This past season has seen more intrigue, magic, terror and excitement than an X-rated Harry Potter novel. A better comparison might be the 2006‐–07 Premier League campaign, which also saw Wigan scrape through by the skin of a skinny supermodel’s rice pudding. Actually, that’s a stupid comparison as the likes of Kate Moss would most likely melt instantaneously upon contact with such a sugary foodstuff, if the state of my teeth is anything to go by.

2010–11 shall live long in the memory of every Latics supporter, if not for the dramatic defeats which characterised early August, then for the almost unbearable finale and, of course, the games which sealed survival, the contests from which we had to get a result when the pressure was really on. Forget, if you will, the bad times that left us furrowing the depths of despair and preparing for the Championship as early as December 2010, for when we look back upon this season I’m sure it’ll be the positive results that stand out. After all, I’m sure nobody remembers White Hart Lane anymore…

Detailed in this article are the nine victories we will remember as being integral to Wigan Athletic’s survival in the 2010–11 season, a handful of which will go down in history as among the greatest ever by the club. At this point I should also make it clear that fifteen draws also played a large part in Wigan’s final league position of 16th, and a number of those are almost as memorable. Though I have made allusion to, for example, the two great 1–1s with Liverpool, it’s the wins we shall be focusing on here.

Read the rest of this entry »

Roberto Martinez: tactical mastermind or lucky so-and-so?

If you reckoned nothing could top Wigan-West Ham, then the almost excruciating events of yesterday may well force you to rethink. It wasn’t a classic game of football by any means, and by pure footballing standards it was relatively tame in comparison. In football, however, context is everything, and you’d have been a fool to ignore the connotations of a Latics win.

Ultimately, the final day survival battle came down to quality of opposition – even though Blackpool and Birmingham put in the expected spirited performances, it is extremely difficult to go to a top-of-the-table club and snatch three points. Granted, on another, less crucial day, a draw would not have been out of the question for Birmingham in particular. They were unlucky to concede a superb effort late on, but their hands were forced by scorelines elsewhere. Sure, Tottenham dominated for large chunks of the game, but just like against us way back in August of last year, didn’t make that count. Birmingham almost seized their opportunity and can count themselves a tad unlucky that Blackburn weren’t quite the force in their second half against Wolves.

Of the relegated bosses, it is Alex McLeish I feel most sorry for. Avram Grant may be out of a job but he hasn’t overseen a four-year transformation of fortunes in quite the same way as the Scotsman. Besides, I’m sure he’ll be back, as will West Ham. Ian Holloway always knew he was up against it and the really hard stuff began in earnest after Christmas when wins for Blackpool were almost as rare as a Mauro Boselli shot on target. When things were looking ominous, it was unfortunate his attacking style of play came back to bite him in the bottom.

Post-game, McLeish looked absolutely devastated on Match of the Day, more so than Grant or Holloway, who took it all in his stride. When it really mattered, injuries to crucial players took their toll on Birmingham. The fantastic European-challenging season of 2009/10 (well, almost) must seem an awful long time ago now, but under McLeish there is always the chance of his side propelling itself back into the Prem at the first opportunity. They have the support and, I believe, the manager to do it.

Read the rest of this entry »

Ha-yah: Rodallega cropped up to win the game on 78.

Latics ensured their Premier League survival with a significant away win, only their fourth of the season but arguably the most decisive. The tension and nerves of last week’s classic encounter with West Ham were simply hors d’oeuvres for today’s main course, which predictably proved nigh on indigestible for great periods. But did Martinez’s side get their just desserts for a season of toil at the foot of the table?

At half time, prospects for survival weren’t looking too great. Outmuscled and outplayed in all areas of the park, the visitors couldn’t string together two passes to save their Premier League life and only Momo Diame managed to even get a (misdirected) shot away. Their hosts could easily have scored from any of Rory Delap’s thunderbolt throw-ins, and managed to scramble the ball over Wigan’s goal line on one occasion. Thankfully for Latics, Jonathan Walters was standing right in front of Al Habsi and in an offside position when Kenwyne Jones’s header hit the back of the net. Wigan collectively breathed a huge sigh of relief, but there was more to come.

Wigan Player of the Season Ali Al Habsi was in commanding form, producing two fantastic saves to deny Jones then Pennant, and controlling the six-yard area with some authority. Emmerson Boyce, too, took charge to clear yet another Jones effort off the goal line in spectacular fashion. Each of their team-mates, by contrast, was visibly nervous and could count themselves lucky not to be a goal (or two) down going into the break.

News of other scores filtered through to the visiting fans, who learned not much had changed from 45 minutes earlier – though a point would give their side a chance of survival, a win would more than likely be sufficient. One last fighting half of football would still be enough to grab the club a place in England’s top flight for 2011-12.

Read the rest of this entry »

In this age of technology, Sky Sports and ESPN aren’t the only ones covering Premier League games. In fact, I’d suggest some of the fan-made videos uploaded to the Internet, whilst not exactly of the best quality, offer an insight the big stations’ HD and 3D cameras don’t, and that’s the fan’s eye view.

Following Latics’ exciting comeback against West Ham at the weekend, many supporters took to YouTube to share their own piece of memorabilia from what could be an historic game, certainly one of the most memorable of recent times.

To start us off, here’s a superb view of Charlie’s first goal courtesy a West Ham fan who had the foresight to whip out his phone:

Read the rest of this entry »