Wigan Athletic: The 12th Man - 'A chink of light on the horizon! And that's what kills you - the hope...'

Alan Rogers:

It's been a while since I offered anything up on here for inclusion - for various reasons.

First of all, we had the long international break. Then we took a last-minute holiday, arriving home just in time for the Reading game.

Following the Oxford game, I managed to scrape together a few words but, when I read the article back, I decided it was rubbish, so I deleted it.

The same thing happened after the Huddersfield and Leicester games. I wrote down a few thoughts...but realised I was nowhere near capturing the mood swirling around the Brick at the moment. So once again I binned it.

I've mentioned before that I always try to be optimistic when I'm writing about Wigan Athletic. And I'm not suggesting that we have no hope, but things have been looking a bit grim recently. To put it mildly.

Of course, that was all before Saturday! Following an epic battle, we could once again see a chink of light on the horizon! And that's what kills you - the hope.

I don't think many Latics fans actually enjoyed the game against Bromley - until the final whistle.

Everywhere I looked around me, people were living on their nerves for the majority of the game. When the referee blew the final whistle, it was as if everyone had been holding their breath!

So, what was different against Bromley? Well, for a start, we actually had a few shots on target. In previous games we were creating the odd chance but we were shocking in front of goal.

Christian Saydee has obviously made a big difference - we now need to wrap him in cotton wool and hope he continues to play well.

However, it wouldn't be Wigan if we didn't take one step forward and two back. And the fact we rediscovered our goalscoring touch was sort of nullified by a lemming-like display of defending.

And so on to Tuesday. There's not much to add really - lots of effort and commitment but no real end result. The defending was better but we were once again disappointing in front of goal.

But we have to take the positives - a clean sheet and unbeaten twice in a few days. From small acorns, etc.

To be fair, we were up against a big, dirty, ugly team - and the referee. Some baffling decisions didn't help the flow of the game.

A short rest from the league now - and unfortunately that means a very tricky FA Cup game.

I think Gary and the lads just need a change of luck to kick-start the rest of the season. We definitely need to build on the last two games.

Matt Auffrey:

We didn’t achieve our goal of taking six points from two winnable home matches over a four-day span, but plenty of positive developments still came from this past week’s matches against Bromley and Mansfield at the Brick.

On Saturday, we overcame conceding two poor goals in the first half by scoring three goals of our own, and resolutely defended a lead late in the game.

On Tuesday, we faced a physical side dead set on fouling us incessantly with little repercussion. Yet, we still created plenty of chances in attack and would've been deserving winners had we done better with our final balls, especially throughout the second half.

Keeping our second clean sheet in three home matches was still a satisfying consolation. A four-point return coupled with climbing a few places in the league table marked significant progress after the month of October, which was very unforgiving.

Our improved attack, led by Christian Saydee, Brad Burrowes, K’Marni Miller and Connor Barrett should lead us to believe that we will not see another goalless streak anywhere near the 400-plus minutes that we endured earlier in the season.

Charlie Gray has further established himself as a ‘maestro’ in the middle of the park, while late cameos from Fraser Murray, Akeel Higgins and Ryan Trevitt on Tuesday only showed a further glimpse of the quality that will make us a threat over this next stretch of games.

We have a prime opportunity to build on those budding partnerships on the pitch as we travel to London this weekend to take on Boreham Wood in the FA Cup.

Given the wealth of storylines surrounding the fixture, it’s very disappointing the match wasn’t selected for television.

Nonetheless, Saturday will give us a chance to win our first away match of the season and re-establish our presence in a competition where we have a notable history of overachieving.

Given the host’s remarkable undefeated start to the new campaign, it is not a surprise that the bookies favour the non-league side to win despite playing in a league two divisions below our own.

The good news is that the past month’s fixtures have left us quite battle-tested, so we should not be intimidated by our opponents - even without a blemish on their record to date.

As important as it is to consistently play better game in and game out, extending our unbeaten streak would help build our collective confidence as well.

A free-hit against Crewe on Tuesday in the Jersey Mike's Cup will provide a great opportunity for our younger players to get game time in a senior competition.

Looking back to this Saturday, we shouldn’t need the ‘magic of the cup’ to transform us into world beaters overnight.

We can continue on our upward trajectory by limiting defensive mistakes and creating more scoring chances.

We’ve unlocked some potential that has allowed us to make some key breakthroughs. I’m optimistic that our best football is still to come.

Shaun Houghton:

Another week, another mixed bag of emotions following the Latics.

The 3-2 win over Bromley should have been a day where we could all just sit back and enjoy three points, but being a Wigan fan is never that straightforward.

We somehow make the most basic defending look like rocket science at times. And we have seen some 'Calamighty' defending this season.

The early goal we conceded was yet another example of shooting ourselves in the foot once again, and there were periods where every ball into our box felt like it could lead to panic stations. It ended 3–2, but it was far from comfortable.

What was encouraging, though, was how much better we looked going forward. There was purpose and energy. We actually looked like we could hurt teams, which is something we've been crying out for.

And once again, Christian Saydee came up trumps. When we needed someone to drag us back into the game, there he was.

He just seems to have that knack of producing something when the team needs it most lately. His equaliser was the spark that got us going and he's becoming one of the first names on the team sheet for me.

And yes, I agree with Caldwell managing his time, because if we loose him then we have lost our physicality in the team.

Then we move on to the Mansfield game. Honestly, if you'd offered me a point and a clean sheet before kick-off, I'd have snatched your hand off. No questions asked.

Given some of the defending we've seen this season, a shut-out was the priority. And to be fair, defensively we looked a bit better. Not perfect, but definitely an improvement.

There seemed to be more organisation, more communication, and fewer of those heart-stopping moments where you're wondering what the hell are we doing. The back line looked more solid and there was a bit more intensity about the back line.

But here's the problem. We just cannot find the back of the net consistently. It's becoming incredibly frustrating.

We create half-chances, get into decent positions and then the final pass, shot or decision lets us down.

Against Mansfield, the clean sheet was welcome, but when you come away thinking one goal wins that game, it's hard not to feel slightly disappointed after the chances we had.

One player I have to mention is Max Power. Now before anyone jumps down my throat, Max is a Wigan Athletic legend. What he's done for this club and what he's given to the shirt should never be forgotten.

But football can be brutal and, in my opinion, he looks like his legs have gone a little. Maybe it's coming back from an injury, I don't know.

But since the Barnsley game in the cup, the game seems to pass him by at times, attacks slow down when he's on the ball, and passes that we'd expect him to make with his eyes closed aren't quite finding their target.

It pains me to say it because of everything he's done for the club, but I don't think it's unfair to question whether age and mileage are starting to catch up with him.

And finally, a message to the owners.

Look at the bloke in the dug-out. Every week he's fighting for this football club. Every interview, every touchline reaction and every post-match assessment comes from someone who genuinely cares about Wigan Athletic and understands what this club means to the town and its supporters.

The question is: where is that same passion from the people at the top?

Wigan Athletic isn't just another business or an asset on a balance sheet. It's the heart of a community, a club with a proud history, and a fanbase that has been through more than most over the last decade.

We've stuck by this club through administration, points deductions, ownership chaos and years of uncertainty. The supporters have done their part.

It's time for the owners to do theirs.

Back the manager properly. Show some ambition. Communicate with the fanbase. Give supporters a reason to believe there's a long-term plan beyond simply surviving from season to season.

Because if the ownership had half the passion that the manager shows every single week, I genuinely believe this football club would be in a far better place than it is today.

Nobody is demanding millions be thrown around recklessly. Fans simply want to see leadership, vision and a genuine commitment to pushing this club forward.

Right now, too often it feels like the manager is carrying the hopes of the club on his own shoulders.

Wigan Athletic deserve better. The supporters deserve better. And if the owners truly believe in the future of this football club, now is the time to show it. Not with words, but with action.

Overall, four points from the two games isn't a disaster by any stretch. The comeback against Bromley showed character, Saydee continues to be a shining light, and the defending against Mansfield was a step in the right direction.

But until this team learns how to defend the simple stuff consistently and starts taking chances at the other end, we'll continue to walk away from games feeling like there's so much more there to be had.

Up the Tics. 💙🤍

Martin Lally:

Another week in the ramblings of a frustrated Tics fan.

The week just gone had a real sense of importance about it.

With Blackpool and Burton away, Peterborough on the horizon and the Christmas fixtures approaching, this is becoming an increasingly critical period in Wigan Athletic’s season.

I arrived at the Brick on Saturday feeling confident. So confident, in fact, that I told my son to put a bet on: Wigan 4, Bromley 0.

Well, that bet was gone inside six minutes, courtesy of yet more dreadful defending from set pieces!

The way we recovered in that game, however, was excellent. We simply have to address how much we continue to gift to the opposition.

I remain consistent in my view that Stockport was the only game this season where we were nowhere near the required level. They absolutely mullered us, and we paid the price.

Bromley were poor, but we still seem to have this distinct lack of killer instinct when it comes to putting the opposition to bed. We create opportunities, get ourselves into promising positions and then somehow leave the door open.

Mansfield was a different proposition altogether. I actually expected them to be a much better footballing side.

Instead, we were treated to a group of players who seemed more intent on kicking lumps out of us, with an inept refereeing performance allowing it to continue.

At Huddersfield, we had three names in the referee’s notebook inside 20 minutes in a game that barely contained a bad tackle.

On Tuesday, we witnessed missed penalties and some horrendous challenges on Scott Hogan and Fraser Murray, which were seemingly ignored by the man with the whistle.

At one point, I genuinely wondered whether he’d forgotten where he’d put his cards!

Every positive piece of play seemed to be thwarted by shirt-pulling, reckless challenges or cynical defending from the opposition, with little or no resistance from a referee who appeared to lose control of the game before he’d ever really taken control.

When will the EFL address this inconsistency? Week after week, we see performances from officials that leave supporters scratching their heads. And I don’t care what anyone says, Wigan Athletic never seems to get its fair share.

Don’t give me the usual ‘swings and roundabouts over a season’ argument. That might be a convenient explanation, but we’re far too deep into a season of feeling that absolutely nothing is being given our way.

There has been a slight upturn in supporter numbers, which is encouraging, despite the continued presence of those who seem determined to pollute social media platforms day in, day out.

Personally, I struggle with the constant ‘Danson Out’ rhetoric.

Let me be absolutely clear: I feel more disconnected from this football club than I ever have. At times, going to watch Latics has become a chore. But that’s football. You turn up when they’re good, and you turn up when they’re bad.

Mr Danson and his son, who is rarely seen around the club, give me little reason to believe there is any real emotional connection or loyalty to Wigan Athletic. Their approach to the stadium and the playing squad has done little to reassure supporters.

But here’s my concern. What makes our fan base so certain that the owners wouldn’t simply pull the plug? What if they decided enough was enough and walked away, leaving us to deal with the consequences overnight?

The hard-earned points we’ve accumulated could count for very little if the club were left in an untenable position.

I can categorically say that I don’t believe there’s some Hollywood superstar or oil tycoon waiting in the wings, ready to ride a white horse down Stadium Way, past the Whelan statue, and rescue the day.

It makes for a lovely story, but football ownership rarely works like that.

Perhaps that’s why I find the constant calls for change so uncomfortable. We can question the current ownership, and quite rightly so, but we also need to consider what might come next. Be careful what you wish for.

In the world we live in, freedom of speech is encouraged more than ever, and supporters are perfectly entitled to voice their frustrations. But sometimes, you really do have to be careful what you wish for.

And, of course, I’ll see you all at Boreham Wood. I mean, what could possibly go wrong? They’re only double-digit points ahead of any challenger in their league!

Up the Tics!

Tony Moon:

Well, seven home points from nine, and two wins outta three ain’t bad (he knew his stuff did old Marvin Lee Aday), even though some will undoubtedly think we threw two points away against Mansfield.

Well, we probably did, but the overall performance - against a physical and at times, quite cynical team (watched over by a ref who was happy to let them be so) - probably didn’t really deserve all three.

We played well in spells, but we also played less well at times. The biggest thing for me though is that, in these two last home games, the positives are starting to far outweigh the negatives.

I read (on soshul meeja) that we played '94 minutes of dross'! Answers on a postcard saying whether that bloke is half blind, a Noblot supporter, or a relation of Ryan Lowe.

Regardless, a clean sheet is always welcome, even if it’s coupled with the same at the other end (oh Bradley, 'The Buzz' fizzled out mate, but keep on trying, it’ll spark up again).

And the signs are clear that (even if only in fits and starts) we are starting to gel … and we know what comes when that happens.

They can go anyweer!

Sean Livesey:

So then, who would have taken four points from the next two at 1pm on Saturday afternoon? I know I would, and I suspect most of us would.

Two performances from Latics that were good for different reasons saw us rise to the heady heights of 21st (but hey, it's a start).

Let's look back at Bromley. A third home win of the season and although we made it look difficult at times we scored three goals, all inside the box.

Showing a killer instinct we've lacked far too often this season. I'm sure many of us shared the same sinking feeling when Bromley went ahead after six minutes and again when they equalised on the stroke of half-time.

But Brad Burrowes popped up to bag his first goal for Latics to cap off an impressive performance and he wasn't the only one.

Christian Saydee who looks a different player since his return from injury and indeed since he stopped being managed by Ryan Lowe. His goal was important but his all-round play even more so.

A word for young K'Marni Miller too with a goal on the eve of his 20th birthday. In an interview after the match, he said he'd celebrate his birthday by staying in watching telly. Like a proper Yorkshireman!

His performance, though, was fantastic and as others have mentioned, do we finally now have the personel available to play the wing-back system we've been trying to play for the last two or three years?

If Saturday could be considered a nervy three points, Tuesday's match with Mansfield was a totally different prospect. I'd argue it was the most entertaining 0-0 I've seen for a long time, and it was just a shame we didn't have enough to get over the line.

Latics went unchanged apart from Scott Hogan coming in for Christian Saydee, clearly an effort to manage the latter's fitness as he returns from injury.

Though the roles would be reversed closed to the end of the first half as Hogan was replaced by Saydee due to a serious looking injury.

It leaves Latics seriously light up top, as Gary Caldwell revealed post-match that both Dara Costelloe and Sonny Perkins were already out injured for the foreseeable.

Latics had done okay up to that point against a physical looking Mansfield side. Indeed the Stags were the latest side to look like they were straight out of the ‘Space Jam’ cast, after the giants of Bromley on Saturday.

But Latics stood up to that physicality and looked all the better for it. There was so much to be hopeful about on Tuesday.

Don't dismiss Mansfield as just Mansfield. At the moment, they're doing better than we are and had only suffered one defeat in five matches ahead of Tuesday's match, and we more than matched them.

There were big performances from a number of lads. Joe Whitworth's distribution is excellent, while Finley Burns had his best match yet for us, he looked composed and didn't panic when under sustained pressure.

Reggie Walsh and Charlie Gray were everywhere, and a bit more composure from the latter in front of goal and he'll be a force to be reckoned with.

Brad Burrowes is improving every match, he’s a really threatening player, and what can you say about Big Chris Saydee? He looks a different player from last season.

Whatever he's doing and Caldwell is working. He reminded me of Emile Heskey in his pomp at points.

A win would have been the icing on the cake, and it's a shame we couldn't get that goal, but I think we've made a huge step forward over the last week.

Avoid a slip up on Saturday, and it'll have been a great week. So on to Borehamwood it is. Let's hope Latics make it three unbeaten.