NOVEMBER is a crucial month for Wigan Athletic who are in freefall after four successive Premier League defeats.

And the next three games, starting with the tough trip to Portsmouth, could have a crucial bearing on the rest of the season. They then face fellow strugglers Stoke at home before travel to Newcastle.

Wigan's early season sparkle has fizzled out and it's more than eight hours since any player other than leading scorer Amr Zaki has found the net.

And even he has drawn a blank in his last two outings. Equally worrying is that Wigan's record of two wins from 10 games mirrors last season's nightmare start which led to the sacking of boss Chris Hutchings.

Steve Bruce is under no such threat but it's obvious things are not right and he has again vowed to quickly remedy the situation.

Questions have been asked about Wigan's lack of strength in depth. Their slide has also followed speculation surrounding the future of England striker Emile Heskey.

They were dreadful in midweek at Fulham when a lacklustre performance left Bruce seething but he can ring the changes tomorrow and may revert to a 4-5-1 formation.

Titus Bramble was dropped for the trip to Craven Cottage and Paul Scharner could be the next casualty following his poor show.

Unforgiving

Bruce called for Wigan to buck up their ideas going into the Fulham clash and said: "We have no excuses, we were poor against them and we got nothing which is what we deserved.

"Fulham's second goal summed up our night. Eleven-year-olds would not have defended like that.

"The Premier League is unforgiving. We need to go back to basics. We need to try to find a formula to win a couple of matches.

"Our performance against Fulham was arguably the worst since I have been here.

"I could not take many positives out of it. We were nowhere near producing what we are capable of.

"There have been times this season when things have not gone our way, we have not got the points which our performances have warranted but that wasn't the case at Fulham. We had too many individuals playing poorly and that hasn't happened to us this season until now.

"Just over two weeks ago, we were playing Liverpool and we gave them one heck of a game only just losing it right at the end.

"Unfortunately, we have had our backsides kicked in the last two games and that is something we need to put right quickly."

Wigan have stayed in the south of England ahead of tomorrow's game. Tony Adams, the newly appointed Pompey boss, takes charge for the first time at home after succeeding Harry Redknapp.

And Wigan will again face a stern test of character.

Portsmouth could recall right-back Glen Johnson for tomorrow’s home Barclays Premier League match against Wigan after three games out with a groin injury.

Johnson will replace Noe Pamarot providing he passes a late fitness test, but centre-back Sol Campbell (hamstring) may miss out and Younes Kaboul stands by to deputise alongside Sylvain Distin.

Midfielder Lassana Diarra is ready to play on despite a knee injury which has forced him off before the end of the last two matches, while striker Jermain Defoe is set to be restored to the starting line-up by manager Tony Adams.

Portsmouth (from): Kirkland, Melchiot, Scharner, Bramble, Figueroa, De Ridder, Cattermole, Palacios, Kapo, Heskey, Zaki, Boyce, Brown, Camara, Valencia Kilbane, Koumas, Kupisz, Taylor, Pollitt, Kingson.

Wigan Athletic (from): James, Johnson, Kaboul, Distin, Belhadj, Utaka, Davis, Diarra, Diop, A Traore, Crouch, Defoe, Hughes, Pamarot, Kranjcar, Hreidarsson, Mvuemba, Kanu, Campbell, Ashdown.

Portsmouth league form: WWDDL

Wigan league form: WLLLL

Key opponent: Jermain Defoe - striker will take advantage of any Latics lapses

Prediction: Portsmouth 1 Wigan 1 - Latics will have to battle hard but if they do they should earn a point

Agree with the prediction? Have your say.

You can get 10/1 on Wigan winning 1-0 with Betfred. For this and more odds, click here.

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