Filed under: Wigan, Premier League, Football
Wigan's form this season, and their subsequent Premier League position, suggests that not much has gone according to plan at the DW Stadium this season.However, what Roberto Martinez's side may well have done is time their burst away from the relegation zone to perfection, a view supported by their late victory over West Ham United last weekend.
Martinez has repeated week after week that the race to avoid the drop will go to the last day of the season and what must please him the most is the fact his side will go into their last fixture against Stoke City as the one team at the bottom that is bouncing with confidence and expectation.
Wigan's comeback victory against West Ham on Sunday, overturning a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2 in a thrilling game, means the spirit and attitude in the Wigan camp has been transformed overnight.
And when they look at the other relegation runners and riders, they must now be confident of avoiding the drop.
Blackpool also won last weekend against Bolton to be neck and neck with Wigan on 39 points but their enthusiasm will be tempered by a trip to Manchester United on the last day.
Blackburn Rovers are are only a point above the drop themselves and seem riddled with nerves at the moment while Birmingham City's woeful loss to Fulham last time out suggests they are in total freefall.
Wolves, meanwhile, are the Premier League's kings of inconsistency so anything could happen when they visit Ewood Park.
And although Wigan's trip to play Stoke can never be classed as easy, do not forget the home side will go into the game five days after facing Manchester City, and still reeling from their FA Cup final loss against the same side.
So Wigan will be buoyant, confident and fully fit and rested while Stoke will have had less preparation and have less to play for which could all play perfectly into Martinez's hands.
Maynor Figueroa told wiganlatics.co.uk: "The West Ham result will give us a massive boost going to the Britannia Stadium.
"We triumphed over some top-quality players with much to fight for and we must take the character into our final game.
"For these three points to have any value we must go and finish the job at Stoke City at the weekend.
"We're over the moon after an amazing win on Sunday but have to turn our attentions to this Sunday, the biggest game of them all."
Figueroa is under no illusions as to how important the West Ham victory could be in terms of helping Wigan raise their game once more and sneak out of the relegation zone at the last possible second.
He added: "When we look back on this game it'll be an historic moment, not only for the players, but also for the fans of this great club who have been right at our side through the good and bad times.
And if Wigan do manage to orchestrate their way out of trouble they will prove, once and for all, that a team should be judged over 38 games and not a single one less.
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Source: http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/05/18/premier-league-wigan-roberto-martinez-relegation-fight/
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