Opinion: Latics too weak on home soil

Last Saturday away to Charlton was an exception to the rule with Paul Jewell going more defensive than John Deehan with a striker shortage as the fear of defeat led him to remove Ryan Taylor from his berth at right back.

Aside from this defeat, the Latics have picked up an impressive 0.94 average points away from home. Ninth best in the division and ahead of sides such as Tottenham and Reading.

It was a similar story last term with Paul Jewell's men recording one of the best returns from away matches in the division.

Average points picked up away from home

1	Manchester United	2.33
2	Chelsea	2.19
3	Arsenal	1.44
4	Bolton	1.33
5	Everton	1.20
6	Liverpool	1.20
7	Manchester City	1.13
8	Blackburn	1.06
9	Wigan	0.94
10	Portsmouth	0.94
11	Reading	0.94
12	Tottenham	0.93
13	Aston Villa	0.73
14	Newcastle	0.73
15	Fulham	0.73
16	Sheffield United	0.63
17	Middlesbrough	0.56
18	Watford	0.47
19	West Ham	0.40
20	Charlton	0.40

On the other hand, our form at home is better than only Watford, an average of 1.20 points per home game for the Latics. It is surely this home form that has the club struggling at the wrong end of the table.

Average points picked up at home

1	Manchester United	2.69
2	Chelsea	2.47
3	Liverpool	2.44
4	Arsenal	2.29
5	Tottenham	2.13
6	Reading	1.93
7	Bolton	1.88
8	Portsmouth	1.87
9	Everton	1.87
10	Middlesbrough	1.80
11	Newcastle	1.63
12	Aston Villa	1.53
13	Blackburn	1.53
14	Charlton	1.50
15	Fulham	1.50
16	Sheffield United	1.40
17	Manchester City	1.27
18	West Ham	1.25
19	Wigan	1.20
20	Watford	0.81

Make of it what you will but should the Latics survive this season, the home form will need to improve. A return to the free-flowing attacking football is needed.

No more caution needed. Currently the Latics are the most defensive they have been under boss Paul Jewell. A return to the good old days of attacking football with the midfield busting a gut to support the frontmen is needed.

A goal spree from Emile Heskey wouldn't go a miss either to ease the burden from Caleb Folan.

The Latics are resugant however with current form leaving them tenth just two places behind Saturdays opponents Bolton Wanderers.

The defence has been tightened with the return of Matt Jackson and Arjan De Zeeuw, and with John Filan behin them, the defence appears much stronger at the moment.

A win on Saturday would go a long way to dispelling the poor home form, and would also give our survival chances a shot in the arm, it's just a shame that Bolton are the fourth best team away from home in the top flight.

Wigan Athletic (hopefully): Filan, Taylor, Baines, Jackson, De Zeeuw, Cotterill, McCulloch, Skoko, Landzaat, Folan, Heskey.

Subs: Pollitt, Scharner, Camara, Aghahowa, Valencia.