League One an inevitability?

I’ve had some disappointment in my time watching Latics but none left me feeling quite as empty as Saturday’s defeat to Bristol City did. Another dominant Wigan Athletic performance where Paul Cook’s side looked like they would make it back to back wins, instead we managed once again to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Or at least the jaws of another draw.

The atmosphere wasn’t so much toxic on Saturday but of resignation, acceptance of what was coming. It’s not even surprising anymore.

Where do we go from here? Somehow we’re still in touch with those on the fringes of the relegation zone but if we’re not careful soon we’re going to be cut off and League One football will be an inevitability rather than a probability.

A further blow was received this week when Charlie Mulgrew decided he saw his future better served by returning to Blackburn rather than staying at the DW. This is quite the turnaround considering he was due to become a permanent signing this month according to Blackburn and Tony Mowbary themselves.

He’s been unlucky with injuries recently but has been fully fit for a while now and no matter how well Kal Naismith and Cedric Kipre have been doing someone like Charlie Mulgrew should be in our starting line-up. Certainly when you look at his performances in the early Autumn.

It’s a long trip down to Swansea this weekend and I applaud anyone heading down there in our current malaise, a weekend at work beckons for me and I’d argue it was a more intriguing prospect than another gutsy defeat on the road. The Swansea game in October saw Latics as the better side before falling to a last minute winner from the Swans, I would say we could get our own back this time but I’m not that confident.

Other than Kieran Dowell it doesn’t look like many will be coming through the doors of the DW this January. Are the current squad capable of getting out of this? I’d argue yes, but they need some fresh ideas. The argument against Cook says he isn’t the man to do that or influence them January could have been the time for him to bring in some fresh blood who could get on board with his ideas. But in the state we’re in who would want to come?

It’s not looking good, but as we inevitably tick to the 70^th minute at 0-0 on Saturday afternoon I’ll still be believing. Well until the 75^th minute lapse in defensive concentration that is.

Sean Livesey

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