Looking at the fixture list for a moment and the refreshing break to sunnier climbs couldn’t have come at a better moment and one could be forgiven for thinking this was a cunning bit of planning by Roberto Martinez.
The expedition may have been the subject of ridicule and vindication from various corners who felt Tenerife was rewarding the players for failure over the first two-thirds of the season.
Those same corners were left struggling for words as a thoroughly convincing away day display dominated Reading to take home all three points and leave the Royals demoralised in process.
Looking further ahead than the immediately challenging fixtures of Liverpool and Manchester City and it is possible to see a bunch of six games that will determine if the Latics are to continue to set history and remain at the top table of English football.
In the weeks proceeding the visit to the Champions, Roberto Martinez will push his team through the following points race of fixtures: Newcastle (h), Norwich (h), Q.P.R. (a) and Swansea (h).
Forty points is seen as the milestone to aim for and Saturday’s demolition of Reading increased the present Wigan total up to twenty-four. In simple terms, five wins and a draw away from survival.
We have a history of being able to get the results just at the moment they are needed, and regardless of the opposition we are facing.
The difference between this and last season is that instead of needing results against Liverpool (a), Arsenal (a), and Manchester United (h), we are able to hunt for points against mid-table teams at the DW Stadium.
We cannot be complacent. We’re only just outside the bottom three and the visits of Sunderland and Southampton to the DW Stadium in January proved just how difficult it can be against our rivals at the wrong end of the table.
There is still a long way to go but the freedom of performance against Reading pointed to a team who have revelled in the opportunity to spend time together in the Spanish training trip.
We have some excellent opportunities to pick up much needed points over the coming six games and what better time to push toward mid-table than Saturday’s televised game against a faded force Liverpool side.
Let’s continue to make history.