First, the good news for Roberto Martínez. The Wigan Athletic manager secured his 100th Premier League point since taking charge, despite Paul Scharner doing his former club no favours in their battle to avoid relegation. Unfortunately for the 38-year-old Spaniard, it has taken him 105 games to reach the milestone and his side remain deep in trouble.
Even Scharner, who spent 4½ years at the DW Stadium, believes that his former club’s seven-season stay in the Barclays Premier League could be nearing an end. Four of their next five games are against Liverpool (away), Chelsea (away), Manchester United (home) and Arsenal (away).
“They’re like an animal when it is dying. It tries everything to survive. But you can see why they are bottom of the table,” Scharner, the scorer of West Bromwich Albion’s equaliser on Saturday, said, although Wigan were replaced in last position yesterday by Wolverhampton Wanderers. “They can’t score and they always concede. I remember when I played here, Wigan never scored a hell of a lot of goals, and that’s the main problem.”
It is hard not to feel sorry for Martínez. His side are entertaining to watch but there is no end product. They went into the game knowing that victory would have lifted them out of the bottom three, but ended it with another hard-luck story.
But for an outstanding performance by Ben Foster, the West Brom goalkeeper, Wigan would have secured their first home win since August. Foster’s fingertip save from James McCarthy’s long-range effort was the highlight of an exceptional performance. Having tipped McCarthy’s effort on to the bar, Foster was on his feet to deny Victor Moses from the rebound.
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By then, Franco Di Santo had twice missed the target and had another shot saved by Foster. Gary Caldwell, the Wigan captain, fired wide, while Emmerson Boyce headed against the bar in a one-sided first half.
Martínez’s side finally made the breakthrough when James McArthur tapped home from close range after a cross by Moses was blocked on the line. Yet clean sheets for Wigan have been as rare as goals and their lead lasted 11 minutes before Scharner equalised after connecting with Chris Brunt’s corner.
Martínez was critical of Michael Oliver, the referee, for failing to send off Youssouf Mulumbu after his reaction to McArthur’s challenge midway through the second half. “McArthur did nothing wrong, it’s a challenge where he’s gone to win the ball. It’s a free kick, but nothing more,” Martínez said.
“I’ve seen Mulumbu’s reaction given as a red card, it’s not sporting behaviour. You expect the referee to be strong and punish Mulumbu.”
Click on the tab above to read how the match unfolded