PRE-MATCH BRIEFING: WIGAN ATHLETIC V CHELSEA

Plenty of people have said it but it's true. Beating the league leaders will mean little if it is not followed by a good performance against a Wigan side who have been struggling at home. Club historian Rick Glanvill and club statistician Paul Dutton set the scene for the first of two pre-Christmas away days…

TALKING POINTS
Following the thrilling and well-earned victory over Manchester City on Monday, Chelsea travel to Wigan aiming for a fourth straight win for the first time this season. The consistency that has previously eluded the Blues this campaign will be vital during the potentially difficult festive season fixtures.

A win against the struggling Lancastrians can in no way be taken for granted. Last season's 6-0 apart, the Blues' victories at the DW stadium have been hard-earned, and Latics manager Roberto Martinez knows he somehow has to take some points from three games against top six teams between now and 26 December.

 
Between September and November Wigan endured a run of eight consecutive league defeats, including home failures against Spurs, Bolton and Fulham.

More poignantly, Wigan have not earned three points at the DW since August, when former Blue Franco Di Santo scored twice in a victory over QPR. Their recent mini-revival has come away from home, partly through the penalties of rejuvenated attacking midfielder Jordi Gomez.

The Christmas period also presents challenges for Andre Villas-Boas. After the testing trip to Wigan - with sleet and bitter cold predicted for Saturday evening - the Portuguese boss takes his team to White Hart Lane on Thursday, then faces Martin Jol's Fulham at the Bridge on Boxing Day.

The midway point of the season is reached on New Year's Eve at home to Aston Villa. That will be a good time to look back and forward over the season.

Sir Alex Ferguson has widely been credited as the greatest beneficiary of Chelsea's success against Man City, and it's true that Man United are currently better placed than the Blues to overhaul the Citizens.

Another rationale for talking up Fergie's situation is that his Red Devils are 'traditionally stronger' over the second half of the season. Yet recent history suggests this is no longer the case.

In fact, in three of the previous five campaigns (2010/11, 2007/08 and 2006/07) United have earned fewer points in the second batch of matches than the opening 19. Interestingly, Chelsea have managed a better points tally in the defining half of all the last four seasons.

City, even without the strength of squad they now boast, have also outperformed their local rivals, increasing their points yield over the last 19 matches in three of the previous five campaigns.

The most obvious observation, though, is that the side with the most points after 19 matches wins the league. The only time Chelsea and United managed halfway points parity - 41 in 2008/09 - it was the Mancunians who pulled away over the post-Christmas run-in to take the title. With injuries in key positions - Vidic and Fletcher - will his squad have the ability to kick on?

Raul Meireles's equaliser on Monday (pictured below) was his first goal in the Premier League for Chelsea. His previous league strike was against Wigan in February - his fifth in five consecutive matches.

Frank Lampard's spot-kick against City was Chelsea's second success in five penalty awards in all competitions this season.

Chelsea have won all six Premier League matches in which midfielder Oriol Romeu has played a part.

A depleted Man United are away to home draw specialists QPR at midday on Sunday. Neighbours City host Arsenal, 3-0 winners on their last visit to east Manchester, when Dedryck Boyata was sent off. All three play again on Wednesday. Our Thursday opponents, Spurs, welcome Sunderland and their new boss Martin O'Neill on Sunday. The Mackems have won one and drawn another in three trips to White Hart Lane.

Barclays Premier League fixtures
Saturday
Blackburn v West Brom 3pm
Everton v Norwich 3pm
Fulham v Bolton 3pm
Newcastle v Swansea 3pm
Wolverhampton v Stoke 3pm
Wigan v Chelsea 5.30pm - ESPN
Sunday
QPR v Man Utd 12pm - Sky Sports
Aston Villa v Liverpool 2.05pm - Sky Sports
Tottenham v Sunderland 3pm
Man City v Arsenal 4.10pm - Sky Sports
Tuesday
Wolverhampton v Norwich 7.45pm
Blackburn v Bolton 8pm - Sky Sports
Wednesday
Aston Villa v Arsenal 7.45pm
Man City v Stoke 7.45pm
Newcastle v West Brom 7.45pm
Everton v Swansea 8pm
Fulham v Man Utd 8pm
QPR v Sunderland 8pm
Wigan v Liverpool 8pm - Sky Sports

The race for the Barclays Premier League Golden Boot
Robin van Persie (Arsenal) 15
Sergio Agüero (Man City) 11
Demba Ba (Newcastle) 11
Wayne Rooney (Man Utd) 11
Edin Džeko (Man City) 10
Yakubu (Blackburn) 9
Emmanuel Adebayor (Tottenham) 8
Mario Balotelli (Man City) 8
Frank Lampard (Chelsea) 7
Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea) 7
Ivan Klasnić (Bolton) 7


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Wigan Athletic v Chelsea