Filed under: Everton, Wigan, Premier League, Football, Match Previews
PREMIER LEAGUE: DW STADIUM, SATURDAY APRIL 30, 2011: KICK-OFF: 1500 BSTSix years after helping Wigan win promotion to the Premier League, Leighton Baines returns to his former club knowing that he can play a big role in sending them back down to the Championship.
Everton's England left back came through the youth ranks at Wigan, making more than 160 appearances for the club before a £6 million move to Goodison Park in August 2007.
But sentiment will go out of the window as Baines looks to hammer another nail into their relegation coffin.
A 15th league defeat will leave Wigan 270 minutes from relegation. Time, quite literally, is running out for Roberto Martinez's strugglers.
Although Wigan are back on home soil for the first time in a month, Everton are not the ideal opponents in times of a crisis.
David Moyes's team are anxious to put right the wrongs from last week's late defeat at Manchester United.
They looked like snatching a point at Old Trafford before Javier Hernandez pounced to all but end Everton's hopes of finishing above neighbours Liverpool.
Everton finished eighth on 61 points last season. With 47 points from 34 games, they will fall short of that total this time although they remain on course to finish higher up the table.
It sums up the rollercoaster season Moyes and his players have endured.
Key Match-up: Tom Cleverley v Phil Neville: Manchester United players past and present meet in a midfield showdown. Since joining on loan from Old Trafford back in August, Cleverley has been a rare positive in a bleak season for Wigan. However, the England under-21 international faces one of his toughest challenges of the campaign combating the threat and experience of Everton captain Neville.
Form Guide: It is home sweet home for Wigan. After three successive away games they return to familiar surroundings. Since losing 4-0 at home to Manchester United on February 26, Martinez's side are unbeaten in two at home. Everton, fresh from defeat at Old Trafford, have not lost back-to-back league games since November 2009.
Odds: Wigan 9/5, Everton 8/5, Draw 7/4
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