Martinez has helped Latics avoid a 'relegation special'

Having just about recovered from the madness of Sunday’s epic Premier League finale, I sat down to properly read the latest edition of the Mudhutter Football Express yesterday evening. Jimmy‘s comedy-censored foreword made no secret of the fact this was meant to be a ‘relegation special’, quite obviously written some months in advance at a time when survival seemed but a pipe dream. Now that’s what I call ‘keeping the faith’! In all seriousness, though, I considered posting something similar here at JWAW: a celebration of Wigan’s seven years in the Premier League/Premiership/Premier Foods League through our most memorable matches.

Indeed, as few as ten weeks ago it all looked to be coming to an end. The five minute bell had already sounded and we hadn’t even finished our cucumber sandwiches in the pavilion dining room, let alone equip pads and spikes. While myself and the MFE are left slightly egg-faced, it’s with delight we banish our misplaced resignation, for once again we sit in anticipation of another successive season in England’s top flight. As I repeatedly exclaimed in the aftermath of Shaun Maloney’s goal against Newcastle, just who would have credited it?

Events at the Etihad Stadium make me wish the Wigan-Wolves match was played on Saturday, the day before all that excitement unfolded, so I could follow the top-of-the-table soap opera in front of the telly. No matter how unfeasible such fiddling of the fixtures may sound, I feel as though I missed out on something special, the sheer craziness of the Premier League’s closest ever finish.

Not that I would have been anywhere other than the DW for our final game of the season which, had there been survival to contest, would of course have taken precedence over eating, sleeping and breathing (but not drinking). I don’t know, maybe we Latics supporters have become drama junkies thanks to season finales past – we seek to avoid those all-or-nothing one-shot playoffs, yet at the same time crave the emotion. I guess that’s entertainment for you.

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Three goals and three straight wins to cap a superb end to the season

And so it came to pass that on Sunday, 13 May 2012, Wigan Athletic and Wolverhampton Wanderers would do battle on the green (well alright, slightly brown) pastures of the DW. But it wasn’t quite the crucial relegation contest many predicted and perhaps expected, what with the fate of both sides already decided. What happened there, eh? It wasn’t supposed to be like this – Latics always take it right down to the wire, pulling out their greatest battling performances on the final day to seal survival in the most exciting manner possible. It actually made a pleasant change, because it’s about time we had the opportunity to sit back and enjoy some football without the spectre of relegation hanging over us.

Yesterday, to put it simply, was a great big excuse for a party. A near-full house for Wigan’s 1500th league game, the grand unveiling of next season’s kit, the 2pm crush outside the newly-opened Sharpy’s Restaurant, the traditional end-of-season lap of honour… we haven’t seen this much activity in Wigan since they opened that Ann Summers store on Crompton Street.

Then there was the small matter of a football match. Latics have truly been in the form of their Premier League lives, blistering their way to the top of the form league with an incredible six wins in eight games. Though Wolves’ record in the equivalent eight matches is less impressive, it must be said that it takes some quality to score four goals at the Liberty Stadium and keep a clean sheet against Everton, even with nothing of real meaning left to play for. Everton will of course contest this statement with inter-city bragging rights at stake, but the point stands – that’s two decent draws for Wolves. A pity then, that they have been sure of their own relegation for some weeks now.

Wigan made one change from the lineup that won 1-0 at Blackburn on Monday night, with Adrian Lopez replacing goalscorer Antolin Alcaraz in the centre of defence. The reason for the Paraguayan’s absence is as-yet unexplained, but after such an important goal, I’d say he deserved a day off to kick back and watch his team-mates complete a third straight victory.

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The Wingman & Alcatraz: Wigan are greatly indebted to their central defensive partnership

Latics edged out Blackburn to seal their survival with a game to spare thanks to a powerful 87th minute Antolin Alcaraz header. Though the visitors dominated the first half, they could not make any of their excellent chances count against an insipid Rovers. The hosts, requiring a win to remain in the hunt for a place in next year’s Premier League, launched a spirited second-half effort to grasp control of the game. They were denied a decent penalty shout when Boyce appeared to hack Hoilett to the ground, but referee Mark Clattenberg was unsighted due to the sea of bodies and rapidly deteriorating climactic conditions. Having soaked up the Blackburn onslaught, Wigan came back strongly in the final ten minutes and Alcaraz cropped up with less than four minutes to play to head home Beausejour’s corner at the back post.

Results since Wigan’s last match meant that a draw would effectively see them safe. We are all too aware, however, that there is great danger in playing for a draw, as we have witnessed numerous times this season in countless games throughout the Premier League. Martinez is ever conscious of this, and abandoned any thought of such a strategy long ago, perhaps as far back as his debut season as manager of Wigan. With Rovers also in need of a result, it seemed there was no way the game would finish goalless.

With no injury worries whatsoever, Latics could once again stick to the winning lineup that had served them so well in the past month. Brimming with confidence off the back of a spectacular 4-0 victory over Newcastle, they resumed business as usual, imposing themselves on the game from kick-off. Latics quickly seized control of midfield, harassing and haranguing Blackburn like lions around a carcass. Their first great chance came on 8 minutes, when Franco Di Santo skipped over two defenders before attempting to whip the ball across Paul Robinson, but the ex-England international could pouch the Argentine’s effort with relative ease.

Antony Modeste attempted a not-at-all modest Cisse-esque volley from way outside the area, but it went sailing over Al Habsi’s bar and Wigan were soon back on the attack. Franco Di Santo had a difficult chance just inside the penalty area as the ball came in from the left, but could not prevent his effort from ballooning into the upper tier of the stand behind Robinson’s goal. The visitors continued to come forward, however, and Victor Moses was afforded another Latics shot on target before the half hour was up. Chasing a seemingly lost cause, he cut his way from the sideline into the penalty area, but no Wigan men seemed to anticipate the Nigerian’s marauding run and he had no choice but to go for goal himself. Robinson neutralised the threat, but troubling times abound for Rovers.

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Victor Moses narrowly missed out on a hat-trick

Latics conjured up a magical 45 minutes of attacking football, most probably their greatest under Roberto Martinez, to completely pummel fourth-placed Newcastle into submission by half time. Victor Moses first headed home Emmerson Boyce’s deep cross on 12 minutes before doubling his tally less than 120 seconds later. Shaun Maloney expertly finished off another superb Latics passing move on 35 minutes, while Franco Di Santo’s precision chip from well outside the penalty area found the top right-hand corner of Tim Krul’s goal in first half stoppage time.

Martinez drafted the influential Shaun Maloney back into the starting lineup, and Franco Di Santo, rated ‘doubtful’ prior to the game, recovered from his knock last Saturday to retain the holding centre-forward berth. Yes, Roberto had the luxury of reverting to the lineup that conquered Liverpool, Stoke and Man United – and it positively paid dividends.

The home side were quick off the mark, earning themselves a couple of corners in the first five minutes with some forward-thinking football. Di Santo and Moses had subsequent shots blocked and saved respectively in a period that set the tone for the remaining 35 minutes or so of the first stanza. Of course, Newcastle weren’t without their moments; Emmerson Boyce brought down Cheick Tiote right on the edge of the Wigan area, but Yohan Cabaye’s probing cross could not be controlled by Papiss Cisse, at least not with a hassling Antolin Alcaraz in attendance.

There followed a brief break as Demba Ba picked up a niggle in a hefty challenge with Maynor Figueroa, and a revitalised Latics (or at least Victor Moses) seemed to emerge the other side having retrieved their finishing boots from the bench. Emmerson Boyce worked himself some space on the right wing and delivered a dangerous left-foot cross to the edge of the 6-yard box, where Victor Moses was waiting to head the ball past a helpless Krul. Latics hardly had time to celebrate before they had the ball in the Newcastle net once more; a Jean Beausejour ball in from the left channel was initially blocked, but Moses was again on hand to mop up the spoils and snaffle his sixth of the season.

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