After the disappointment of last Sundays home defeat to Everton, Fulham travel up the M6 to the DW Stadium to once again attempt to change our away day fortunes.
While we have a good record against Wigan in the Premier League, it’s not so hot away from home. Out of our twelve meetings in total we’ve won a third of our games. However we’re yet to get a three point maximum against them outside the capital. That said in our six visits we’ve only lost once, and what with our recent love affair with drawing games over the last few seasons, who’d bet against another draw? 
With the exception of Aaron Hughes and Senderos we have a full compliment of players available to Fulham for the trip northwards. During his Thursday afternoon press conference Jol had informed the press that he felt Ruiz was now ready to start a Premier League match after the player himself admitted he was struggling to adapt to the pace of the English game.
With Hughes out I’d expect Baird to once again play alongside Hangeland with Riise and Grygera either side. With the team having not been playing too badly recently the only other change I could see Jol making is brining Ruiz into the starting line up. After his comments to various media outlets this week and his goal against Everton I can see the Costa Rican being unleashed from the start.
Wigan is a team Clint Dempsey loves scoring against. He’s scored five against them in the Premier League, more than any other side. And with just a single goal keeping him away from becoming joint all time top American goalscorer in the Premier League (currently held be former Fulham captain Brian McBride) he’ll be in keen mood to add to this tally.
You kinda feel confident when you look at the facts that we’re unbeaten against Wigan in our last nine games against them and, overall, the side hasn’t looked too bad so far this term. Wigan haven’t shown much to worry us, but it wouldn’t be like us to go away from home and really show what we can do. All in all, I’m suspecting another draw on the cards here, even though both sides will be looking at this fixture as one they could and should be winning. The last four meetings have finsihed as draw, no two premiership sides have played out five consecutive draws. And with just 18 goals scored in total between out 12 meetings it wont be a high scoring affair either. Chalk this one up as a draw and some new Premier League history.
