WASC News

Remembering the Best Results From Wigan’s Stay In The Premier League

Wigan Athletic’s eight-year stay in the Premier League defied all expectation, with many experts claiming that it could be impossible for Latics to stay in the top-flight due to the lack of financial firepower.

However, Wigan made a mockery of their statement, with an excellent run in the top-flight, which also saw a Wigan player named in the PFA Team of the Season, and a first England international ever.

Nonetheless, that stay in the top-flight sadly came to an end following the 2012-13 season, and since then the club have been competing in the Championship and League 1. Yet, the final season in the Premier League remains one of the fondest in the history of the club, with the Latics winning their first-ever FA Cup before getting relegated from the top-flight. Which other results stood out during that illustrious period in the club’s history?

Sheffield United 1-2 Wigan Athletic (2006-07)

It could be argued that the FA Cup success that the club achieved in 2013 could never have been possible had it not been for Wigan avoiding relegation on the final day of the 2006-07 season.

Never before had the fight against relegation been so competitive, with goal difference needed to decide the final team relegated from the division. Sometimes in the Premier League the relegation battle is as exciting as watching the Kentucky Derby odds during the race: teams go toe to toe until the last match.

Wigan’s backs were against the wall on that afternoon at Bramall Lane, as they knew that only a win would keep them in the division and send Sheffield United or West Ham United down.

The team was able to get the three points they needed after Paul Scharner and David Unsworth scored the vital goals. The second half was a cagey affair with the Latics hanging on, after Danny Webber hit the post and Wigan were down to ten following the sending off of Lee McCulloch.

However, Wigan’s win coupled with a West Ham victory over Manchester United meant that it would be the Blades condemned to the Championship.

Wigan Athletic 3-1 Chelsea (2009-10)

Wigan needed to wait four years for a first win over one of the team’s in the Premier League’s top-four. However, that day finally arrived on the 26th September 2009. Wigan shocked the country by claiming a home win over the title-chasing Blues, which ended Chelsea’s unbeaten start to the season.

The win was even more impressive given that the Blues had started the season as the runaway league leaders.

The match showcased the never say die attitude that ensured the Latics were able to stay in the Premier League for so long. Titus Bramble opened the scoring at the DW Stadium, before Didier Drogba levelled the scores. The game turned on a penalty decision, as Petr Cech was sent off after bringing down Hugo Rodallega. The same player scored the spot-kick before Scharner wrapped up the win to create history.

Wigan Athletic 3-2 Arsenal (2009-10)

By the time that Wigan’s home clash against Arsenal came around in April of the same season, the Latics were looking for a big win to ease relegation worries, while Arsenal needed three points to keep their title hopes alive.

Wigan had already ended their hoodoo against the top-four by beating Chelsea and Liverpool, but they would add Arsenal to that list with one of the most memorable games from the Wigan Premier League era.

The Latics found themselves 2-0 down with 80 minutes gone, after Theo Walcott and Mikael Silvestre had put the Gunners into a healthy lead. However, the final ten minutes of the game would be remarkable. Wigan scored three goals in ten minutes to turn the match on its head and secure their top-flight status for another season.

Ben Watson scored the first goal, before Titus Bramble levelled the scores after a mistake by Lukasz Fabianski in the Arsenal goal. Wigan would get all three points in injury time, as Charles N’Zogbia delightfully curled the ball into the back of the Arsenal net.

There you have it, some nice memories to cherish on. Let’s hope that Wigan gets back on their feet and that we can see the Latics back in the Premier where they belong sooner than later.