It’s a Rollercoaster

League One is an absolute rollercoaster this season, as we approach the New Year ten points separate play-off chasing Stevenage and relegation zone dwellers Plymouth Argyle.

Latics who it’s fair to say have been underwhelming for most of the Autumn rose to the heady heights of 12th with a crucial win over Burton but could have easily have found themselves in the bottom four without that win.

Speaking of rollercoasters, Latics have been on the equivalent of the dip on the Big One at Blackpool over the last few week

Poor defeats at home to Blackpool and away to Bradford threatened to completely derail the season.

But one Harrison Bettoni who stepped up so well at Wimbledon a month ago stepped up again at The Pirelli.

I’m wary of putting too much responsibility on the shoulders of an 18 year old with a handful of appearances to his name but he seems one of the few forwards on our books who can actually create something, or put the ball in the back of the net.

He was one of the few to come out of Bradford with any credit and clearly doesn’t look to be only a flash in the pan.

Dara Costelloe has had a torrid time since signing for us in the summer.

The promised goals haven’t materialised and mixed with suspension and being out of form he’s cut a forlorn figure in recent weeks.

Hopefully the goal against Burton will kick start his season. Especially as it seems that Paul Mullin has played his final match in a Wigan shirt.

It’s been a bizarre season on so many levels but the signing of Mullin must top that. A genuine goal scorer in the lower reaches of the Football League.

He hit the goal scoring charts early for us without really looking convincing but for the vast majority of the last two months he’s been out of the starting eleven and in a lot of matches not made the squad at all.

Which when you’re crying out for goals always feels a bit strange. Especially when Mullin had scored five without either featuring that much or actually playing that well.

But for one reason or another the Head Coach has decided he isn’t the striker we need.

Whether he returns to Wrexham is yet to be seen but you would expect attacking reinforcements to follow in the New Year.

Another area that needs strengthening is defence. Will Aimson and James Carragher can’t carry the load on their own, especially with Jason Kerr and his shattered knee cap.

January has the potential for making or breaking our season.

If we can pick up where we left off after Burton and get that win at home to Barnsley, along with some reinforcements in January and this season that has flattered to deceive so far could well fire in to life.

Sean Livesey

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