EmpicsAshley Williams: Wales international needs a return to form for Swansea

Prior to the international break, the Swans managed to dispel a three game curse with a consummate performance against Reading. Despite having to settle for the draw, the Swans looked to have regained their early season momentum... only to run into unwelcome rumours of player revolt.

The rumours appear to be little more than the work of idle minds taking certain comments out of context, but it remains to be seen if the Swans have been able to rise above the scaremongers. Wigan will be hungry, looking to turn any doubt in the Swans psyche into their first league win since the second week of the season. The Swans haven't won a league game since the second week either, and will want to pick up maximum points before hitting a tough run of fixtures in the weeks to come.

- Blog: Goals guaranteed at Liberty Stadium

Defensively, Wigan have been poor this season, shipping almost two goals for every one scored. Wigan's strength usually lies in their attacking football, a fact obviously not lost of Swansea, whose own attacking style still owes a debt to Roberto Martinez. Having said that, a return of just seven goals in as many games for the Latics is hardly the stuff of legend. However, in Franco Di Santo, Arouna Koné and Shaun Maloney, Wigan have a very useful three-pronged threat up front. Each of these players is cunning and capable of real flashes of skill.

Swans full backs Ben Davies and Angel Rangel must be careful to co-ordinate their forays up field to allow one of the two to stay back and support the centre backs at any given time. Too much attacking ambition from the full backs will leave the Swans defence vulnerable to counters by Wigan's trio of forwards.

However, the same can almost be said in reverse - Martinez favours a 3-4-3 formation, unusual in the Premier League. Assuming the Swans can shift the ball quickly through a crowded midfield, look for Laudrup's men to create overloads more often than not. With the widemen coming inside to supplement Michu and Graham and a full back attacking the flank, the Swans could easily pitch five players against three if they move quickly on their own counter attacks.

Key Match-Up

Ash Williams vs Franco Di Santo
Williams has not been on vintage form so far this season. Apparently not content to make uncharacteristic defensive errors solely with the Swans, Williams saw fit to replicate his recent penchant for poor back passes whilst on Wales duty, much to the chagrin of goalkeeper Lewis Price. He'll need a big game if he is to keep Franco Di Santo quiet. Wigan's Argentinian forward has shown time and again that he needs only a glimpse of net to be a threat; any lapse in concentration from the Welsh captain could see Di Santo pick up where he left off before the break - with a goal.

Prediction: I didn't believe the revolting rumours, so I expect Swansea to put in another strong team performance such as we saw against Reading. However, if there is one player who doesn't seem altogether happy, it is Williams. As the Swans' acting captain, Williams needs to exemplify the team ethic and show 100% support for Michael Laudrup's philosophy. He'll need to put his recent poor performances behind him and show why he was made Wales captain and why he has long been considered the rock in the Swans defence, since it is the defence which has become the Swans weakness in the early running. With neither side's defence even looking like mid-table beaters, much less world beaters, there will be goals on Saturday. Swans to edge it.

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