Community Shield 2013: Manchester United versus Wigan Athletic preview

Manchester United and Wigan Athletic will meet in this year’s Community Shield on Sunday 11 August 2013 at Wembley Stadium. The referee will be Mark Clattenburg.

The trophy is also known as the Charity Shield as it is used by the Football Association to raise money for good causes and is traditionally played between the winners of the previous season’s Premiership and FA Cup. Most seasons, the teams do not take it that seriously and regard it as the last of the pre-season friendlies before the season starts properly.

This year, however, it takes on an importance for both clubs as they begin life with new managers. For Premiership champions Manchester United, their long serving, highly successful boss Sir Alex Ferguson retired at the end of last season and they now find themselves under the care of former Everton manager David Moyes. This will be Moyes’ first chance to bring home some silverware and he will want to take it. The season ahead looks tough and hard to call, and United could easily find themselves winning nothing. That would put added pressure on Moyes, but having some cup in the bag, however small, would ease that somewhat.

Despite winning the FA Cup last season, Wigan Athletic were relegated to the Championship and become the first team outside the top flight to contest this trophy since West Ham United in 1980. They too are under new management after Roberto Martinez’s reign came to an end when he took the vacancy at Everton following Moyes’ departure to United. Now at the helm is Owen Coyle and Wigan fans will be looking for him to repeat his success at Burnley, a team he took from the Championship to the Premiership. For Wigan, this trophy represents a rare chance to win something and they will be keen to do a Manchester double after beating Manchester City in the FA Cup Final at the end of last season.

Previously for Manchester United v Wigan Athletic

The two clubs most recent meeting was a league game on New Years Day this year at Wigan’s DW Stadium. Manchester United rolled out comfortable 4-0 winners with a brace a piece from Javier Hernandez and Robin van Persie. Hernandez was also on the scoresheet earlier in the season when the teams met at Old Trafford. This was another 4-0 scoreline with the other three goals coming from Paul Scholes, Alexander Buttner and Nick Powell.

Football Betting Odds for Wigan Athletic vs Manchester United

Not surprisingly, Manchester United are odds-on favourites to win the trophy with odds for a victory within ninety minutes ranging from 2/9 to 1/4. For a Wigan victory in the same period, odds range from 10/1 to 12/1. The best on offer for a draw is 21/4.

History of the Community Shield

The shield dates back to 1899 when it was called the Sheriff of London Charity Shield and was a match between professionals and amateurs. In 1908, it changed to the FA Charity Shield and became a match between the top professional team and the top amateur team (as opposed to teams made up of the top professionals and amateurs). Manchester United were the first winners in the new format, beating Queens Park Rangers after a replay. Manchester United have also won it more times than any other team, with 15 outright wins and four shared.

The first time it was contested between the Football League and FA Cup winners was in 1921, but the format continued to vary and the amateurs versus professionals game sometimes returned. It changed its name to the Community Shield in 2002.

Manchester City are the current holders after beating Chelsea 3-2 last year when it was held at Villa Park. Chelsea had taken the lead just before half time through Fernando Torres but City knocked in three in the first twenty minutes of the second-half to clinch the match. Chelsea did manage a late consolation goal.