Sam Morsy and his band of Wigan Athletic brothers can make themselves legends

Sam Morsy admits his team-mates are only a couple of positive results away from 'making history' - and writing themselves into Wigan Athletic folklore.
Sam MorsySam Morsy
Sam Morsy

The dedication and application of the players to keep fighting for the club - despite being paid only around 20 per cent of their wages - has helped to maintain a positive atmosphere at the DW during hugely testing times.

Having already pulled off one great escape - after being bottom of the table in January - the players had to do it all over again after the club was recently placed into administration, which triggers a 12-point deduction.

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But a remarkable backs-to-the-wall effort means their fate is in their own hands heading into the last two matches - Saturday's trip to Charlton and Wednesday's visit of Fulham.

And Morsy acknowledges - whatever happens now - it's already been an incredible journey full of ups and downs.

"We probably hit rock bottom when we lost at Swansea in January, which left us adrift at the bottom," he said.

"We had a few meetings at the training ground, to try and bring the group even closer really.

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"And it worked, because we went on this phenomenal run from there.

"Then lockdown happened, but we picked up where we left off, and we're thinking we've done it.

"Then all of a sudden you hit rock bottom again, through no fault of anyone's.

"You're then at a crossroads, and it all starts with making that decision to say: 'We're not going down like this, we're going to fight as hard as we can, win as many games as we can, and see where that takes us'.

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"All we ever wanted was for it to be in our own hands again, and it is."

If Morsy and co do manage to pull off a second unlikely survival in a matter of weeks, the team would surely be spoken about in years to come alongside the FA Cup winners of 2013 and the side which reached the Premier League in 2005.

And the skipper admits the incredible roller-coaster campaign has provided some real moments to look back on with satisfaction - and even enjoyment.

"You've got to try and enjoy it as much as you can!" he added.

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"From where we've come from January, we've already climbed a mountain.

"And we're going to have to climb another one now.

"But something like this can bring a group even closer together, and it's an amazing challenge facing every single one of us.

"If we were to pull it off, if we could survive, it would go down as one of the biggest accomplishments of our whole careers, and something we'll always remember.

"That's an amazing incentive for us, the chance to make history, and we're just going to give everything we've got to try and make it happen."