Wigan Athletic vs. Manchester United: 7 Predictions When Red Devils Visit Latics

One look at Manchester United's opponents in their last five league matches gives you some idea of how the Red Devils have been able to build an eight-point lead over crosstown rivals Manchester City.

Since March 11, the boys of Old Trafford have matched up against such "powerhouses" as West Bromwich Albion, Wolverhampton, Fulham, Blackburn and Queens Park Rangers.

Surely it's time to for the Red Devils to go up against someone a little more, well, difficult. Who's next on the fixture schedule?

Wigan Athletic.

Well, at least Manchester United have to travel to DW Stadium. That should help handicap the struggling Latics, right?

Think again.

The Red Devils have compiled an impressive 13-1-2 record away from Old Trafford and haven't dropped an away match since traveling to Newcastle United's St. James' Park on January 4.

Must have been the New Year's Eve hangover.

It looks to be an easy contest for Manchester United, as Wigan Athletic are battling from 19th place in the league table, but the Premier League still has a drop of parity left in it—the Latics are bad, but they've only lost one match in their last five tries, defeating the likes of Liverpool and Stoke City.

With that said, hold on to your hats, as I give you the seven boldest predictions this side of Springfield Park for Manchester United's rematch with Wigan Athletic.

Chicharito Will Start on the Bench Again

Oh, sure, the Little Green Pea will dress, but how dirty will his cleats get?

Last week, I predicted that Sir Alex Ferguson would sit Javier Hernandez in favor of Danny Welbeck.

What do you know? The Mexican international started on the bench and stayed there all 90 minutes.

Hey, it's not like the Red Devils really needed him, right?

Manchester United are hardly facing stiff competition in relegation-threatened Wigan Athletic, so look for Welbeck (or even Tom Cleverly) to get some playing time up top with Wayne Rooney.

Paul Pogba Will Start on the Bench, Too

I know, I know—bold predictions coming out of this article, right?

After a string of articles in which I thought Sir Alex Ferguson would use inferior opponents to give the young, untested midfielder some playing time, I was left with egg on my face as Paul Pogba never, ever set foot on the pitch.

I finally predict that Pogba will be starting on the bench, taking a seat right next to Javier Hernandez (bonus prediction!) and not even getting so much as a glance from Manchester United's wily ol' manager.

Park Ji-Sung Will Assist on the First Goal of the Match

Manchester United haven't had much Seoul lately, have they?

Since January 31, South Korea's best player, Park Ji-Sung, has only seen 17—count 'em, 17—minutes of league play, earning clean-up duty in a win against Tottenham and a draw against Chelsea.

My bold predictions?

Sir Alex Ferguson starts the 31-year-old midfielder, who had a goal and three shots in the club's first match against Wigan Athletic on December 26, and the investment pays off. Ji-Sung feeds an easy one to Wayne Rooney and collects an assist on the opening goal of the match.

Michael Carrick Scores Header Before Halftime

If there's one thing that Wigan Athletic do well, it's conceding corner kicks and set pieces. The Latics' first match with the Red Devils was no exception, as they gave up a bounty of 10 corners.

Michael Carrick has been a commanding presence at centre-defender lately for Manchester United, and there's no way that Sir Alex Ferguson leaves him off the starting lineup. 

I predict that Carrick takes advantage of so many corners and uses his 6'1" frame—and a bit of his noggin—to score his third goal of the season.

Chicharito Will Come in for Welbeck in the Second Half

I love how Danny Welbeck has been performing as of late.

The 22-year-old forward surely made his presence known against hot-headed Queens Park Rangers, throwing the kitchen sink at goalkeeper Patrick Kenny and getting eight shots off against the Super Hoops.

Only two of them were on target, but chances are chances. Welbeck has been working his tail off to add to his tally of goals this season and impress Red Devils fans.

But the game will be out of reach, and the inconsistent Javier Hernandez will come in for Welbeck before the 70th minute.

If you or I were Sir Alex Ferguson, we'd want to shelve a player like Welbeck, who's been on a hot streak for the last stretch of matches.

Chicharito Will Score the Fourth and Final Goal Against the Latics

It's been a tough couple of weeks for Javier Hernandez, as the oft-injured striker hasn't played the full 90 minutes since Mach 18 at Wolverhampton—consequently, the last match in which the 23-year-old scored.

Well, fear not, Chicharito fans—your favorite player will be vindicated, scoring his 11th goal of the season in the last 10 minutes of the match.

David de Gea Earns 11th Clean Sheet, Red Devils Win 4-0

Unless Manchester United are playing an FA Cup match against a dynamo like Hull City, clean sheets are bold predictions.

This is the Premier League, and although Wigan Athletic are sitting at 19th, they've scored 30 goals—just a handful fewer than the likes of Liverpool, Stoke City or Aston Villa.

The same goes for scoring four goals on the way to a victory. Wins happen often with Manchester United, but four or more goals in the top tier of English football? It's only happened five times for the Red Devils so far this season.

These are my predictions for what will happen when Manchester United travel to DW Stadium. Comment, and add your own!