The Joy of Six, Latics Rear End Gets Battered

Whatever is needed to get Wigan Athletic back on track needs to happen sooner rather than later otherwise the Latics could be out of sight at the bottom of the table before the end of October.

Following on from the Blackpool debacle last weekend Wigan were hit for six this time out by a Chelsea side that at the moment are appearing to score for fun.

The Latics began the game with Charles N`Zogbia back in the side for Victor Moses who was carrying a knock and dropped down to the bench, at right back Ronnie Stam made his first start as boss Roberto Martinez called for a reaction from his players.

The first half saw the Latics carry the game to Chelsea without really causing any problems and the lack of creativity in the final third is a major worry and the home side were restricted to long range efforts from Rodallega, Figueroa and Thomas, shooting from 25 and 30 yards smacks of desperation and isn`t going to trouble a keeper of Cech`s pedigree

Chelsea took the lead on 33 minutes and showed what it means to be decisive in attack; Ashley Cole broke down the left, crossed into the box where Lampard toe poked the ball goalwards, Kirkland managed to get a hand to the ball and parried it out but with Figueroa flat footed Malouda ran in and converted right footed into an empty net.

The Latics went in at the break perhaps feeling sorry for themselves being a goal down but the usual capitulation occurred in the second half with Chelsea seemingly scoring at will.

On 48 minutes Mikel hit a punt up field which Anelka was on quick as a flash, Kirkland was all at sea and appeared to get his angles wrong as the Chelsea striker hit a sweet shot across the box and into the bottom far corner of Kirklands goal, all to easy.

Four minutes later Anelka made it 3-0 with a simple header a foot out following good work from Drogba, Kirkland was floundering somewhere on the floor.

Boselli had the ball in the net for the Latics when he side footed home after James McCarthy hit the post but he was rightly ruled off side.

Chelsea went on to score three more times, Kalou grabbed two, one on 78 minutes and the other on 90, then Benayoun opened his Chelsea goal account 3 minutes into stoppage time to make the score line a gut wrenching six nil.