Everton v. Wigan: David Moyes’ Team Always Comes To Play

€œYo man, that is so dope,€ said the dread-locked guy walking to my left.
“What’s that?” I asked, shocked at getting a compliment while walking down a Lower East Side street in the pouring rain.
“Your Everton jacket,” he said pointing to the crest of my blue hooded half-zip.
“Oh yea, thanks. Gotta support the squad,” I smiled proudly. “You an Everton fan?”
“Nah, I’m a United supporter,” he confessed. “But I’ve always admired Everton. Obviously because of Tim Howard and Landon Donovan â€" but more than that, there’s just something about David Moyes and how his team always comes to play.”
For years, I’ve been making the same argument (although it typically falls on deaf ears). Everton is a club that goes to work everyday and does the business. Fans and players alike don’t make a fuss about being overshadowed by the Red side of town, not having a state-of-the-art stadium or being forced to operate on a shoestring budget. They just play the hand they have been dealt in the best way possible. That’s the Everton way. And that’s why it’s so rewarding to be a supporter.

Unlike the start to most Premier League seasons, the 2012-13 campaign has been a bliss for Evertonians. But it’s a long hard season and we’re only six weeks in, so expectations are tempered. This weekend the squad travels to the DW Stadium to take on a Wigan side whom Everton hasn’t lost to since November 24, 2008 when the Latics managed a 1-0 victory at home. Since then it’s been four wins and three draws for Moyes’ men.
The Toffees come into Saturday’s match winners of two in a row in the league (Swansea 3-0, Southampton 3-1). If the Blues expect to hold down second place in the table they’ll need to take all three points as United and City are both one point adrift. Wigan enters the match losers of their last three in a row (United 4-0, Fulham 2-1, Sunderland 1-0) and will be eager to snatch at least a point to stay above the relegation zone.
There are no fresh injury concerns for Everton although Darron Gibson (thigh), Tony Hibbert (calf) and Steven Naismith (calf) all remain sidelined. For Wigan, Antolin Alcaraz (groin) remains out while Franco di Santo should return to the Starting XI. Look for Roberto Martinez to hand Ryo Miyaichi a first league start for the out-of-form Shaun Maloney.
MATCH ODDS
Wigan Money Line (Must Win In 90 Mins): +330
Wigan Pick (Draw = Push; Win = Win): +200
Everton Money Line (Must Win In 90 Mins): -120
Everton Pick (Draw = Push; Win = Win): -275
Draw: +240
Over/Under 2.5 Goals: -105/-125
First Goalscorer: Arouna Kone 15/2, Franco di Santo 8/1, Mauro Boselli 15/2; Nikica Jelavic 4/1, Kevin Mirallas 6/1, Marouane Fellaini 7/1
PREDICTION
Wigan will be up for this match, eager to provide home supporters with their first victory of the season. As every Premier League fan knows, it’s only a matter of time before Wigan puts it together and hits a streak like last Spring when they took points in nine of their final eleven matches.
But I don’t see it happening for the Latics this weekend. Like my bruv above said, “there’s just something about David Moyes and how his team always comes to play.” So despite the fact that Wigan has been struggling, there’s no way Moyes lets his squad take this match lightly. Additionally, the Toffees are too strong, too decisive on both sides of the ball and too clinical in front of goal to mess this match up.
The Evertonian vibration is POSITIVE!
Final Score: Everton 3, Wigan 0.
 

Â