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City will not underestimate Wigan again as they did in the FA Cup final

The away team are arriving with a changed lineup, almost accepting defeat while the home team will seek to continue good performances after winning in the city derby

136 days ago Wigan dealt a great blow to City in the FA Cup final when they won against them with a goal by Ben Watson. Now the situation is much different, on the helm of both teams there are new managers, City is fighting for the top of Premier League very well while Wigan is a rank lower. The win in the city derby brought a great deal of self-confidence in the ranks of City who became aware they are indeed the first favorites for winning the title. The team played great football and I don't believe they will blunder in the Cup match against Wigan, especially not against them because there is a motive for sport revenge in this match.

 - It was a great win against Manchester United and no one believed ahead of the match that the 4-1 score is possible. It was important to score the second goal before halftime. We had a lot of chances and high ball possession. It is an important match for the team and for the fans as well who will celebrate this for at least a month. To win in a derby is a great thing but we have to continue with our progress. Every day we progress more - said Manuel Pellegrini, the manager of Manchester City after the city derby.

Micah Richards, who is returning to the ranks of City, said that this match against Wigan has nothing to do with the one in the final and how this is a new duel in which City will look for a path to the fourth round:
 - That game is in the past now, but we have to be sure that we will put the things to their place in this game and try to progress in this competition.

The league match against Ipswich was extremely important for Wigan because in the case of another failure they would additionally lose ground to the competition in the fight for the first rank. Everyone in the club was relieved after it all ended well and after the match the main topic of all conversations was the young forward Nick Powell who is on a loan from Manchester United.

 - When we brought Nick I said to the president that we can all only profit from that, we profit because we got an excellent player and he profits because we give him room to demonstrate his talent. I don't doubt that he can make a great career - said the manager Owen Coyle, known to get out the maximum of loan players. Players like jack Wilshere and Daniel Sturrige went through his hands before and now they are in important roles in the Premiership.

Tonight's away match at Manchester City will be the third match for Wigan in six days. I am aware they have little chance to pass. Coyle has more or less accepted defeat, although he didn't say that out loud:

 - If we compare our current situation to poker, we don't have a good hand. The schedule is directed by the television and we have to adapt as much as we can even though we are not pleased with that. There is no doubt that I will make many changes in the lineup for this match, even if it means some of the young boys will debut. It will be an excellent opportunity for them.

What is certain is that some standard first team players will be absent, like Maloney, Holt and Fortune, and there will be no McManaman as well as he reopened an old injury in the match against Ipswich. About the others there can be only speculations.

After beating their city rival and competitor for the championship title, Manchester City are hosting another team they are very eager to beat, or I should rather say crush. Wigan took the FA cup out of their hands last season, leaving them without a single trophy. It was a game which City dominated, but were knocked out of by Ben Watson's lucky punch. City are in much better shape right now, filled with confidence, and motivated by sports revenge. Most of the games they won against Wigan so far were with no goals taken, the last time Wigan scored against them was in an away game in 2009. The City's defense halted a Man. United offense, I think they can easily squelch Wigan, who plan to play with several players off the bench and a couple of youngsters. The odds are really too good not to take, the stake is medium, as this is a Cup game, and we all know surprises can happen there, so lets take the more cautious approach.