epufloor: Premier League: Newcastle look to end run of four straight defeats against Wigan

Alan Pardew: Hoping Newcastle can turn around their current slump

Newcastle will be desperate to arrest their recent Premier League slump when they host Wigan at St James' Park on Monday evening.

Alan Pardew's beleaguered Magpies have lost their last four league games on the bounce, winning just one of their last nine to leave them 14th in the table and just two points clear of the relegation zone.

Live on Sky Sports

vs
Newcastle v Wigan
December 3, 2012 7:00pm

Remote Record

Their position is a stark contrast to where they were this time last season, when they sat sixth in the standings and only two points adrift of the UEFA Champions League places.

The Toon's latest setback came at Stoke last week, when they led by Papiss Cisse's opener only to be pegged back by two late goals.

Wigan also enter the Tyneside clash on the back of defeat after they were beaten 2-0 at home to defending champions Manchester City last Wednesday.

Roberto Martinez's side have lost three of their last four encounters to leave them level on 14 points with Newcastle and a place behind in 15th.

They do not boast the most encouraging record at Newcastle, having never won on six Premier League visits to St James' Park, losing four of those games.

However, the Latics put in a battling display against City and will be heartened by their 3-2 victory over Reading the weekend before, when Jordi Gomez netted a sublime hat-trick.

Newcastle

Last 6

Newcastle boss Pardew will be without utility man James Perch for Monday night's crucial home clash.

The former Nottingham Forest defender is suspended after collecting his fifth booking of the campaign at Stoke on Wednesday evening on his return from a thigh injury.

Pardew will still be unable to call upon central defender Steven Taylor (hamstring), midfielders Hatem Ben Arfa (hamstring), Gabriel Obertan (toe) and Yohan Cabaye (groin surgery) and striker Shola Ameobi (groin) as he attempts to end a run of four successive Premier League defeats.

Wigan

Last 6

Wigan manager Martinez has rated both defender Gary Caldwell and midfielder David Jones as "50/50" for the game at St James' Park.

Jones picked up a knock to his calf during Wednesday's 2-0 defeat by Manchester City while Caldwell is recovering from a hamstring problem.

Midfielders Albert Crusat (knee) and Ben Watson (broken leg), winger Ryo Miyaichi (ankle), forward Shaun Maloney (groin) and defenders Antolin Alcaraz (groin) and Ivan Ramis (hamstring) remain on the sidelines.

Opta facts

Newcastle have lost their last two league games at St James' Park. They have not lost three in a row since April 2009.
Wigan have drawn three of their seven visits to St James Park in all competitions, with the scoreline being 2-2 on each occasion.
The Magpies have the same number of points after 14 games as they did in 2008-09 when they ended the season being relegated.