Stoke City FC vs. Wigan Athletic FC, 2:2

Stoke go into the Premier League game against Wigan at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday after a week of off-field controversy. The Potters have had pretty much going when an alleged incident between manager Tony Pulis and striker James Beattie, regarding a disagreement over the club's Christmas party. Beattie was in training on Monday although he did not link up with the squad as he tried to overcome a niggling knee injury. Stoke lie currently 11th in the table with 15 points from 20 games with their home form being particularly impressive this term, having only lost league games to Manchester United and Chelsea. They will be boosted against Wigan with the news that Ryan Shawcross is fit again and midfielder Dean Whitehead returns from suspension. The Latics have been dreadful on occasions, having conceded 13 goals in their last two away games. Kirkland is a major doubt after sustaining a recurrence of a back spasm so Mike Pollitt and Richard Kingson are on standby to deputise. Martinez is forced into one definite change as Hendry Thomas serves a one-match ban, with Jordi Gomez the player most likely to step into the breach. REVIEW: Ryan Shawcross' bullet header cancelled out a stunning 50-yard strike from Maynor Figueroa as Stoke and Wigan drew 2-2 at The Britannia Stadium on Saturday. The visitors drew first blood on 15 minutes, when Hugo Rodallega's powerful header from a Jason Koumas free-kick was palmed into the air by Thomas Sorensen, with Emmerson Boyce reacting quickest to head home from close range. The Potters responded well to going behind, though, and slowly built pressure until earning a deserved equaliser on 37 minutes, when Robert Huth's flick-on released Tuncay, who cut into the 18-yard box and lashed a fierce low strike past Latics goalkeeper Chris Kirkland. And the visitors went ahead yet again in the 72nd minute when a quick-thinking Figueroa spotted Sorensen off his goalline and arrowed a left-footed shot, from just inside his own half, over the Danish stopper's head and into the net for a Goal of the Season contender. But the hosts drew level two minutes later when Shawcross powered home a Matty Etherington corner. Beattie came off the bench for the last seven minutes, but it was the visitors who had the best chance for a winner, with Mike Dean awarding them a controversial penalty in the 90th minute. Huth was penalised for fouling Jordi Gomez, who had been yards offside, but justice was seemingly done when Sorensen saved Rodallega's poor penalty, albeit having come yards off his goalline - for a second time in the game.

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