Tottenham vs. Wigan Athletic: 5 Bold Predictions as Spurs Visit Latics

In the last few years, Tottenham has had an incredible turnaround. Just as recently as 2008, the team finished only 10 points above relegation.

In a recent interview, Tottenham midfielder Gareth Bale credited Spurs manager Harry Redknapp's faith in his players with the team's drastic turnaround in the last few years.

"

"He lets all the players express themselves and I think for any manager to give you that license to do what you do best there is nothing better,” Bale told SkySports.

"

Redknapp is a gambler, a manager who likes to come out with both arms swinging. He gives players the freedom to do what they do best, and Tottenham is on the upswing because of it.

After terrible losses to Manchester United and Manchester City, Tottenham defeated a rising Wolverhampton team, and took advantage of an ill-tempered Liverpool.

New acquisition Brad Friedel is playing at a high level as Tottenham's goalkeeper. Despite turning 40 just before the season began, he hasn't let conceding eight goals in the first two matches upset him, and turned things around by collecting two clean sheets in his most recent matches.

Wigan Athletic, however, is far from top form.

The team was given a terrific opportunity to open the season strong as they were scheduled to play the three newest teams in the Premiership. Instead, they only captured draws against Norwich City and Swansea City before defeating Queens Park Rangers.

It's a decent result—five points in the first three matches—but it shows just how far Wigan Athletic is from being a top team.

There's three points for the taking and Tottenham would love to continue their climb up the league table. Wigan Athletic is desperate, needing to have a good showing to avoid its third straight loss.

These are my predictions for Saturday's match against Wigan Athletic.

Tottenham Will Score Two Goals in the First Half

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp likes to come out of the gate swinging, and he's more likely to do that considering Wigan Athletic has allowed at least one first-half goal in three of its five league matches.

Wigan Athletic is a squad that has been dreadful, averaging less than four shots on goal a match. Compare that with Tottenham who is averaging seven shots on goal a match.

Redknapp's Spurs will score early and they will score often.

Look for Tottenham to be able to take advantage of a Wigan Athletic midfield that allowed Everton to cross the ball at will and set up several scoring opportunities last weekend.

Emmanuel Adebayor Will Score His Fourth Goal of the Season

This isn't exactly the boldest of predictions as new acquisition Emmanuel Adebayor is on a hot streak, scoring three goals in Tottenham's last two matches.

But nothing is certain in the Premiership.

If I'd have said at the end of August that Adebayor would have scored goals in the next three league matches, it wouldn't have been bold, it would have been stupid. But now it's a real possibility against a weak Wigan Athletic defense.

Benoit Assou-Ekotto stepped up as an attacking defender last weekend, assisting Adebayor on his second goal against Liverpool. Redknapp allows players the freedom to play the way that best suit them. If Assou-Ekotto continues to link up with Adebayor, look for Spurs to run away with this one.

Luka Modric Will Go Back to Being Invisible

Luke Modric's performance against Liverpool was strong—one goal, two shots on target—but it was the only time he's showed up on the stat sheet all season.

In fact, other than Liverpool, Modric has only played in two league matches for Tottenham. And in those league matches, he's collected zero goals, zero assists and zero shots on goal.

Modric is inconsistent and unhappy at Tottenham. I see him starting, but I see him coming off as Tottenham pulls away. Look for Modric to play no more than 60 minutes, and to be invisible as far as the attacking possessions go.

Brad Friedel Will Get His Third Clean Sheet in a Row

One may look at Tottenham goalkeeper Brad Friedel and see a man who's playing past the twilight of his career.

But I see a goalkeeper who has terrific concentration.

His not allowing a goal against Wolverhampton and Liverpool after giving up five to Manchester United and three to Manchester City shows how good he can be when he's not playing with an inconsistent back line and counted on to make 10 or more saves.

Manager Harry Redknapp has looked as though he's sorted things out with Tottenham's defense. After a chaotic first couple of weekends that saw Spurs shuffling their lineup every match, the team is playing comfortably together.

It also doesn't hurt when you've got Jermain Defoe, Emmanuel Abedayor and a midfield led by Rafael Van der Vaart to hold possession for most of the game.

I know that Wigan Athletic has a very talented forward in Franco Di Santo, but two of his three goals this season came against a Queens Park Rangers team that was still trying to establish itself in the Premiership.

The injury to Hugo Rodallega does not bode well for an already lackluster Latics offense.

Friedel has two clean sheets so far this season. Look for him to extend that to three on Saturday.

Tottenham Will Score Four Goals Again and Win

Winning against Wigan Athletic is not a bold prediction. Scoring four goals for a second straight match is.

The front line is finally starting to take shape, and I think manager Harry Redknapp is rewarded with goals from both Emmanuel Adebayor and Jermain Defoe.

I think there's a chance for a goal or two from a corner kick or set piece deep in Latics territory, especially given Wigan Athletic's penchant for sloppy play by its defenders and an allowance of quite a few corner kicks (21 in the last three league matches).

Wigan Athletic has also been inconsistent in the midfield this season, conceding a number of attacks and three goals a piece to their last two opponents—Manchester City and Everton.

Finally, I really believe that Tottenham just wants it more. They looked hungry against Wolverhampton, they pounced on a nine-man Liverpool team, and they will not play down to Wigan Athletic.

Tottenham will easily win the time of possession and the scoring fountain will continue to flow as I predict they win 4-0 at DW Stadium.