Wigan Athletic 3-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers: Connor’s side just happy to end season
Wigan Athletic finished their season off on a high as they sent their fans home happy with another DW victory, edging past Wolves. Sam Fleming reports.
Wolverhampton Wanderers ended a forgettable Premiership campaign with a final day defeat to Wigan Athletic – who have won a remarkable seven out of their last nine league games – consequently ending the Black Country club’s three year stint in the top flight of English football.
In what promised, on paper, to be a lacklustre affair with the fate of both teams assured, it was left winger Matthew Jarvis who gave the visitors the edge in the opening exchanges – cutting inside from the left and producing an impressive curling finish past Ali Al Habsi in the Wigan goal.
The elation of the away contingent was short-lived however, as the ensuing five minutes summed up a pitiful season for Wolves – Franco Di Santo equalising little over three minutes later after Stephen Hunt lost possession to James McCarthy, with Emerson Boyce adding to the Lancashire team’s lead within the two minutes that followed.
The situation looked to go from bad to worse for the visitors with Emerson Boyce adding his second in the 79th minute, but a late consolation from Scottish striker Steven Fletcher – his twelfth of the season – prompted a subdued celebration from those in the away end of the DW Stadium.
For Wolves manager Terry Connor, who has picked only four points in his thirteen game stint as manager, it was a game that embodied the shortcomings of his team this season;
“It was a frustrating way to sign off. It encapsulated the whole season and the reason why we have not been able to stay in the league.
“We had plenty of honest endeavour and commitment and no lack of attacking flair but we keep shooting ourselves in the foot by making mistakes as individuals.
“For the first goal we lost possession in the wrong area and the second goal was from a set-play for which everyone has their markers and should do better.
“It is really frustrating that even today the lads continued to give everything for the good of the team but have not been good enough to win.”
Roberto Martinez, however, has masterminded an impressive Wigan revival – ending the season seven points clear of the relegation zone – a feat that looked beyond them when precariously positioned at the foot of the table on the 17th of March.
“I am proud and happy that the club is attracting a lot of good headlines and stories.
“We always need to be prepared that whatever happens is for the good of the club.
“We need to make sure we carry on with the progress we have been making in the last few years, not just on the pitch but off it.
“That is all I am bothered about; working hard and making sure the chairman is a proud man when he assesses his football club.”
Whereas Wigan fans can find heart in the turnaround of their team throughout such a short time period, Wolves fans have little to comfort themselves from a season they will be little but eager to erase from their memories.