Thomas has had a superb season for the Latics and has made the defensive midfield role his own. His display yesterday against a physical Stoke City side typified the power and pace that Thomas has added to his game.
The 25 year old was indeed guilty of a bad miss from five yards out that would have sealed all three points for Roberto Martinez' side. But looking further than that, how many goals has Thomas saved this season with his break up play.
Going further than Thomas, the performance from an injury ravaged Wigan Athletic team was much improved on the appauling collapse at West Ham last weekend.
Clearly the trip to Old Trafford, the defeat to West Ham, and then a Carling Cup exit, topped off with suspensions and injuries to key players, would affect any side in the league.
It is a credit to the players that took to the field yesterday that they were able tocome back from a goal down twice against a very reputable Stoke City side. Further than that, the final twenty five minutes were only ever going to see the Latics take all three points.
Sadly, Thomas missed his aforementioned sitter, whilst charles N'Zogbia rattled the post with less than ten minutes to go.
Nobody could have complained if Roberto Martinez had been waxing lyrical about a very important three points at full time.
Unfortunately it wasn't to be and the Latics picked up a morale boosting point ahead of the trip to Everton next weekend.
It is also worth noting the frustrations of some supporters with the ball being played from the back. Somewhat foolish, there was an ignorant generation of supporters demanding the ball be pumped forward.
At best that could be considered foolish give the aerial prowess of Shawcross and co. at the back for Stoke. Rather, the Latics were trying to play football properly from the back and this yielded much more possession and limited Stoke to their own half for long periods of the second half.
The tactics employed suited the eleven players that were on the field for the Latics and given our present situation with the injuries, suspensions, and league position, some supporters would be better trying to accentuate the positive as opposed to howling abuse. You're only one step better than the stay away supporters who aren't even worth a comment.
Christmas is historically the time when the club pulls together and battles through the busy period to pick up some much needed points and rise out of the danger zone.
With Hugo Rodallega, Emmerson Boyce, Franco Di Santo and Gary Caldwell all due to return to the fold, things are looking brighter. There is still plenty of hard work left to do though.
Player ratings
Ali Al-Habsi 7 - Solid as ever
Steve Gohouri 7 - Versateille performance at the back from a player who has proved to be another Martinez bargain
Maynor Figueroa 6 - Solid display with a very good effort at goal in the second half
Steven Caldwell 5 - Struggled to get to grips with Fuller
Antolin Alcaraz 6 - Guilty of over playing at times when deep in his own half, but the Paraguayan offered a good display
Hendry Thomas 8 - Man of the match for the Latics as he patrolled the back line very well
Momo Diame 6 - A very good player who needs to develop aggression to reach his best
Tom Cleverley 7 - Very lively going forwards and offers a much needed second dimension to Charlie
Ben Watson 6 - Guilty of some poor passing that could be attributed to his lack of match action. Offered some excellent deliveries from set plays
Charles N'Zogbia 7 - Another good display from Charlie who is by far and away our most dangerous player
Mauro Boselli 6 - Slowly starting to get to grips with the league. Boselli is certainly a player who needs service to his feet. Nearly managed a goal after reacting sharply to volley at goal.
Substitutes:
Ronnie Stam 6 - Not enough time to make a significant impact but more convinction when attacked N'Zogbia's cross would have seen the Dutchman score
Here is the reaction of those involved.
Roberto Martinez
In the first-half we were heavily punished, probably because we were playing a little with the hand-break on. We wanted to impress today and impose ourselves on the game but at times it became a little difficult.
A deflected shot goes in past us from a nothing chance and suddenly things got on top of us. But the second-half performance was full of determination and character which fills me with great pride.
To come back twice against a Stoke City side we all know base their results on being resolute and strong defensively was a fantastic achievement.
With the injuries we've suffered lately and the little moments that went against us during the game it would have been very easy for us to feel sorry for ourselves, but we played with belief and desire and kept Stoke limited to very little during the game.
I think we were the team that clearly wanted to win the game and Charles N'Zogbia's chance late on was the moment we were about to take the three points but for a fantastic save from Asmir Begovic.
Those are the key moments in games and there's nothing more Charles could have done. But that's the nature of the game and the kind of instance where you need that bit of luck, but we'll make sure we earn that luck over the coming fixtures.
I think the conditions helped a little in the goals, it was a very fast pitch and the slightest touch made a big difference. The second goal we conceded was in a soft manner after finding ourselves with good opportunities to take the lead.
A couple of bad decisions left us quite exposed at the other end which is a real disappointment but for the right reasons. We wanted to keep our momentum up and score goals and sometimes that heart ruling the head affects you.
But it was an exciting game and as supporters you want to see goals and be entertained when you come to the game, and what I was pleased with was how the goals we conceded did not affect how we played our game.
We increased our tempo and showed real responsibility on and off the ball. It gives us a real platform to carry on performing, growing and start earning the points we deserve.
In such conditions when the opposition isn't having too much joy it is very easy to lose concentration.
But Ali was alive for every minute and when his services were needed he delivered and those are the moments when you're glad to have your goalkeeper in a good moment of form.
Tony Pulis
Fair play to Wigan, they came back twice, albeit the two goals they scored were deflected goals. We created chances, they created chances, it was a very open game.
I thought they were two fantastic saves. (Asmir) Begovic's was a superb save from the angle (to deny Charles N`Zogbia) but I thought their keeper (Ali Al Habsi) got down ever so well (to keep out Kenwyne Jones` header) because the one thing you want to do is head it down, and for him to get down that low so quick was fantastic.
The table
| Latest match Saturday, 4th December 2010 |
Pld | Home | Away | Overall | Pts | GD | |||||||||||||||||
| W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | |||||||||
| 1 | Arsenal | 16 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 19 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 34 | 18 | 32 | +16 | ||||
| 2 | Manchester United | 15 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 35 | 16 | 31 | +19 | ||||
| 3 | Chelsea | 16 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 30 | 11 | 30 | +19 | ||||
| 4 | Manchester City | 16 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 21 | 12 | 29 | +9 | ||||
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 16 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 13 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 24 | 21 | 26 | +3 | ||||
| 6 | Bolton Wanderers | 16 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 17 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 12 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 28 | 23 | 23 | +5 | ||||
| 7 | Stoke City | 16 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 0 | ||||
| 8 | Blackburn Rovers | 16 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 19 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 21 | 25 | 21 | -4 | ||||
| 9 | Sunderland | 15 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 19 | 18 | 20 | +1 | ||||
| 10 | Newcastle United | 15 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 23 | 22 | 19 | +1 | ||||
| 11 | Liverpool | 15 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 17 | 19 | 19 | -2 | ||||
| 12 | Blackpool | 15 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 18 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 23 | 29 | 19 | -6 | ||||
| 13 | West Bromwich Albion | 15 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 17 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 20 | 26 | 19 | -6 | ||||
| 14 | Birmingham City | 16 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 13 | 3 | 9 | 4 | 17 | 19 | 18 | -2 | ||||
| 15 | Everton | 16 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 12 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 18 | 20 | 17 | -2 | ||||
| 16 | Aston Villa | 15 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 17 | 24 | 17 | -7 | ||||
| 17 | Fulham | 16 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 16 | 20 | 15 | -4 | ||||
| 18 | Wigan Athletic | 16 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 17 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 28 | 15 | -15 | ||||
| 19 | West Ham United | 15 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 14 | 26 | 12 | -12 | ||||
| 20 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 16 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 17 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 17 | 30 | 12 | -13 | ||||
Next game
Next up is a trip to Goodison Park next weekend as the Latics will hope to improve on their present away from. Everton are solid and difficult to beat under David Moyes, whilst Latics boss Roberto Martinez will be hoping that the Latic flair shows through from his side.