Al Habsi pulled off a couple of top saves, but was mostly powerless

Wigan suffered a miserable defeat in even worse conditions at the DW Stadium, partly due to their own defensive frailties but also because of Sunderland’s sheer excellence in front of goal. Though the hosts enjoyed a great first half, they would go into the break 1-0 down and failed to find an answer to the Black Cats’ immense finishing as 2012 got off to the worst possible start.

Latics really went for it in the first stanza, and could so easily have taken the lead as early as the tenth minute when Steve Gohouri forced a goal line clearance from Craig Gardner. The home side settled down to boss the game, getting the ball on the turf and keeping some possession. The undoubted chance(s) of the half fell first to David Jones, who cut his way superbly through the penalty area and beat Mignolet, only to see his strike hit the post. From the resulting rebound, Ronnie Stam played a fantastic ball through to Watson, who emulated Jones’ effort by almost immediately hitting the other post.

The lively Albert Crusat, starting in place of a rested Victor Moses, impressed in his 38 minutes on the field of play. He would have to be replaced by said Anglo-Nigerian when he suffered a somewhat innocuous knock in the back, but it didn’t stop the Latics pressure. Opportunities would also fall to Gomez and the dangerous Jones before the half was out, but the Black Cats keeper was equal to both. Wigan did not want this half to end… or did they? Conditions had become almost unplayable by this point as what seemed like a hurricane swept across the DW Stadium. All sensible football went out the window as both teams humped the ball around, evidently waiting for the half time whistle.

Under cloak of heavy rain, Sunderland delivered the sucker punch, a real telling blow from which Wigan never really recovered. Bendtner won a slightly suspect free kick on the edge of the area, which Gardner struck home with immense power and placement. A cracking free kick, but Wigan really did not deserve it after dominating the half, and if climactic conditions continued the same way, it would be difficult to see any sort of goals, or even anything. Though the weather cleared to restore visibility, many will be wishing it did not.

Confidence well and truly shot, it all went downhill from there for Latics. They gave it a go, but one felt it was a losing battle, especially with a constantly shifting formation that featured fewer and fewer defenders. After Jones’s screw-up on the edge of his own area, McClean capitalised in the best (worst?) way possible – by sticking it in the onion bag and doubling his side’s lead. Sunderland are on such great form of late they weren’t about to miss, but it was, at least in part, a self-imposed punishment. 2-0, and from a position of relative strength, Latics found themselves seriously chasing the game.

Victor Moses and Momo Diame (above) were rested, but both saw action from the bench

Hugo Rodallega got one back for Latics –his long-awaited first of the season– on 62 minutes, but the hosts’ gung-ho attitude was always liable to lead to self-destruction. Conor Sammon was introduced in favour of Stam, an indication that Martinez was adopting a more attacking tactic. The problem with such strategies, however, is that they leave you open at the back, and that almost-too-inevitable landslide of goals was only a moment away. Sessegnon put the game beyond doubt, while Vaughan’s 80th minute untouchable thunderbolt capped an awesome game for the visitors, riding the crest of a wave all the way to a fourth game unbeaten.

Wigan were shattered by the third goal and, much like Martinez sides of seasons past, completely went to pieces upon concession of the fourth. The visitors dealt with the harsh northern weather by far the better and steamrollered a helpless Wigan in a storming 45 minutes of football. The hosts didn’t capitalise on their dominance in the first stanza and were made to pay, big style.

Though Latics controlled the midfield, the game was lost elsewhere. Just when you think the is on the way up again, a string of defensive cock-ups leads to a result such as this. It was almost incongruous, a frustrating game at both ends in a sea of generally positive performances. With Man City next up in the league, it’s gonna take quite a bit of work to clean up such a mess in time for what will likely be a case of damage limitation.

On the plus side, there’s the small matter of an away cup tie to come, which will be the perfect opportunity for some experimentation. The likes of Maloney and Lopez may get run-outs; there is no word on Callum McManaman, who’s still at Blackpool for the time being but could be recalled at any moment. Another thing’s in our favour – with Caldwell returning to the centre of defence, we’ll be able to revert back to that lineup that has served us so well of late. A good point, actually – why did we switch things about in such an important game? Impending African Cup of Nations or no, you’ve got to field your best possible team when fighting against the drop.

Franco Di Santo (above) teamed up with James McArthur to pinch the points for Latics

Franco Di Santo and James McArthur were the heroes as Latics rode their luck, spied their chances and stole all three points in the dying minutes of what transpired to be an open contest at the Stadium of Light. Earlier, Victor Moses and Conor Sammon had been the driving force behind an improved second-half performance which built upon Jordi Gomez’s 44th minute equalising penalty.

Martinez kept faith in the same starting XI that oh-so-nearly orchestrated a win at the DW last week, with James McCarthy retaining his place after talk of a minor leg injury. Hugo Rodallega and Ben Watson would once again have to satisfy themselves with a place on the bench as Roberto’s new-look side set out to continue their unbeaten run (admittedly, of one game).

One goal apiece represented a decent half time return for what was, in essence, a Sunderland steamroller job. The only lacking aspect was that (Latics-esque?) finishing touch as chance after wonderful chance was carried away on the brisk afternoon breeze and sailed down the Tyne into a sea of lost hope. Or, as it is more commonly known, the North Sea.

Some characteristically iffy Latics defending helped the home side’s cause, but the Black Cats’ nine attempts on target yielded just the one goal – and that was chiefly due to a mistake from Ali Al Habsi. Kieran Richardson’s strike bounced just in front of the Omani, who could not cling on to the slippery ball. Sebastian Larsson was quickest to react, though to be fair there were two more Sunderland men waiting to pounce had the Swede failed to make up the ground. Hey, it wouldn’t be a Latics match without an early goal against, would it?

Hard to believe that Wigan actually made the immediate running. Victor Moses could not prevent his long-range shot from being deflected horribly wide, while Jordi Gomez also directed a firm strike right at Keirin Westwood. However, from then until the half hour mark it was all Sunderland, who engulfed the away penalty area like flies around a discarded half-consumed Ribena carton (it’ll make more sense a bit later on).

Al Habsi kept Latics in the game early on

The aforementioned Al Habsi would atone for his error with a string of great stops within the space of fifteen minutes, first denying Richardson, then Brown and Bardsley. These saves would take on much greater significance when Latics drew level just a few minutes prior to the half time whistle (and even greater significance come the 95th minute, but more about that later). Victor Moses was tripped in the area by Sebastian Larsson to earn his side a penalty, which Jordi Gomez subsequently slotted away by sending Westwood the wrong way. 1-1, Wigan back in the game and with a new-found confidence that the outcome could be more positive this week. After surviving the Sunderland barrage, one would suggest this might possibly be Wigan’s day, but I’ve said that so many times only to be proven very wrong.

The Moses penalty came at just the right time to restore some faith in the Anglo-Nigerian (meh, it was so much easier before he opted not to make himself available for the Super Eagles) and in all probability was the correct decision from referee Kevin Friend, who has on so many occasions proved our ally. There was, however, a great sense of injustice among the home faithful, who believed Moses had either gone down voluntarily or slipped over a piece of litter lying just inside the penalty area. Indeed, there is the distinct possibility that this flattened drinks carton caused Victor to lose his footing, but in truth, Larsson’s leg was always the more likely culprit.

The second half was far more open, with Latics now looking to hit the hosts on the break. An increasingly impressive Conor Sammon looked to have got the better of Kieran Richardson in a footrace for the Sunderland goal, but opted to go down in an attempt to win a second penalty for his side. Though you don’t necessarily blame him, it was probably the weaker option considering Friend’s determination to keep the game flowing by ignoring the odd niggling infringement. Though Victor Moses was ‘fairly’ chopped down around the opposition area more than once, it was still a refereeing situation preferable to that of last week. Besides, Moses would get his own back when felled by John O’Shea, who was awarded a yellow card to break the string of generous advantages.

Still no goals for Victor, but his penalty-winning abilities aren't in doubt

An initially subdued Sunderland were now creating the odd chance, and swung the ball across the face of the Latics goal on numerous occasions. Fortunately for the visitors, nobody was there to meet them and when Richardson did manage to get his head to the ball he only succeeded in putting the ball marginally wide. Lucky for Latics, but then you could argue we deserve a bit of fortune after all we’ve been through in the last twelve weeks. In fact, it seemed all the poor luck Wigan have experienced since August seemed to be righting itself in a large dose of Karma realignment.

Ronnie Stam, who had been penetrating on the right wing for 73 minutes, was replaced by James McArthur as Martinez looked to manufacture a winner. It would have to work for him one day, wouldn’t it? Conor Sammon was also replaced ten minutes later, but not before mishitting perhaps Wigan’s best opportunity of the half less than ten yards from goal. Latics fans will forgive him, for his enterprise had earned Wigan possession on many occasions, and he probably deserved a goal for his work rate alone. He was also my own personal man of the match. Not that that’s much of a consolation, but the final result may well be.

Di Santo picked up where Sammon left off, causing the Black Cats defence to panic with his chasing of lost causes, a one-man show with some help from any midfielder who happened to be around the half way line at the time. It was to be such a formula that led to the best chance of the game for any team, when subs Di Santo and McArthur teamed up to win the ball from Wes Brown deep into opposition territory with but minutes to play. McArthur played the ball through to Di Santo, who, just eight yards from goal and past the keeper, simply could not miss. He didn’t, and though the home side had time for one attack in response, it was to prove fruitless. Di Santo’s goal was the decider, and finally, after months of hurt, Latics had recorded a second win of the season.

The unsung hero: Conor Sammon

I could harp on about how poorly Wigan might have defended, especially in that first half, but it scarcely matters. I don’t care if we defend terribly week after week if the results are forthcoming – after all, you are rewarded based on your position in the Premier League table rather than performances over the course of a season. Of course, you always want as strong a team as you can muster, but success brings cash which in turn brings better quality defenders. And attackers. And, erm, midfielders. Sad but true, the highly-commercialised world of modern football.

Wigan have worked extremely hard for such a win, and my goodness how crucial it is. It’s still a steep slope back to lower-mid table mediocrity, but four points in two games represents a huge improvement, at least in terms of results. Next week sees Arsenal visit the DW Stadium and, while nobody expects us to win, hopes are much higher than they were just eight days ago.

Finally, I apologise for the over-the-top post title. You can’t deny it’s attention-grabbing, however. See you next Tues- I mean Saturday.

“You are always one defeat away from a crisis. On that basis, we’re in deep doodoo*.” — Villa manager John Gregory, 1999

*Word substituted for something more sanitary.

Lee Cattermole helped Steve Bruce get one over on his old club

Ahh, the joys of a good old-fashioned relegation scrap. Another week, another 90 minutes of tension, except this time round there was also a tinge of expectation. That’s what a solid performance, and more importantly a win, can do for your side. Moreover, previous weeks have seen particular fixtures involving fellow relegation battlers to Wigan’s benefit, meaning the win over Blackpool was enough to lift us out of the bottom three for the first time in what seems like months. It’s like a weight off your shoulders; after so many weeks of negativity and worry, just one win can drastically change moods and, hopefully, fortunes.

For a change, Latics went into this game on a high and with a real chance to pull further clear of the relegation places. The Black Cats had managed just one point in their last nine games, but this is less surprising when you consider the teams they’ve come up against – even the best of sides are going to struggle when faced with Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal, Liverpool and Man City within the space of two months. In Latics’ favour were Steve Bruce’s injury worries – Bramble, Mensah, Gordon and Campbell were all missing for today’s game with one problem or another, and things were about to get far worse in that respect.

Wigan were somewhat luckier, with only Maynor Figueroa out due to suspension. He’ll return for selection next week, but in the meantime Steve Gohouri has been filling in at left back. He and the rest of the Latics team travelled to the north east in good cheer, hoping to put one over on their old boss. Past encounters with Brucey’s new side had been favourable for Wigan, just about, with two draws and a Latics win since 2009.

Forget all that has gone before, though, because today’s match was not played out in the tabloid newspapers but at the Stadium of Light. The first half was relatively stale, the Black Cats bossing proceedings but not really causing Al Habsi too many problems. The best Wigan had to offer was Hugo Rodallega’s powerful strike which Mignolet managed to palm out for a corner, and though there were a few more promising attacks, it all seemed rather pedestrian. That’s fine if you’re 1-0 ahead, but this week that early goal didn’t come, and most forays into opposition territory were unpenetrating.

Wigan did go 1-0 up seven minutes into the second half through a Mo Diame screamer, one of the best goals we’ve seen this season. Totally against the run of play, it was a major confidence boost and, though Sunderland were still well on top in terms of possession and chances created, there was hope this could be another great away day.

Alas, it was not to be. Just minutes later, Sunderland would grab their equaliser through Gyan, and in the next half hour Wigan proceeded to crumble in spectacular fashion – it was like the Blackpool home game all over again. Defence was all over the place, passes were going well awry and Sunderland continued to get round the back of the visitors with great ease. They had done this to a certain degree in the first stanza, but the finishing touch simply was not there, whereas here it all clicked into place so wonderfully.

At this point, Wigan could have used a bit of luck; on another day, given a different referee, Antolin Alcaraz might not have conceded that penalty which put the hosts beyond Wigan’s reach and ultimately led to the all-out attack which would gift Sunderland their fourth.

Minor miracle: Franco scored

There was some consolation for Latics, however. All the planets came into alignment and a minor miracle occurred at approximately 4.52pm on 23 April – Franco Di Santo scored. Yes, after so many frustrating appearances, the Argentine bagged his first competitive strike for the Latics and probably cemented his place ahead of Sammon in the pecking order. Will he now go on to get a hatful? Probably not, as he will need another minor miracle just to make the starting lineup for Wigan’s next game.

To be honest, a goal was coming; Latics had threatened to grab one back via Moses, who so narrowly missed putting his side ahead just a few minutes earlier. It was all too late, though, and Wigan slip back into the relegation zone once again, albeit on goal difference. How far they will fall before their next game depends on evening and midweek matches, though there’s a good chance we might just hold on to 17th until 3pm next Saturday.

A real chance to gain points on our nearest rivals missed, Wigan now look to next week and another vital encounter with Everton at the DW Stadium. It’s getting to that stage where draws aren’t enough, but at least our attack line seems to have found its feet now. Five goals in two games away from home is a definite improvement, it’s just a question of whether Caldwell and Alcaraz can handle Cahill et al back in Wigan. We’re still in with a shout as there are indeed points available in the weeks to come, but it’ll take some defensive improvement.

I go on hiatus for a week and on my return find my comment queue filled with spam

Latics were also back in action this afternoon. Not that I was in any position to attend, for which I have Heritage Open Days to thank. You won’t hear me complaining (well, not much anyway), but it is a bit awkward that the thing clashed with this afternoon’s encounter with the Black Cats at the DW. Must be why they held the Wigan events at Leigh Civic Square.

Whatever the case, I was limited to just a second half WISH FM commentary of the match, which I count myself lucky to have heard at the very least. For this very reason, my post-match thoughts won’t be too comprehensive since all I have to go on are the biased opinions of Messrs Lovett and Rimmer. Yep, he of Neil Rimmer’s Perm Fame.

From what I can gather, the afternoon wasn’t a complete disaster. After our previous result, it was good to follow up and actually consolidate, to use an oft-quoted term. By which I mean I’m glad we didn’t lose, even though you’d have thought a win might be up for grabs after ex-Ticsmon Lee Cattermole’s sending off relatively early in the piece.

We’re still waiting for the two Prem wins on the bounce under Bob, though. Our own Spanish Supremo went with the same side that somehow stole all three points at White Hart Lane two weeks ago with new boys Di Santo and Cleverley taking a seat on the bench at the DW (which is actually more like a series of plush car seats).

Al-Habsi retained his place in the Latics goal even though reports suggest Kirkland was fit enough to return to the fold. Then again, with Kirky, you never know what sorts of little niggles and knocks he might have picked up on the car journey to the game. Notwithstanding this, I (and indeed most) would say Bob had to go with the Omani on recent form.

By the sounds of things, Cattermole’s 22nd minute second yellow was a tad harsh, especially considering some later decisions from referee Andre Marriner. I shan’t comment on this too much as I still haven’t seen any match action. Still, his side put up more than a fight even with a man short, with some observers commenting they were good value for their point.

A double substitution not long after the 45 minute mark saw the introduction of Charles N’Zogbia (is he still at the club?) and Franco Di Santo for his Latics début with Latics pressurising the Sunderland goal. The departing Hendry Thomas and Ronnie Stam, by accounts, did well enough in their 55 minutes on the pitch but Martinez presumably wanted to switch to a more attacking setup.

Latics continued to come at the visitors but didn’t really create any clear cut chances. They would pay for their discrepancies as The Black Cats’ own débutante, Asamoah Gyan, put the ball in the net with Sunderland’s first chance of the second half on 66 minutes.

Wigan became sloppy, and for a period you wouldn’t have been able to tell which team was down to ten men. Memories of 2009/10 seemed to come flooding back as the minutes, and indeed atmosphere, ebbed away. Boselli missed a golden opportunity (termed the ‘sitter of the season’ by Graham Lovett) on the 70 minute mark, if anything making matters slightly worse for Latics. Mauro would be replaced by Tom Cleverley just a couple of minutes later, prolonging the Ten Million Dollar Man’s goalless start to the season.

Nothing seemed to happen for at least five minutes as the visitors’ timewasting proved effective in bringing the game to a complete halt. Top marks to the Sunderland side in this regard, nice to see the all hands to the pump ‘let’s hang on’ mentality alive and well in English football, even if the vast majority of Premier League players can’t seem to stay on their feet upon contact with a blade of grass.

Sorry, got a bit off topic there.

When proceedings finally resumed, Latics earned themselves a free kick in the opposition third with just a few minutes left of normal time. Rodallega’s ball fell to James McCarthy, whose shot deflected off Antolin Alcaraz, or perhaps a defender… and into the net for Wigan’s equaliser. Momentum seemed to shift once again, and with a truckload of stoppage time to come, we were all set for a potentially exciting finish.

Nothing much changed, with Latics looking to push for a winner and Sunderland attempting to keep the ball in the opposition half of the field. Wigan’s relative impotence in the final third would ensure the game remained at one each as the final whistle blew.

A good point? Well, on the whole, I’d say it’s acceptable. I think we’re going to need all the points we can get, and though it was frustrating to concede against ten men, a draw is definitely better than a loss. Look at it this way, it could have been much worse. At least we’re still above the relegation zone, just about.

Although the scoreline might have more than a hint of (as the mainstream rags would term) ‘what might have been’ about it, I prefer to look upon this game as another point accrued in the quest for Premier League survival.

Yes, if Wigan had taken more of their first half chances or had James McCarthy slotted past Craig Gordon when he fortuitously found himself though on goal midway through the second half, it could have been 2-0 and a similar outcome to Wolves or Burnley away: defend what you have like a miser for the remaining 30 minutes or so.

Diame’s cracking run through the opposition half and shot sliced across the Sunderland keeper into the top corner of the goal was a reflection of the good football and chances created by Wigan in the first half. The home crowd had begun to turn against their team, as seems to happen quite a lot at Britain’s very own Stadium of Light these days.

Enter Kenwyne Jones to save the day for The Black Cats, or at least bring some semblance of respectability to the scoreline: they had their eye on three important points against a Wigan side on the rebound after the disappointment of Tuesday night. Bruce’s side showed plenty of promise but, much like the visiting side, could not muster that finishing touch when it mattered.

One each then, and plenty of time for both sides to snaffle all the points in what could prove to be a relegation battle. Unfortunately for Latics, Sunderland simply wanted it more from hereon in, and though both sides had half-opportunities I felt the home team were the more likely.

It didn’t happen, though. The game became scrappy, not at all helped by a referee who seemed to be treating his team lists as a booking checklist akin to those I-Spy books that used to be popular way before my time. Sunderland hadn’t had a win in Gawd knows how long, and Latics hadn’t tasted victory on away soil since… well, Wolves last month. But it felt the game was at a stalemate as neither team knew how, or had the good fortune, to scramble a winner.

It wasn’t exactly a non-event, however. Some good spells for both teams could have seen either come away with the big prize (a signed copy of The Beano) but a draw, much like numerous other games this season, is the fair result.

A well-earned point today is no doubt welcome, though I really am not a fan of Bobby’s negative stoppage time tactics (in the seven minutes added on, no less) which saw Latics spurn potential opportunities in favour of taking the ball to the corner flag. If you’re winning, yes – whilst there’s still a game to win then come on! Show some willing.

As a Wigan fan, I’m concerned that we aren’t edging out more games we a) should or b) could perhaps and that’s why we find ourselves with just a two-point cushion to the drop zone at this stage. Thankfully for us, Wolves or Portsmouth don’t look like winning at the present time, and there are still at least six other teams that could still get dragged into the dogfight for ‘dem bones’, sorry, the relegation zone, before the season is out.

We could ease the tension, at least for a week or so, by beating Stoke at home on Tuesday – not exactly an unwinnable game but nonetheless a difficult one, especially with the abundance of nerves around the club at the present time. It is at home, though, where Latics will no doubt have an advantage, no matter how slender… given it isn’t absolutely freezing and everyone decides to stay in and watch Coronation Street instead. ‘Cos you know, every little helps.

Tesco triumphed over Harrods in a relatively low-key encounter at the DW Stadium. Maybe there was a touch of complacency on behalf of Sunderland, who may have expected an easy ride against a team still reeling from the events of last Sunday.

I’d prefer to say, however, that it was a marked improvement over the Spurs debacle which ensured all three points for the Latics to take them up to thirteenth in the table and put to rest some of the demons of ‘WhiteHartLaneGate’.

As the players took the pitch, a somewhat nervy home crowd were more hopeful than expectant. In stark contrast, a heavily juiced up Sunderland support were baying for Wigan blood to follow up their defeat of Arsenal the previous week.

It was Wigan that had the better of the first half, however, with decent chances falling to Paul Scharner and Jason Scotland. The teams went into the half time at nil apiece, a scoreline The Black Cats would have been slightly the happier with.

Sunderland came out fighting after the half time break, and things looked to be swinging in the visitors’ favour as Hugo Rodallega suffered what initially looked like quite a nasty knock. Scott Sinclair was readied to replace the Colombian, but Latics would not need him.

If anything, the incident spurred Rodders on to a stronger second half performance in which he created numerous chances and caused the Sunderland defence some serious problems. On 76 minutes, he cottoned on to a dangerous pass from Paul Scharner and squeezed the ball into Marton Fulop’s net from a narrow angle. Thierry Henry would have been proud… maybe.

More breakaway chances would fall Latics’ way in the last ten minutes as Sunderland pushed for a goal, putting pressure on the home goalmouth in the closing stages. Wigan’s defences held firm, however, and though at times they may have been guilty of below-average finishing, they were good value for their 1-0 win.

Wigan now lie a mere three points behind their opponents of this afternoon, something you wouldn’t necessarily have expected considering Latics’ up and down start to the season. They were more than a match for a slightly below-par Sunderland, who now have to pick themselves up from the canvas for Fulham at Craven Cottage next Sunday.

Wigan face an arduous one-mile trek to Central Park Tesco for provisions to keep them alive until next week’s encounter with Birmingham. Steve Bruce is probably sobbing into his Harrods latte or something.

Brucey returns to his old club

A bit of a pivotal game this weekend. It isn’t going to be the ‘be all and end all’ cup final match that’ll decide the fate of the club for the whole season, but it is pretty important in the circumstances.

There’s that old saying that if you’re in the relegation zone at Christmas you’ll be fighting to stay out of it come May, but that isn’t one that I necessarily subscribe to, and besides, there’s a whole month before the traditional mid-point reckoning.

The reason I cite this as a (kind of) crucial match is the events of last week. Should we emerge victorious, White Hart Lane shall be forgotten and we can all get on with our lives (at least until the next 9-1 drubbing, which hopefully won’t come within my lifetime).

I dread to think what’ll happen should Wigan lose. It’d probably mean a drop into the bottom three, which will bring out the inevitable moaners ranting on about how our manager isn’t up to the job and we should move back to Springfield Park and get more fixture cards in the club shop or whatever.

I shall ignore all that, though, because today I am going to steer away from the negatives and try to project some positive influence upon the club by way of talking up our chances. First up, the Premier League’s third top goalscorer, one Darren Bent, could well be ruled out with a hamstring injury.

His replacement, David Healy, often struggles to be as prolific at club level as he is on the international stage. 35 goals in 78 games for Northern Ireland suggests a decent return, but he hasn’t really troubled the scorers as much for Fulham or Sunderland since his 2007 move from Leeds United.

Frazier Campbell: in line for a start?

The Black Cats’ other frontman, Kenwyne Jones, will definitely miss out due to suspension. Should Bent fail to be fit for Saturday’s clash, former Manchester United man Fraizer Campbell is likely to get his chance up front. Remember Campbell, who so very nearly came to Wigan last January? Well, it seems Bruce finally got his man.

For such a young man, Campbell has had his fair share of clubs, most notably Belgian side Royal Antwerp, where he bagged 21 goals in 33 games. Other loan spells included Tottenham and Hull, where he impressed in the 2006/07 season. He has yet to break into the Sunderland first team, but the game against Wigan could be his big opportunity to make inroads.

As for the Latics, it’s hard to see Erik Edman keeping his place after last week’s performance. A good job, then, that Maynor Figueroa should be fit and ready (pending a fitness test tomorrow) having spent last Sunday on the bench at White Hart Lane. Otherwise, I don’t think there’ll be many changes in personnel as there are no injury worries for Martinez.

The Gaffer insists the reaction to last week’s ‘hurtful experience” has been very good, and that it’s important the fans get behind the team for Saturday’s match at the DW to put the Tottenham result behind us.

When you’re really hurt, you get closer to people around you, you work even harder. We always had fairly high standards in training, but this week there’s been a very positive reaction, and that’s very pleasing.

The other side is that there’s a certain anxiety to get out on the pitch. The next game couldn’t come any quicker, and in that respect it’s what we all need – to see that care, that responsibility. — Roberto Martinez to Latics’ Official website

I would second that – I’ve been itching for this game to come all week, perhaps more so than any other this season. Now if you’ll excuse me, I believe I have to nip to Tesco for a bottle of milk.

Image of Campbell courtesy Vic.t at Flickr.

Brucey wants Fig Roller

It’s being reported once again in this morning’s press that former Latics gaffer Steve Bruce wants Maynor Figueroa to follow him to Sunderland. The whole thing is certainly no secret, as Bruce has been trying to nab the Honduran for a good few months; since he left for the Black Cats, in fact.

Bruce, who first brought Figueroa to the Wigan in December 2008, has already captured former Latics man Lee Cattermole and wants to boost his defensive credentials ahead of what he hopes will be a European-challenging 2009/10 campaign. Sunderland currently lie eighth in the table, two points behind an ailing Liverpool and just four points away from a European cup spot.

Fans of both Wigan and Sunderland will no doubt remember Bruce’s protracted battle for Cattermole, who eventually left Latics for a fee in the region of £8million, only to be injured in just his eighth competitive game for the Black Cats. Many claimed the ‘curse of Wigan’ had struck once again, but in truth, this type of injury is always on the cards with a player such as Catts.

Figueroa faces up to another four weeks on the sidelines after sustaining a serious knee injury during Latics’ 3-1 win over Burnley last month, but is expected to recover in time for the January transfer window. Figures in the region of five or six million are being touted, though you can expect Dave Whelan to scrap for every extra penny.

Edman: A chance to impress

Meanwhile, former Manchester City and Everton defender Michael Ball has joined up to train with the Latics squad with a view to a permanent deal at the club. His position? Left back. Coincidence? Who knows, but if Fig Roller wants to leave, then I doubt there is anyone at the club who could, or even should, stop him.

A frustration, no doubt, but at least we’ve got good old Erik Edman to step into the breach until further notice. Injuries have dogged his time at the club, but who knows, maybe the Swedish International could reclaim the left back position as his own once more.

Image of Steve Bruce is in the public domain.