By Dan Ripley
Last updated at 4:04 PM on 2nd January 2011

Follow Sportsmail's live coverage of the Barclays Premier League as Wigan host Newcastle in the day's final game at the DW Stadium. Both sides are too close to the bottom three for comfort and will be desperate for a win to ease their relegation fears. Email me all your thoughts on the match at dan.ripley@dailymail.co.uk

2min: No excuses, Danny Simpson hits what I can only describe as a perfect ball to the far post but Ameobi heads it wide across goal. The kind of chances Carroll gobbles up for breakfast.

Kick-off: Shola Ameobi and Peter Lovenkrands get us going.

15.59: Teams are out at the DW Stadium, which is nowhere near full but Wigan do struggle to fill the ground in general.

15.57: Wigan boss Roberto Martinez makes one change for the Barclays Premier League clash with Newcastle at the DW Stadium.

Former Magpies midfielder Charles N'Zogbia is suspended after being sent off in the 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Wednesday, so Jordi Gomez comes into the first XI while new signing Adrian Lopez is among the substitutes.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew makes five changes from the 2-0 defeat at Tottenham.

Kevin Nolan returned after serving a one-match ban, Shola Ameobi replaced the injured Andy Carroll up front and Peter Lovenkrands, Jose Enrique and goalkeeper Steve Harper were also included in the starting line-up.

15.54: Highlighting how close it is at the bottom, a Wigan win will take them above Newcastle and maintain their 100 per cent record against the Toon Army at the DW Stadium.

15.51: More credit due to Wigan, they lost three out their first four home games but since then have remained unbeaten at home.

Tom Cleverley has been a great loan signing by Martinez and in his pre-match interview, the Latics boss seemed to brimming with confidence about what his side is capable of today.

15.48: Big test for Newcastle, no Andy Carroll and with back-to-back defeats to Manchester City and Tottenham need to start picking up points, especially with sides at the foot of the table picking up points.

15.45: Their problem is they don't win enough, unbeaten in their last four, yes. But with just one win in that period they never quite leave the jaws of the relegation zone if rarely ever looking in deep trouble.

The Latics are summed up by the stat that they never won back-to-back Premier League games under Roberto Martinez.

15.43: Wigan had a terrible start to the season, when I have to confess I thought they were certain for relegation after two just two games and 10 goals conceded.

But to their credit they sit outside the bottom three (just) and in recent weeks have become quite difficult to beat.

15.40: A day of opportunities? Villa somewhat took theirs at Chelsea but here at the DW Stadium both teams will fancy their chances of pulling some distance between them and the bottom three by taking all three points. Here is today's team news:

Wigan v Newcastle
Wigan: Al Habsi, Stam, Gary Caldwell, Alcaraz, Gohouri, Gomez, Thomas, Watson, Diame, Cleverley, Rodallega. Subs: Pollitt, Boselli, Steven Caldwell, McArthur, Lopez, Figueroa, McManaman.
Newcastle: Harper, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Barton, Nolan, Tiote, Gutierrez, Ameobi, Lovenkrands. Subs: Krul, Williamson, Routledge, Perch, Smith, Best, Ranger.
Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire)

Key man: Hugo Rodallega's (left) goals will be crucial towards Wigan's battle for Premier League survival