However anyone present inside Bloomfield Road on Saturday will be fully aware that there is plenty of fight left in this dog yet, and the Latics are going to give 100% to stay in this division.
Saturday’s victory over relegation rivals Blackpool could prove to be almost as big a victory as that over Sheffield United on the last day of the season over three years ago.
Unlike Paul Jewell, who was the manager that day, present manager Roberto Martinez is known for being much more of a thinking manager, preferring to set his teams up tactically and play football on the ground. However the team started with such power, pace, and aggression, Blackpool didn’t know where to turn. It was little surprise to see Hugo Rodallega score so early on.
The Latics didn’t look back. Charles N’Zogbia added a second and Momo Diame a third, the away fans were in dream land. The sun was shining, the blue and white supporters were in good voice, the away end was bouncing (literally), and the team was playing with the swagger of a side at the top of the table. More to the point the Latics had pulled themselves out of the bottom three.
Without doubt huge praise must be offered to Roberto Martinez for this victory. The manager has taken some stick this season but this was his team, in his image, playing the way he wanted them to, and they destroyed Blackpool.
Next week is the trip to Sunderland who are in free-fall under the familiar face of Steve Bruce. A victory at the Stadium of Light would see the club rise up to 37 points (just one behind the Black Cats) and put one firm foot in the Premier League next season.
If the supporters can generate the same atmosphere and the players can put in the same sort of performance then a victory in the North East is likely to be a reality.
We are staying up, say we are staying up!
