Wigan Athletic coach Roberto Martinez refused to write off the Latics chances of Premier League survival after his team suffered a crippling 3-2 loss at home to Swansea City onTuesday. The loss meant that Wigan is now three points adrift of 18th-place Newcastle United with just two games to play.
The home team took the lead through a RogerEspinoza volley just before halftime only for Swansea’s Angel Rangel to level the score with another fine volley five minutes after the break. Three minutes later,James McCarthy put Wigan back in front, but the lead would only last six minutes, as Itey Schechter scored just before the hour mark. DwightTiendalli then bungled home the winner fifteen minutes from time thanks to some especially awful Wigan defending. Swansea’s third goal visibly deflated the home team, which never lookedlike scoring afterwards.
“It is a difficult moment,” Martinez said after the game. “We were so excited about the game and aware we had a unique opportunity in front of us against a teamthat hadn’t won for a while. The real frustration is the way the game developed. The manner of the goals we conceded does make it more frustrating. I thought everything was under control in the firsthalf. But the second half and the goals we gave away meant it became a very, very difficult game to play.”
He added: “The many injuries we have at the back showed tonight; we playedsloppy balls and made bad decisions.” Martinez said that the FA Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley on Saturday “will pick the players up. Everyone is down but the occasion willget us ready. It will prepare us mentally and emotionally and we still have a fantastic opportunity to get six points [from the final two games].”