gary Caldwell, Alcaraz, Gohouri, Gomez (Boselli 59), Thomas (McArthur 46), Watson, Diame, Cleverley, Rodallega.
Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Steven Caldwell, Lopez, Figueroa.
NEWCASTLE: Harper, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Barton, Nolan (Smith 86), Tiote, Gutierrez, Ameobi (Best 77), Lovenkrands (Routledge 70).
Subs Not Used: Krul, Williamson, Perch, Ranger.
Att: 15,277
Newcastle moved back into the top half of the Barclays Premier League thanks to Shola Ameobi's close-range finish at Wigan.
Ameobi, in the Magpies side as a replacement for injured top-scorer Andy Carroll, pounced in the 19th minute when Ali Al Habsi blocked Joey Barton's shot and Peter Lovenkrands's follow-up hit the post.
Fabricio Coloccini and Steven Taylor also both struck the woodwork for the visitors, while Gary Caldwell saw his header come back off the bar for the Latics.
It was a welcome start to 2011 for Alan Pardew as his side bounced back from two straight defeats and moved up to 10th place.
For Wigan, who are just a point and a place above the relegation zone, the situation is more concerning.
Newcastle created the first goalscoring opportunity after just two minutes as Danny Simpson swung a cross into the box from the right.
Ameobi was allowed the space to meet it but the striker was unable to find the target, heading the ball back across the face of goal.
Three minutes later Wigan went close themselves as a failed clearance from Ben Watson's free-kick fell to Tom Cleverley, whose curling shot drew a smart save out of Steve Harper. Antolin Alcaraz headed the resulting corner straight at the Magpies goalkeeper.
Cleverley was presented with another chance on the quarter-hour mark after receiving a neat pass from Mohamed Diame, but the on-loan Manchester United youngster volleyed over the bar.
It was encouraging stuff from the hosts, but within moments, they were behind after a defensive error by Steven Gohouri.
Having dispossessed the Ivorian, Barton struck an effort which Al Habsi managed to parry, but Lovenkrands hit the loose ball against a post and Ameobi was on hand to tuck away the rebound.
An unmarked Lovenkrands should have doubled his side's advantage in the 31st minute after Barton squared to him right in front of goal, but the Dane got the ball stuck under his feet and Watson rushed in to avert the danger.
At the other end Cleverley's deflected shot from the edge of the box earned Wigan a corner which was met by Caldwell. The Latics skipper saw his header bounce back off the bar and the ball came to Hugo Rodallega, who lifted his attempt over.
Newcastle were next to hit the woodwork soon after as Coloccini looped a header onto the top of the goalframe and then Al Habsi had to be alert in rushing out to halt Jonas Gutierrez's progress.
Lovenkrands nodded a good chance over from a cross by Barton, and the former Manchester City man sent a free-kick off-target just before the break.
Martinez substituted Hendry Thomas for James McArthur at half-time and Wigan made the early running after the re-start, Jordi Gomez advancing down the right side but sending his delivery into Harper's arms.
Rodallega tried his luck twice in quick succession only to shoot wide of the mark each time.
Mauro Boselli was then introduced in place of Gomez to give Rodallega fresh support in attack, but it was Newcastle who nearly scored 10 minutes later as yet another header hit the crossbar.
This time it was Taylor denied after he got on the end of Barton's free-kick.
Lovenkrands and Ameobi came off for Wayne Routledge and Leon Best as the visitors looked to close out the game.
Boselli claimed his shot had been blocked by Taylor's hand in the box, but referee Howard Webb waved play on.
The Yorkshire official, who had been made an MBE in the Queen's New Years Honours List, then booked Barton for a rash challenge on McArthur.
Newcastle might have added a second goal towards the end as first Best poked wide after finding himself through one-on-one and then Jose Enrique blasted over, but come the final whistle, they had done enough.
WIGAN v TOON - THE HISTORY:
2011/2012 Sat 22 Oct Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Wigan Ath. Premier League
2010/2011 Sun 02 Jan Wigan Ath. 0 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Premier League
Sat 16 Oct Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Wigan Ath. Premier League
2008/2009 Fri 26 Dec Wigan Ath. 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Premier League
Sat 15 Nov Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Wigan Ath. Premier League
2007/2008 Wed 26 Dec Wigan Ath. 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premier League
Sat 01 Sep Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Wigan Ath. Premier League
2006/2007 Sun 25 Feb Wigan Ath. 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
Sat 19 Aug Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Wigan Ath. Premiership
2005/2006 Sat 15 Apr Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Wigan Ath. Premiership
Wed 30 Nov Wigan Ath. 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. League Cup
Sat 15 Oct Wigan Ath. 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
1953/1954 Wed 13 Jan Wigan Ath. 2 - 3 Newcastle Utd. F.A. Cup
Sat 09 Jan Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Wigan Ath. F.A. Cup
WIGAN'S CURRENT FORM:
Fulham 2 Wigan 1
APRIL 21: Barclays Premier League at Craven Cottage.
Arsenal 1 Wigan 2
APRIL 16: Barclays Premier League at the Emirates Stadium.
Wigan 1 Manchester Utd 0
APRIL 11: Barclays Premier League at the DW Stadium.
Chelsea 2 Wigan 1
APRIL 7: Barclays Premier League at Stamford Bridge.
Wigan 2 Stoke 0
MARCH 31: Barclays Premier League at the DW Stadium.
Liverpool 1 Wigan 2
MARCH 24: Barclays Premier League at Anfield.
WIGAN'S LAST FIXTURE:
FULHAM 2 WIGAN 1
FULHAM: Schwarzer, Hughes, Senderos, Hangeland, John Arne Riise, Diarra, Murphy (Frei 81), Duff, Dembele, Dempsey, Pogrebnyak.
Subs Not Used: Stockdale, Baird, Johnson, Kasami, Etuhu, Briggs.
WIGAN: Al Habsi, Boyce, Alcaraz, Caldwell, Figueroa, Beausejour, McArthur, McCarthy (Ben Watson 75), Gomez (Maloney 56), Di Santo (Sammon 33), Moses.
Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Gohouri, Jones, Diame.
Att: 25,689
Philippe Senderos' (pictured right) last-gasp header earned Fulham victory against Wigan in a match that had looked set to be overshadowed by the goal-line technology debate.
The Switzerland international nodded home his first ever Cottagers goal in the 89th minute to ensure the hosts followed up their win at the DW Stadium earlier in the season with another deserved victory.
Fulham dominated play by the Thames but the match looked set to end level after Pavel Pogrebnyak saw what he felt was a legitimate goal ignored.
Shortly after the Russia international had brought the Whites level following Emmerson Boyce's strike, he saw a 63rd-minute effort hit the underside of the crossbar and bounce down towards the line.
The 28-year-old thought the ball had crossed the line and wheeled off in celebration, but the officials waved play on having ruled the ball was not fully over.
Pogrebnyak hit the post as Fulham continued to press and, with a draw looking on the card, Senderos nodded home John Arne Riise's free-kick.
The visitors were on the back foot for much of the opening exchanges and were fortunate not to give away a penalty inside a minute.
Clint Dempsey burst down the left flank and went down under pressure from Gary Caldwell but referee Lee Mason waved away the hosts' penalty appeals.
The Cottagers had the Latics penned back in their own half and only a late challenge prevented a Pogrebnyak cut-back being met from close range by Dempsey.
Jordi Gomez fired over on a rare Wigan attack, before Damien Duff miscued with the goal gaping after a neat free-kick by Danny Murphy.
Wigan began to settle after a slow opening and Victor Moses forced Mark Schwarzer into action with a stinging effort in the 12th minute.
The match became far more even as the first half progressed, with both sides enjoying spells in the ascendancy.
Fulham followed Wigan's spell of dominance with Pogrebnyak and Senderos efforts, before Mousa Dembele saw a fierce drive blocked.
The Whites again came close moments later when neat interplay between Riise and Dempsey allowed the latter to fire the ball across the face of goal.
Nobody could connect with the squared ball but Wigan's foothold on the game was clearly slipping.
Their afternoon got worse in the 33rd minute when striker Franco Di Santo limped off injured and was replaced by Conor Sammon.
Duff curled wide moments after the substitution and Dempsey forced a low save from Ali Al-Habsi as Fulham looked for the opener.
The away support continued to sing "I'm a believer" despite Fulham's dominance and they almost had something else to cheer about with the last chance of the opening 45 minutes, with Gomez forcing Schwarzer into a low save from an acute angle.
Six minutes after the restart Wigan fans were celebrating what they thought was the opening goal when Gomez controlled and struck yards from goal, although the effort only managed to ripple the side netting.
The visitors, though, had begun the second period brightly and Moses tested Schwarzer from long range, before Maynor Figueroa's bouncing effort went well wide.
Fulham fans spent the start of the second half rounding on referee Mason, who was the subject of ironic cheers when he handed Caldwell the game's first booking.
The official's performance could not hide the hosts' poor start, though, and Wigan took the lead in the 57th minute.
Boyce followed up his pass to Sammon and hit an exquisitely-struck shot from 20 yards into the bottom left hand corner.
However, the lead lasted just over 60 seconds as Fulham attacked immediately and Pogrebnyak hit a left-footed effort past Al-Habsi from the edge of the box.
The Russia international thought he had then given Fulham the lead in the 63rd minute when he met Riise's cross, striking an effort which hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced down toward the line.
Pogrebnyak thought the ball had crossed the line, but the officials waved play on having ruled the ball was not fully over.
The 28-year-old again came close in the 77th minute when Dempsey forced Al-Habsi to parry only for Pogrebnyak's follow-up to bobble onto the post and out.
Fulham continued to press for a winner and Senderos almost scored when a Caldwell clearance hit him and flew into the side netting.
The goal would not have counted due to offside but the former Arsenal defender was not to be denied for long, heading home Riise's free-kick in the 89th minute.