Manchester City vs Wigan Athletic Half-Time Update

The game at The City of Manchester Stadium has reached half-time, where the current score is 1-0 between Manchester City and Wigan Athletic.

Twenty-three points separate these two teams, but the gulf in class has yet to fully surface in the fixture, with both sides reasonably even with regards to chances and possession.

The first attempt was from the home side – after initial great play by Silva, Balotelli was found with a pass from Yaya Toure and the Italian striker came onto his favoured right foot from the left hand side of the pitch, striking a fierce effort from just outside the box that was fumbled behind by Al Habsi.

City have been able to quicken the pace at will, and some swift passing almost saw a chance fall their way just after 10 minutes, but Gareth Barry was unable to keep the ball under control in the Wigan box.

Wigan are a side not afraid to flex their attacking muscles when needed – Moses has looked lively at times running at either full-back, whilst midfielders James McCarthy and Ben Watson are always looking for spaces and keen to keep their pass-rate high.

It was McCarthy who had Wigan’s most promising effort after half an hour; however the young Glaswegian’s effort was sliced wide from deep inside the box.

The goal, which came after 38 minutes, was all down to a lack of concentration from goalkeeper Al-Habsi; David Silva’s effort was on target but far from troubling, yet the ball disappeared between the goalkeeper’s legs and away from his gloves in a horrendous moment for the Oman loanee.

The news with regards to the two teams beforehand included the expected return of Vincent Kompany for City, who replaces the suspended Kolo Toure in defence. Yaya Toure starts just two days after the news of his brothers failed drug test. Nigel De Jong, who has missed six games with an ankle issue returns to the bench.

Edin Dzeko and Carlos Tevez started on the bench in the FA Cup win over Aston Villa in midweek – it is the Argentinean who returns to the starting 11 alongside Silva and Balotelli in City’s attack, whilst Dzeko is rested.

Wigan, who are routed to the bottom of the Premier League, place Tom Cleverley back in the starting 11. The Latics will be hoping he can conjure up something special to help them jump out of a rut that has seen them win just one of their last ten league games.

Emmerson Boyce, as expected, misses out with a hamstring strain.

The Citizens are aiming for their first six-point return over Wigan since 98/99, when both teams were in the third tier of English football.

Manchester City: Hart, Richards, Kompany, Zabaleta, Lescott, Barry, Silva, Vieira, Yaya Toure, Tevez, Balotelli

Substitutes: Taylor, Kolarov, Boateng, Boyata, De Jong, Dzeko, Jo

Wigan Athletic: Al Habsi, Alcaraz, Gary Caldwell, Piscu, Figueroa, McCarthy, Watson, Moses, Cleverley, Diame, Rodallega

Substitutes: Pollitt, Gohouri, Thomas, N'Zogbia, Gomez, Di Santo, Sammon