The game ended with the Latics taking the three points, except for Callum McManaman’s third minute goal and Martyn Waghorn having a goal ruled out for the only explicable reason being the referee actually felt sorry for Birmingham, not a lot else happened, we secured our playoff spot and Birmingham ended the evening deep in relegation trouble.
It was also our first ever win at St. Andrews, a scrappy game, but ultimately the job was done. After the match both bosses spoke with the media, let’s take a look at what they had to say:
Latics boss Uwe Rösler – ‘Compliment to the players, I thought the focus was fantastic’
‘We had the right preparation having come to Birmingham yesterday and stayed in the hotel so this morning we did a lot of analysis – in the modern game analysis is very important – and we showed players clips and prepared them.
‘I think in the first-half we were completely in control, we played very good football and I think defensively we were very strong.
‘They brought Zigic on and you can’t deny the goalkeeper kicking long balls, so it’s always a scrap against a 6′ 7 striker, it’s difficult but I think we defended well when we had to.’
‘Overall the achievement from when I came in on December 9th has been fantastic’
‘The effort the players have put in is monumental to get to 73 points in such a short time.
‘We’re not over excited, we’re keeping calm and we know what we want to achieve but we’ve achieved the first hurdle, though there are more hurdles to come.
‘I think when you look at where we were at the beginning of December, we had so many games in such a short time and we had to use the squad, I think without utilising the squad and managing those players with long-term injuries like Gary, Shaun Maloney and Roger Espinoza, we wouldn’t be where we are today.
‘Everybody has contributed; not only the players who played today, but also players who have been on the bench and not been involved – everybody contributed to jumping this first hurdle.’
Uwe looking pleased last night
By permission of Bernard Platt/Wigan Athletic
Birmingham boss Lee Clark – ‘We deserved something but we never got the breaks.
‘It is never ideal, your game plan, when 90 seconds into the game you are 1-0 down.
‘But the players kept fighting and kept working hard. It wasn’t to be.
‘We have to go to Bolton now and get a result and hopefully at least one other result goes in our favour.
‘I have been amazed in the two years that I have been at this club with the support from the terraces.
‘The fans are magnificent, but they even surpassed that tonight.
‘They took it to another level. The support for the players was astonishing.
‘That is who I am gutted for in all this. They deserve better. They don’t deserve to be in this position.
‘The players are believing but like I have said many times, don’t talk the talk, walk the walk. Get out on the grass and deliver what has got to be delivered and that is what I will be looking for.’
