Big Match Preview: Chelsea vs. Wigan Athletic

Monday, April 14, 2008, 9:52 p.m. Chelsea are leading lowly Wigan Athletic 1-0 at Stamford Bridge with just seconds to go before the final whistle is blown.

Wigan midfielder Jason Koumas takes the ball on the left hand side and launches a cross into the box.

The ball evades everyone in Chelsea defence and Emile Heskey is able to prod the ball into the Chelsea goal at the back post. Wigan have equalised and the Chelsea team are devastated.

The Chelsea team could be even more devastated if something similar was to happen this Sunday. Anything other than a win and Chelsea are relying on Stoke City getting points at Manchester United to win the league.

Rarely has the fixture Chelsea vs. Wigan Athletic been of such importance. The Wigan side will surely not be used to having so many eyes fixed upon them.

Chelsea have the best home record in the Premier League, having only dropped 5 points at Stamford Bridge (a draw with Everton and defeat to Man City) all season, amassing 60 goals in the process.

Wigan's away record is less enviable, with just 3 wins, 13 defeats and 47 goals conceded.

On paper, this game is a home banker but nothing should be taken for granted as Wigan themselves proved when they beat Arsenal, having trailed 2-0 in the 80th minute.

Chelsea go into the game in fine form, having won 8 of their last 10 league games with a draw at Blackburn Rovers and defeat away to Tottenham Hotspur the only blemishes on their record.

Wigan's form has been more erratic, however, with just one win and three defeats from their last six games. The win, though, was the aforementioned game against Arsenal, and any suggestion they will take it easy as they have 'nothing to play for' will have been dispelled by Wigan's game against Hull City on Monday, which saw them rescue a point with a last minute equaliser.

Chelsea know they will need to be focused for this game but will also be looking to avenge a 3-1 defeat to Wigan early on in the season. A day to forget for Chelsea fans, who saw their team finish with just nine men following Petr Cech's red card and an injury to Ashley Cole in the 85th minute when Chelsea had used up all their substitutions.

Other extra incentives for Chelsea players, however, are for Didier Drogba, who is level with Manchester United's Wayne Rooney in the race for the Premier League Golden Boot with 26 goals each.

Petr Cech is also tied with Liverpool's Pepe Reina for the Premier League Golden Glove having kept 16 clean sheets this season.

Come 5.45 p.m on Sunday, the final questions of the Premier League season will have been answered. Will Chelsea be celebrating title glory, their third in six years, or will Wigan spoil the party, as they did in 2008, and leave the Chelsea players and their fans pondering what might have been?