Wigan Athletic D-Day: 'We’ve got to win. In a way, maybe that will help us, in that only a win will be good enough...and we have to attack...'

Nothing less than three points against Fulham will be enough to keep Latics – who have a 12-point deduction looming for being placed into administration – in the Championship.

Even then, they also have to hope either Charlton or Luton fail to win their final fixture against Leeds and Blackburn respectively.

Despite the squad having been put through the ringer in recent weeks – physically and emotionally – Williams is adamant they have one last effort in them.

“It’s one more game, one more cup final, to go,” he told the Wigan Post. “Players carrying knocks and being tired, that all goes out of the window.

“It’s just pure adrenaline, we’re all up for it, there’s 90 minutes to go and then you can’t do any more.

“We’ll be putting everything into it for everybody at the football club.

“If it’s enough, it’s enough. If it’s not enough, it’s not enough. But all we can do is give it our best and fingers crossed it will be.”

Latics would have been almost safe had they held on at Charlton on Saturday, only to be denied by a stoppage-time leveller.

But Williams says having to beat the Cottagers – who are still chasing automatic promotion themselves – might be a blessing in disguise.

“We’re not going into the game with any doubt, about a draw maybe being enough...we’ve got to win,” he acknowledged.

"In a way, maybe that will help us, in that only a win will be good enough, and we have to attack.

“That doesn’t mean we’ll be all gung-ho and stupid in the first 10 minutes. We’ll play exactly as we normally do, and try to win the game as we always would do.

“And the record we’ve got in 2020 will give us the confidence to do that. If it was over six, eight, 10 games, there might be an element of luck.

“But to be up there with the form teams over half a season isn’t luck, we know we’re a good side. As much as we know Fulham are a good side, Fulham will know we’re a good side as well.”

Having already pulled off one great escape – dragging themselves to 58 points, after being bottom of the table in late January – Latics must now do it all again.

“To stay up twice in one season, I’ve never heard of that before!” Williams smiled.

“But it would certainly be one of the greatest achievements in all of our lives.

“Obviously this club won the FA Cup but, given the circumstances, this one would be some achievement as well.”