Wigan Athletic begun the 2010-2011 season rather brightly. A draw at home to Norwich was certainly better than the previous season’s horror show against Blackpool.
Then we went to Swansea and drew 0-0 with Brendan Roger’s men. A good point when all said and done.
Afterward, we hosted Queens Park Rangers at home and won that game 2-0. Everyone thought that would be the spearhead of what might be a promising season, the draw against Norwich aside.
However, Wigan’s early form then begun to suffer and they went to the Etihad Stadium and duly lost 3-0 to Manchester City. A Sergio Aguero hat-trick proved the difference between the two sides.
At Everton, we were well on course for a draw when a Franco Di Santo goal gave Wigan a glimpse of hope that it might go on to salvage their first win at Goodison Park since the first season where Damian Francis scored a memorable winner. Sadly, Everton soon equalised and their so-called super-subs came off the bench and compounded a miserable several minute spell for the Latics which was disuptedly undeserved. Add to that a horrible injury to Hugo Rodallega, who has since recovered.
Wigan entertained Tottenham Hotspur and a defensive horror show allowed Gareth Bale and Rafael Van Der Vaart to leave the DW Stadium with all three points despite a special goal scored by Mohamed Diame bringing the slightest of smiles to Latics support.
Then, Wigan went to Villa Park where they had never lost a league match – however with a depleted squad and a somewhat limited attack, Wigan were on the back foot for the majority of the game and had Franco Di Santo got the penalty he should have done, our record on this ground might have continued. Sadly, it was not to be but a worrying sign of what might yet be to come.
On Saturday 15th October, Wigan Athletic welcomed Bolton Wanderers to the DW Stadium who had lost 11 games out of 12 and at this point, a Wigan side who had lost four games on the bounce in the Premier League. Sadly, Wigan’s afternoon had barely gained momentum when Bolton took a deserved lead through Nigel Reo-Coker though the goal could be credited to Gary Caldwell.
Wigan fought hard to be fair to them and equalised through another explicit Mohamed Diame effort which was a superb effort. This was the foundation for something more promising when sadly, David N’Gog equalised after a hideous defensive piece from Steve Gohouri. Wigan pressed valiantly for an equaliser though but they were undone by a Chris Eagles effort in the dying embers.
All in all, its been a season to forget so far really for Wigan supporters, despite the odd good result here and there.
Still, its too early in the season to begin to ask questions really as Wigan supporters remain frustrated at the recent run of results.
Yes we’ve had a distinctively poor start and there’s no doubt that some things do need to be shaken up as I do not believe we’re a bad side. As things can go against a side, it seems to have gone against other sides too and not just us.
The thing we need to do is keep the faith because despite the recent results and the worry we might be facing a tough season, I believe we have the foundations at the very least to mount a fightback and avoid the trap door yet again to stay in the top flight for an eighth season.
However in order to do that, the mistakes need to be rectified quickly and we do need to start believing as do the team that we can pick up the results we need to in order to have a more successful season because there’s nothing yet to suggest we’re going to be in the scrap come the end of the season or indeed before that.
Therefore, as long as we stick by Roberto Martinez and the team and everyone associated, we can certainly move forward and pick up the results we need to have an optimistic season.
Keep your heads up and we’ll be up and running again soon.
See you all next time for Rob’s Preview for Newcastle Vs Wigan.
Have a great week!
Rob
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