Wigan simply do not know how to win ugly and they are in possession of a soft underbelly. They haven’t had the toughest of starts so far this season yet find themselves rock bottom in the league.
The side’s first three games of the season were against each of the promoted teams, and they picked up a reasonable if unspectacular total of five points for their efforts. Last season’s effort to maintain their status was built upon a decent away record in a season that saw champions Man Utd win an unremarkable five of their alloted 18 away fixtures. So far, they’ve picked up just the one point on their travels.
But no result has summed up the disappointment of their season so far more so than the 3-1 defeat at home to an equally out of sorts Bolton side, who have to be considered one of their main rivals for the drop.
The month of November could prove as crucial a month as any that the club have experienced in their stay in the top flight so far. With the league quickly approaching a third of the way through, they are still within two victories of West Brom in 13th place and all is not lost yet, even if a worrying gap is beginning to emerge between the bottom four and mid-table obscurity.
They have three games – Wolves (A), Blackburn (H) and Sunderland (A) – to rescue their season. A bare minimum of seven points has to be set aside to give them a realistic chance of avoiding relegation, even at this early stage, because in December they host Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool while also facing Man Utd and Stoke away. It’s entirely reasonable, based on current form at least, to expect Wigan to lose each and every one of those fixtures around the festive period.
Wigan have often punched above their weight during their seven-year sojourn. They boast a vocal support and even more vocal Chairman. In Roberto Martinez they have an extremely affable young manager with lots of potential, but unless they start to arrest the slide which is in danger of characterising their season, then every match from hereon in is in danger of becoming a dreaded six-pointer – something which would place an insurmountable amount of pressure on the side for the rest of the campaign.
They’ve been written off time and time again and labelled as favourites for the drop more times than their supporters have had hot dinners, but this time, Wigan appear to be running out of answers. They look tired and beaten by the turmoil of a perpetual battle to prove themselves against their peers by avoiding the drop. November could decide the club’s fate this season, for without a healthy return, the club could disappear from the top flight without a trace.
You can follow me on Twitter @JamesMcManus1
Written by james McManus for FootballfanCast.com
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I think you’ll find that the phrase is “end is nigh”, not night. Also,Man Utd along with every other PL club play 19 away games, not 18.
Another poor effort from another wannabe journo. Stick to the day job.