Wigan Athletic 0 Hull City 5: Five talking points

1 What a difference seven months makes.

Much will be made on by onlookers of the 13-goal swing between this result and Hull’s last trip to the DW, when Latics mauled the Tigers 8-0.

Clearly the reason for that needs little explanation to Wiganers, who have lived and breathed every single moment of the agony.

But it just underlines exactly how much damage has been done to this football club and indeed this town. The worrying thing is we possibly haven’t even hit rock bottom yet. It’s a long, long way back from here.

2 No case for the defence.

For any team to lose 5-0 at home – whether there are fans in attendance or not – is a hammerblow to personal pride and confidence.

For it to happen three times in the space of six matches... well that’s going to take some coming back from.

Just like in the recent drubbings at the hands of Rochdale and Blackpool, the game was lost way before the closing stages.

But Latics seemed unable on all three occasions to ‘shut up shop’, and limit the damage.

As a result, their goal difference is now the worst in League One. Next up at the DW Stadium? The small matter of League One leaders Lincoln City on Saturday.

3 It never rains but it pours.

Not content with already having used every single hard-luck story this season, Latics continued to come up with fresh issues to hamper their survival fight.

Centre-back Scott Wootton didn’t reappear for the second period, because he was making a dash to hospital to be with his pregnant wife.

Leam Richardson rightly pointed out after the game that the health of all concerned is the most important thing.

But that unscheduled reshuffle – three days after a double-whammy of a frozen pitch and a floodlight fire at Oxford – was another example of Latics doing it tough at the minute.

4 Where there’s a Will.

Wednesday’s game was the sixth since Will Keane returned from a period of self-isolation.

By his own standards, he’s looked a shadow of the player who scored in each of his last three games – and six in his last 10 – prior to his absence.

It could be a coincidence, of course. But Latics badly need their talisman back to his best as quickly as possible.

5 By no means a lost cause.

Despite having won only once in 2021, Latics remain only one point adrift of safety, with 18 matches still to go. Despite everything that’s gone on, and continues to go on, they are still within touching distance of doing what no club in this situation has any right to aim for.

We know the players will not leave a drop out there in terms of effort and endeavour. Now is the time for everyone to stick together even more than they have done already since last summer, and drag the carcass of the club over the finishing line, towards the Holy Grail of fifth bottom... which would represent one of the greatest achievements in the history of this proud football club.