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Wigan Athletic vs Everton

Match Preview

Unbeaten in four games now in all competitions, into the last 16 of the FA Cup and with two new faces arriving on transfer deadline day, it's fair to say that optimism is back in the air at Everton. The frustration of the home draw with Blackburn just two weeks ago was quickly banished by a come-from-behind cup win over Aston Villa Fulham and the hard-fought and well-deserved defeat of the leaders in front of a rocking Goodison Park crowd on Tuesday night.

Next, a trip down the road to Wigan, and an opportunity to press home that new-found confidence against the Premier League's bottom club who are now without a win since the 10th of December. It's a run of results that has left Roberto Martinez's side five points adrift of safety and, in all likelihood, dangerously low on morale.

Though he probably won't admit it publicly yet, David Moyes will be looking up now rather than down thanks to the stirring win in midweek and a remarkably successful January transfer window, one in which he managed to fill two holes in midfield, offload a striker struggling through an uncharacteristically barren spell, and sign another with goalscoring pedigree, albeit untested at the top level.

The Blues sit in 10th place and as many points behind Newcastle United in fifth place with 15 games to play and with things being so unpredictable in the upper echelons of the division this season, Moyes will know that if his side can put a run of victories together, they could be right in the thick of European contention come May.

One step at a time, though. His first task will be to bed Nikica Jelavic into his new surroundings and reconcile his new signing with the form of Denis Stracqualursi. The big Argentine scored his first Everton goal against Fulham and made an absolute nuisance of himself against City, earning a standing ovation and the growing admiration and affection of the Blue faithful.

It would be difficult to drop "El Traca" after playing so well the past week and it wouldn't be surprising at all if Jelavic started on the bench but the way Tim Cahill hobbled through the pain barrier in the waning minutes on Tuesday suggested that Moyes may have to field both strikers at the DW Stadium this weekend.

His other conundrum will concern central defence where he will have to decide whether to continue with Tony Hibbert alongside John Heitinga or to bring Shane Duffy back into the starting XI. Ultimately, Hibbert proved ideal for the kind of harrying and last-ditch defending required against Manchester City but his lack of height alone means he can't be regarded as a solution there. Besides, Duffy's form was almost exemplorary and he was unfortunate to lose his place.

In midfield, of course, the manager has to decide whether to pitch Steven Pienaar straight into the action — coincidentally against the same opposition he faced as an un-used sub for Spurs on Tuesday — or to continue with Royston Drenthe on the left. Given Moyes's reticence to use the Dutchman from the start in recent weeks, Pienaar could well get the chance to reunite with Leighton Baines down the Everton left at the earliest opportunity.

In many ways this is an important fixture for Moyes's boys on a ground where the Blues have lost just once since the Latics were promoted seven seasons ago. The newly improved mood among the players and fans is such that even a draw would be seen as a missed opportunity but avoiding defeat — that would seriously knock the confidence — is the first priority. Another victory ahead of the visit of Chelsea to Goodison next week would be fantastic.

Lyndon Lloyd

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