STATS: Wigan vs QPR
Wigan v QPR 15:00
– After starting the season in fine form Wigan come into this game after back to back defeats at the hands of Manchester City and Newcastle United. They will be without defender Maynor Figueroa whose red card and penalty early on against Newcastle set the Latics on the road to defeat.
– Figueroa has been on excellent form this season, winning 36 tackles so far, the 7th highest in the league, though he has lost out on 28 attempted tackles making a tackles won percentage of 56%.
– Figueroa is also ranked 4th in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index for interceptions with 97 so far this season.
– Midfielder James McCarthy has also been one of the stand out defensive players of the season. McCarthy has contributed more defensively than any other midfielder in the league with 66 tackles attempted (with 54.5% won), 16 clearances, 65 interceptions and 3 blocks.
– Arouna Kone has been in dangerous form for Wigan this season, and has completed the second highest number of dribbles behind Luis Suarez. Kone has completed 18 dribbles in total, the same number as Spurs and Wales star Gareth Bale, widely recognized as the one of the world’s best players on the ball
– QPR are still looking for a first win under new manager Harry Redknapp, having drawn both games since he took charge. Jamie Mackie scored the equalizer for QPR against fellow relegation candidates Aston Villa.
– Shaun Wright-Phillips hit the post in that game and was also denied by Bradley Guzan as the winger showed signs of a return to top form. Wright-Phillips has struggled for opportunities at goal this season, illustrated by the fact that he has attempted more tackles
– Clint Hill also hit the woodwork for QPR and the R’s battled to turn their dominance in to goals. Hill has been busy at the other end of the pitch this season, winning 55.6% of the 27 tackles he has attempted and also contributing 16 clearances, 19 interceptions and 7 blocks
– There are signs that Harry Redknapp is bringing out the best in talented QPR midfielder Adel Taraabt, as Taraabt completed 50 passes in the opposition half against Villa, more than any other player in the last round of games
– Ryan Nelson has called for a renewed effort from his QPR team mates to avoid the drop this season. Nelson himself can’t be faulted for putting his body on the line, having made the second highest number of blocks this season with 18.