Swansea 2-1 Latics - Latics Fall Short on Welsh Trip

The Latics suffered their fifth defeat of the season, as they were unable to pull off a late comeback against Swansea City on Saturday afternoon.

Spanish duo Pablo Hernandez and Miguel Michu struck the decisive blows within a crushing two minute spell. Despite a wonder goal from Emmerson Boyce, the Latics returned to the North West empty handed.  

Emmerson Boyce 

The Latics named an unchanged team from their clash with Everton two weeks ago and should have taken the lead in a tense opening half, when Shaun Maloney’s effort was kept out by Michel Vorm.

The opening goal of the game came when Pablo Hernandez, Swansea's club-record signing, broke the deadlock in the 65th minute with a low shot past Ali Al-Habsi from 18 yards. 

Michu added the crucial second for the Welsh club, with a close-range header from Jonathan de Guzman's corner for his seventh goal of the season. 

The Latics refused to lie down and were back in the game after Emmerson Boyce's exquisite 69th-minute back-flick, but were made to rue a contentious decision to rule out a header from Arouna Kone.

It was a decision that cost the Latics dear as they were unable to find that decisive blow late on, with even keeper Al Habsi going close with a header in the dying moments.

Roberto Martinez

Former Swansea boss Martinez, who was unsuccessful in his appeal against a disciplinary charge from the FA this week, was unhappy with yet another decision going against his side on the road:

“It was a call which didn't go our way. It was really costly. I felt it would have been an interesting final 10 minutes because we could have won the game. 

Sometimes you want to be honest with the referee's decision, but I have learned my lesson. I cannot really comment.

I need to accept it and give an official answer. Sometimes the calls go your way, sometimes they don't. But I thought we deserved a point.”

Up next for the Latics is a crucial home clash against West Ham, which will spark many a memory of a memorable afternoon the last time the Hammers visited the DW.

With the winter nights almost upon us, Martinez will use this week to pick his side up following this latest set back. He will be keen to bring this winless run to an end and give his side some breathing space above the teams currently occupying the bottom three as the league begins to take shape. 

 

Wigan 3-2 Wolves - Boyce Double Rounds Off Memorable Season

A memorable double from club legend Emmerson Boyce ensured the Latics signed off the season in great style, in front a full house on Sunday afternoon.

The result sees Roberto Martinez’s men finish off in 15^th place, after an incredible run, saw them pick up seven wins from their final nine games.

Franco Di Santo & Hugo Rodallega

Already relegated Wolves looked to dampen the party atmosphere when they took the lead through winger Matt Jarvis, whose terrific effort left Ali Al Habsi with no chance, after only nine minutes.

The Latics were not behind for long and soon levelled up, when Argentine striker Franco Di Santo’s deflected left the visiting keeper flat footed. Moments later Boyce’s fine header put the home side ahead, from a Jean Beasejour corner.

Boyce sealed the points late into the second half, with a stunning strike after great link up play with Hugo Rodallega, who is set to leave the club.

Dave Whelan & Ali Al Habsi

Steven Fletcher’s late goal took some of the gloss off the day, after a defensive mix up, again gave Al Habsi no chance.

The game had very much a feel of an end of season affair, but few inside the DW would complain; only eight weeks ago the club looked doomed and set for a return to the football league.

The day was very much about the fans and a full house ensured a great atmosphere and Martinez made only one change. Adrian Lopez was given a rare outing alongside player of the season Gary Caldwell, and despite his late error looked assured.

To have finished five points ahead of Aston Villa, a founding member of the Premier League is an incredible achievement, and shows that Martinez was right to stick with the Latics.

The Players Celebrate 

As always, there is sure to be much change over the course of the summer period, with Rodallega, Chris Kirkland, Steve Gohouri and Mohammed Diame all confirmed as being released.

There is also plenty of interest around other members of the squad as well as the staff, with Aston Villa confirming their interest once again in Martinez this evening.

Regardless of what happens over the next couple of months, the Latics will be taking part in their eighth consecutive season in the top flight and the future is looking very, very good. 

Blackburn Rovers 0-1 Wigan – Late Goal Secures Survival

Antolin Alcaraz’s late winner ensured that the Latics pulled of the greatest of all great escapes’ with one game remaining on Monday evening, and in the process relegated Blackburn Rovers to the Championship.

Alcaraz rose ahead of Captain Gary Caldwell to meet Jean Beausejour late corner, and sent the travelling Latics into delirium.

Antolin Alcaraz

It was an incredible sixth win from their last eight games, and now leaves the club 5 points clear of the drop, and means the fans can enjoy the final game of the season on Sunday afternoon.

Considering the magnitude of the task the club faced, in order to ensure an eighth season at the top table, this escape will go down in the club's history as the greatest of them all.

The majority of the hard work was done in earlier games of the run in, with memorable victories against Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle.

Tonight’s performance typified the fighting spirit when many would have held firm and took a share of the points, late on they went in search of the winner.

Within the closing stages the just reward came for the faith shown in Martinez from the owner Dave Whelan, who will undoubtedly be delighted with his club's latest achievement.  

Speaking to the press following the game Captain Caldwell praised his manager: “Credit goes to him (Martinez), when everyone doubted us he held firm. He stuck to his principles and continued to play football and now we have reaped the rewards.”

The talismanic skipper was keen to stress the point that the club now needs to build on this: "We do not want to be in this position next season, we've proven that we can more than survive at this level, we have to build on this and bring success to the fans." 

Gary Caldwell 

For the vast majority of the game the home side looked resigned to their fate, and Martinez’s men put in a professional performance and took advantage of the sour atmosphere within the ground.

The Latics had the better of the first half with Victor Moses causing havoc amongst the Rovers backline. Jean Beausejour was given plenty of freedom from the home side but the Latics were not able to add the killer touch.

Arguably the highlight of the half will have been Ali Al Habsi’s intervention when a chicken donning a Rovers flag made his way onto the pitch, the only time Al Habsi was called into action. The home side were unable to create pressure and carve out any genuine chances with the inform Junior Hoilett and top scorer Yakubu being kept quiet.

Martinez will have been disappointed at how his side did not press home the advantage just as they did in the clash with Newcastle last week.

As the rain continued to pour down into the second half the home side finally decided to go for it a little more.

Beausejour was on hand early into the second period when he cleared Yakubu’s goal bound attempt after a great knock down from Scott Dann.

The Latics responded and Moses should have done better when he flashed over following Franco Di Santo’s cushioned header.

The home side had a great shout for a penalty on the hour mark, when it seemed as though Emmerson Boyce took away Hoilett’s standing leg when he was about to pull the trigger.

  

With only ten minutes left to play Moses and James McCarthy were unable to beat Paul Robinson after some great link up play leaving the Rovers backline on the back foot.  

Jean Beausejour

As the home fans turned on the owners and their manager instead of pushing the team on for the winner that they required the Latics pressed for the points. 

Scottish international Maloney should have sealed up the three points when he headed over from Boyce’s pin point cross, moments later Moses low cross was just too quick for substitute Conor Sammon.

From the resulting corner Paraguayan international Alcaraz headed the winner home past the despairing Robinson.

The result now means that the Latics will take to the field in August in what will be their eight consecutive season amongst the elite. An incredible feat that looked highly unlikely following their dismal home defeat to Swansea only two months ago.

This escape will go down in the history of the club as the greatest, when most had written them off, Martinez stuck with philosophy, the board held firm, and kept faith in their man and boy has it paid off, as the 3000 strong fans chanted all night: “We shall not be moved.” 

Fulham 2-1 Wigan – Latics Run Ended By Last Gasp Winner

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

Bolton will rue a missed opportunity at home to Swansea after only picking up a point at hime, but do have two games in hand on all of their rivals once of which is against Aston Villa in midweek. Victory for Bolton would certainly see Villa being dragged into the fight as we head into the final three weeks of the season.

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.  

Fulham v Wigan - Preview

The Latics head to the capital for the second time this week in search of their third consecutive victory, in their latest great escape act.

Following their memorable victory at the Emirates on Monday evening, Roberto Martinez’s men find themselves five points clear of the drop, with just four games left to play.

Hugo Rodallega

If the excellent run of form is to continue, they will need to end a terrible run of results against Fulham. Wigan have failed to win in any of the last ten encounters against the Londoners, and have only beaten then twice in their top flight history.

Martinez will be confident his side can once again overcome the odds, and he welcomes back striker Hugo Rodallega to his match squad, for the first time in six weeks. Shaun Maloney who missed the Monday night’s clash at the Emirates, faces a late fitness test, and Spaniard Albert Crusat is definitely sidelined.

As for the hosts, their forward line options have been bolstered with the return of former England international Andy Johnson and Russian hotshot Pavel Pogrebnyak.

Heading into their penultimate away trip of the season the Latics can be confident of avoiding the drop, and continuing their impressive run.

Having kept faith in his side and his playing style, Martinez must be delighted with his side.  Despite the run fans can be rest assured that his side remain focussed for the remainder of the run in.

The mentality he has instilled in his side has been at the forefront of their incredible recent run of results. The emergence of the likes of Victor Moses and Shaun Maloney has added a much needed spark to the forward line.

Emmerson Boyce

His decision to play with three at the back has proved to a masterstroke, with Gary Caldwell leading from the back.

Unlike seasons before the Latics are in the position now of having their destiny in their own hands, two wins from their final four games will see them hit the magic forty point mark. Everyone at the club will been keen to ensure that survival can be secured as soon as possible, starting with three points on Saturday.