'Administration blow not to blame for Wigan Athletic defeat', insists Leon Balogun

Leon Balogun admits the 3-0 defeat at Brentford was tough to take for Wigan Athletic at the end of an emotionally draining week.
Leon BalogunLeon Balogun
Leon Balogun

Latics surrendered their nine-game unbeaten record - and conceded for the first time in 684 minutes - at Griffin Park with Said Benrahma grabbing a brilliant hat-trick.

With the club having been placed into administration on Wednesday, it was a disappointing way to end a woeful few days.

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But the two blows were not inter-linked, according to the big defender.

"It was a tough afternoon for us, it was tough to take," acknowledged Balogun.

"Probably a lot of people will look at the result and blame it on the circumstances we're in at the moment.

"But I felt ever since we received the news, the team spirit has remained really high.

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"And we have to face it and be honest that we did not show the Wigan we have worked to be in the last nine games.

"That was just not us today, and sometimes you just have to be honest enough to admit that.

"There's another big game coming up on Wednesday, and that's the first game of a very big five-game block."

While gutted at the off-field news, Balogun says the players cannot afford to get too caught up in the controversy.

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"The reality is, we are not in control of the finances," he acknowledged.

"We are not in control of the administration.

"That is not our job - our job is on the pitch.

"We were just not on it 100 per cent, and that can happen sometimes.

"We have had an unbelievable run, and I am hoping this blip is not going to break the momentum.

"We are as determined as a group to work our way through this.

"There has been big disappointment off the field, but I think more so we were not able to switch on as we have in previous games."