Wigan Athletic boss reflects on 'emotional' and 'very difficult' 48 hours

Latics' preparations for the trip to the runaway Championship leaders was overshadowed by the club confirming wages had been late for a fourth time this season.

That could lead to the suspended three-point penalty, which was placed on the club by the EFL, being enforced, which would further hamper Latics' attempts to avoid the drop.

On the field, the Clarets cruised to the three points against a Latics side that played with 10 men for three-quarters of the contest after Omar Rekik was sent off for two bookable offences.

All of which left Maloney with mixed feelings as he reflected on the sequence of events.

"It's been a very difficult 48 hours or so," said the Latics boss.

"In terms of on the pitch, I was actually super proud of the last half an hour.

"Once you're down to 10 men, they're a very difficult team to play against.

"The players showed resilience right to the end, and the supporters showed resilience right to the end, which we really appreciated

"There's a lot of pride - which is not always the case after a 3-0 defeat - but there definitely was today.

"Obviously the preparation for the game was a little bit harder than it usually is.

"But the mindset has to be from Monday we're ready to fight, because we've got a massive game against Coventry on Tuesday."

Maloney was asked how much of a bearing the off-field events had contributed to another on-field setback.

"I think once you get on the pitch, players get on with the game," he added.

"But certainly the preparation was affected by what's happened.

"And it's not just the players that have been affected...it's the staff, the support staff, training ground staff, stadium staff, we're all together.

"It's been a very emotional couple of days, and very difficult for everyone."

Maloney also had no issue with the sending-off of Rekik following two fouls on man of the match Nathan Tella.

"No, not at all," he added. "Once you make a challenge like that, on a yellow, you always leave yourself open."

Less than 24 hours after the club confirmed the March wages had not been paid on time, Latics were no match for the Championship leaders and remain rock bottom of the table.

Latics had an early escape when Anass Zaroury's low shot came back off the post, but it only took 14 minutes for the opener to arrive.

Zaroury crossed from the left and Tella was unmarked to nod home past Ben Amos.

Tella almost doubled the advantage moments later when he latched on to a long ball over the top.

With Amos in two minds as to whether to come for it or stay on his line, Tella sent a low shot flying inches wide of the far post.

Latics were struggling to get into the game, and their cause wasn't aided on 28 minutes when Rekik lunged in on Tella for the second time, to pick up a second yellow card and reduce Latics to 10 men.

Steven Caulker replaced Josh Magennis in the ensuing reshuffle, which led to Latics having their best spell of the game.

After Amos had done well to deny Ian Maatsen, Caulker got on the end of a cross from skipper Tendayi Darikwa.

Unfortunately for Latics, Arijanet Muric pulled off one of the saves of the season from point-blank range, at the expense of a corner.

Latics had an even better chance in first-half stoppage-time, when Ashley Fletcher latched on to a woefully underhit backpass.

The on-loan Watford man advanced on goal, but was denied by another superb save from Muric

Latics would have feklt enthused as they left the pitch at half-time, but any optimism was quickly snatched away from them within two minutes of the restart as Tella doubled the lead.

Only a great save from Amos prevented Ashley Barnes making it three, with Zaroury seeing another effort fly just wide, before lashing over from bang in front of goal.

James McClean, Christ Tiehi, Will Keane and Thelo Aasgaard added fresh pegs in place of Tom Pearce, Callum Lang, Fletcher and Max Power - ruining the latter's record of being on the pitch for every minute this term.

But Burnley were in cruise control at this point, and Lyle Foster smashed home number three from close range with 14 minutes to go.