WIGAN ATHLETIC FACE an uphill battle to avoid relegation from the Premier League after twice relinquishing the lead in an agonising 3-2 loss at home to Swansea.
Wigan, who tackle Manchester City in the FA Cup final on Saturday, could have moved out of the bottom three with victory, but instead they find themselves three points from safety with only two games to play.
After the Wembley clash with City, who warmed up with a 1-0 win at home to West Bromwich Albion, Roberto Martinez’s side visit fourth-place Arsenal before hosting Aston Villa on the season’s final day.
Wigan began the game in enterprising fashion at the DW Stadium and made the breakthrough in first-half injury time.
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Swansea goalkeeper Michel Vorm did not get enough distance on a punch and from the edge of the box, Roger Espinoza arrowed a left-foot volley into the bottom-left corner for his first Wigan goal.
Martinez celebrated jubilantly, but Angel Rangel brought Wigan down to earth early in the second half when he met Wayne Routledge’s cross with a crisp volley that found the net via the left-hand upright.
The hosts re-established their lead within three minutes, James McCarthy bursting through and beating Vorm with a low shot, and James McArthur then failed to make telling contact with an inviting cross from Arouna Kone.
It was to prove a costly miss as, in the 59th minute, Swansea equalised again.
Recalled Wigan captain Gary Caldwell gave the ball away to Leon Britton and from his pass, on-loan Kaiserslautern striker Itay Shechter beat Joel Robles with the aid of a deflection off Emmerson Boyce.
Eager to atone, Caldwell saw a thumping header brilliantly touched over the bar by Vorm, before an exhibition of panicked defending allowed Swansea to claim the winner.
McArthur and Shaun Maloney got in a muddle as they tried to clear a Pablo Hernandez cross and Dwight Tiendalli pounced to slide a shot past the exposed Robles.
An injury to Vorm, who had to be stretchered off after clashing heads with team-mate Ben Davies, yielded nine minutes of stoppage time, but an injury to Ronnie Stam left Wigan with 10 man and Swansea managed to hold on.
Wigan has a population of less than 100, 000 and their rugby league team have consistently been the best team in England over the last 20 years. 20 years ago Wigan Athletic were nearly relegated out of league football and were getting about 2,000 at their games, where are they going to get a full stadium from?? I applaude Wigan and Dave Whelan for what they’ve achieved and would love to see them stay up.
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I rarely relish the misfortune of others but as a villa fan this result pleased me greatly.
Ha me too
I wonder will Martinez move to one of the top European clubs that Dave Whelan goes on, and on, and on about every season they manage to stay up?
Martinez is a good manager. Could see him returning to Spain if they are relegated.
They don’t deserve to be in premier league if they can’t fill there stadium
James McCarthy needs to be playing for a big team
Fan numbers shouldn’t determine premiership status. Points do that.
As a fellow utd fan may I say you talo nonsense
That third goal they let in was criminal,that’s conference defending.
Won’t be sorry to see the back of them and dave whelan. Always got too much to say for himself that bloke.
Agreed boss. So long Wigan.
So you would prefer big head pardew and his “big” Newcastle team to stay up? I wouldn’t
It does help to have a full stadium to get behind the team,in fairness like why would a team perform when the fans clearly couldn’t give a shit
The DW is a big stadium. Plus Wigan is a predominantly rugby town.
Anyway old Trafford is like a morgue most matches. And I’m a united fan btw.
I personally hope Newcastle go down. Cannot stand pardew of their delusional fans
Wigan has a population of less than 100, 000 and their rugby league team have consistently been the best team in England over the last 20 years. 20 years ago Wigan Athletic were nearly relegated out of league football and were getting about 2,000 at their games, where are they going to get a full stadium from?? I applaude Wigan and Dave Whelan for what they’ve achieved and would love to see them stay up.
hopefully the dirty mackems go down #nufc
it could still be Norwich , they look really poor at the minute, Di Canio honeymoon fairly quickly over at Fallasunderland as well