Certain sections of the mainstream media seem to be under the impression that football is all about superstars. Sure, it might be watching Cantonas and Zolas that gets you into the game in the first instance, but the longer you watch, the more you realise it’s about much more than that. In the past month, Eden Hazard has garnered ten times the column inches that Emmerson Boyce and Maynor Figueroa have in their entire careers. But where would our ‘Azzer be without a good team to make him look awesome? Every sole at St Mary’s played their part in this afternoon’s contest, be it the players, the officials or the thousands of fans cheering on their respective teams.

Future superstar Victor Moses may be departed, but the Latics management team have done a great job of concocting a contingency plan. What of Callum McManaman, or Fraser Fyvie? And Ryodinho, how long will it be before we see him don the Wigan shirt? Moses was just one cog in the machine, and with Shaun Maloney pulling the levers one suspects a number of configurations would be made to work. The only problem is keeping the man fit enough to play – I don’t think it’ll be long before the Latics Supporters Club start a collection to buy him a comfy, joint-soothing armchair.

At this point I’m tempted to cart out that oft-cited phrase, “there are no easy games in the Premier League”. It goes without saying these days, and too many people (myself included) are all too adept at stating the blooming obvious. Long gone are the days of newly-promoted teams being absolutely tonked week after week, understrength and underfunded clubs wingin’ it in the big leagues (Wigan being the exception of course). As the gap to the top 4 widens, the jump between divisions is ever narrowing and it makes for some exciting football.

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