A lack of significant summer signings, while letting go of last season’s star meant that Wigan were always going to struggle this year.
Star man: Franco di Santo
Notable mentions: Victor Moses
Must do better: Antonio Alcaraz, picking up a silly suspension for spitting was needless and borne out of frustration from his own and the side’s poor form.
The manager: Roberto Martinez was loyal in the summer turning down a move to Aston Villa, but Wigan are really struggling this season, if they had lost to Sunderland he could have found himself on the chopping board instead of Steve Bruce.
Grade: D
Verdict: Wigan ended a long winless run with a victory at Sunderland, just as they were beginning to look like the league’s whipping boys. Star men last season were Charles N’Zogbia, who did go to Villa, and Hugo Rodallega, who has been injured, and with no big summer signings they face an unenvious task. After all it was only the heroics of N’Zogbia and Rodallega which prevented them from certain relegation last year.
Martinez needs to get enough points on the board by January to convince signings to join, otherwise they may be put off by the likelihood of Championship football come next summer.
So far Victor Moses has looked the most inventive player and has struck the woodwork more than any other player in the league, surely his luck has to turn soon. Franco di Santo has also found his scoring touch, netting vital goals in each of the club’s two wins this season but needs to do even more.
image: © Dan Farrimond
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