The Latics were dragged right back into the relegation fight
on Saturday afternoon, after Fulham fight back, following Emmerson Boyce’s stunning
opener at Craven Cottage.
Phillip Senderos’ towering header finally broke the visitor’s
resistance after they had seemed to whether the storm, after seeing the Cottagers hit the
woodwork twice through the impressive Pavel Pogrebnyak.
The Latics’ recent impressive run looked to set to continue
when they took the lead through the unlikely Boyce. The right back linked up terrifically
with substitute Conor Sammon, and finished with aplomb to send the travelling Latics
into delirium.
Conor Sammon |
Following back to back victories against the Champions
Manchester United, and on the road to Arsenal, they looked set to put
further light between themselves and the bottom three.
But the game changed within 60 seconds of the opener, Russian international
Pogrebnyak levelled things up with a great strike from outside the box
following a neat one two, with Clint Dempsey.
From them on it was all Fulham and Roberto Martinez
looked to have settled for a point, and brought on Ben Watson to tighten up the
ship. But for the second time in a number of weeks they left West
London with nothing following last gasp heartache.
Results elsewhere were not kind, with both Blackburn
and QPR picking up crucial wins. Rangers have now leapfrogged Wigan
on goal difference and Blackburn have reduced the gap
between themselves and the Latics to only 3 points.
Ali Al Habsi |
Encouragingly for all concerned with Wigan is that they are
indeed 3 points clear with two games to play at home and they away game coming
at Blackburn.
Before Saturday’s encounter Martinez
was keen to stress they had a lot of hard work still left before securing
survival and he remained upbeat following the defeat, as he spoke to the waiting press: “Today was perhaps a game too far; the demands over the last
few weeks have been huge, but we have to recover and be ready for next week.”
Up next are inform Newcastle United who are right in the mix
for a Champions League place, and it sure to be a cracking game at
the DW Stadium, and Martinez will be keen to see his side take advantage of having two games at home in the run in.
The key thing for Wigan is that they
unlike season’s before, they have their destiny in their hands, and they are not reliant
on other results going their way. If they concentrate on their own games they will stay up, and Martinez
will ensure his side quickly regain their focus.
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