Half the story

Four points from a tricky looking week, rising to the top half of the table, three points from a play-off place.

It should be all smiles at the Brick but that only tells half the tale.

Latics laboured to a point against a Stevenage side who seemed happy enough to return to Hertfordshire with that point as soon as the whistle blew for kick-off.

As in many games this season (and for balance last) Latics didn’t score when on top.

But a point against a side at the top of the table, regardless of where they finish the season can be considered a decent one.

So on to Burton, a match brought forward by a week due to Burton’s involvement in the FA Cup being on TV next Monday.

Maybe a a number of Wiganer’s didn’t get the message it had been brought forward a week.

Perhaps that’s why according to stat man Paul Rowley it was the lowest Wigan Athletic home league crowd (apart from COVID) since 2004.

Over two decades ago.

Of course Burton is never going to be a huge sell, but in a season where crowds generally seem down this one stuck out like the proverbial sore thumb.

The truth is Sky’s broadcasting of every match has killed midweek crowds.

If you’re a big city club in the championship you can absorb that but for a club like us where getting anyone through the door takes a monumental effort it’s going to have a drastic effect.

Now also consider the fact that things on the pitch haven’t been sparkling over recent years and we shouldn’t really be surprised but it will be a concern for the club.

Mike Danson will cover our bills but there has to come a time where we start to generate our own income, it can’t always be beholden on some rich bloke to bail us out.

We more than any other club should know that by now.

Back to those less than sparkling on the pitch matters, well Tuesday was a win.

But to say Latics laboured to the three points would be an understatement.

Lowe’s side started well and with the manager springing a surprise by starting all three strikers it seemed that we were going for it.

Latics got ahead, some may say fortunately on the stroke of half time with a goal credited to Mullin but really an own goal from the Burton defender.

That was as good as it got in an attacking sense for Latics and they were indebted to Sam Tickle, the woodwork and some woeful Burton finishing to ensure that we took all three points.

Like Hemel Hempstead on another day it could have been a Burton win but you’ll take that at the moment and some how we find ourselves looking up towards the play-offs.

No Ryan Lowe in the post match press conference, probably hoarse after his interaction with the Statler and Waldorf stand in injury time.

But Graham Barrow pointed to the start of a project and urged people to stick with the plan.

Which is fine, but it we sacked one manager for a lack of excitement it’s difficult to then ask for the same sort of patience that wasn’t shown previously.

Nonetheless let’s look at the positives, as there are plenty.

Top half heading in to Christmas, we’re a couple of quality additions away from a play-off push and if we get it right on Saturday we could be in the hat for the third round come Monday.

We’d have all taken that back in August I’m sure. We’ll just ignore the bits in between.

Sean Livesey

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