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End-of-season report: Wigan Athletic

:Headline: End-of-season report: Wigan Athletic: ID:84527: from db_amp
Sports Mole takes a look at a season for Wigan Athletic that has had its ups and downs.

Before this season, no side had ever won the FA Cup and been relegated from the top flight in the same campaign.

Step forward Wigan Athletic, who broke the trend when they defied the odds to win the FA Cup at the expense of Manchester City, before being demoted just three days later.

Here, Sports Mole has looked back over an entertaining few months at the DW Stadium as the Latics prepare for Championship football for the first time in eight years.

August

Chelsea at home is the not ideal start for any side, but that is what the fixtures computer dealt Roberto Martinez's team. They put in a spirited performance, but Chelsea debutant Eden Hazard shone as the Blues picked up a 2-0 win.

One of Wigan's summer signings showed his credentials next time out though as Arouna Kone found the net during a 2-0 victory away at Southampton.

Championship outfit Nottingham Forest were also comprehensively beaten in the League Cup.

September

It was a sign of things to come during September as Wigan failed to win any of their four Premier League encounters. Manchester United, Fulham and Sunderland all claimed victories from meetings with Wigan.

There was also a 2-2 draw with Stoke City, but Martinez was disappointed having seen his side go in front on two occasions, only to be pegged back both times.

The League Cup was still a welcome distraction though when a 4-1 win was achieved away at West Ham United.

October

It was a case of one win, one draw and one loss from Wigan's three league outings during October. The victory was achieved against West Ham, with Spanish defender Ivan Ramis getting his name on the scoresheet.

Somewhat disappointingly League Two side Bradford City knocked the Latics out of the Capital One Cup though on penalties.

November

Ben Watson scored the only goal of the game as Wigan claimed a positive result away at Tottenham Hotpsur. However, defeats to West Bromwich Albion, Liverpool and Man City followed.

The month did end on a high though as a Jordi Gomez hat-trick sealed a 3-2 victory over fellow strugglers Reading.

December

Wigan played six matches over December, but were only able to win one of them. That was achieved at the end of the month away at Aston Villa, with Kone once again among the goals in a 3-0 victory.

That was preceded by losses against Newcastle United, Norwich City, Arsenal and Everton.

Midfielder James McCarthy also netted twice during a 2-2 home draw with Queens Park Rangers.

January

A Premier League win eluded Martinez's team during January. It started with a heavy loss at home to Man United, who won 4-0 thanks to a braces from Robin van Persie and Javier Hernandez.

There was also a loss to Sunderland, while draws were collected from matches against Fulham and Stoke.

The FA Cup also got underway and Wigan reached the fifth round thanks to wins over Bournemouth (via a replay) and Macclesfield.

February

Just like October, Wigan picked up one of each of the possible results from their three Premier League matches in February. The win came at the expense of Reading as once again Kone showed his clinical touch with two goals.

The march continued in the FA Cup as well as Huddersfield Town were beaten 4-1 to set up a quarter-final away at Everton.

March

Up until this point, Wigan's performance at Goodison Park in the last eight of the competition in early March was their best of the season. They scored three times in the space of three first-half minutes to stun the home side. It was also the match where Callum McManaman started to show his potential on the big stage.

A heavy loss to Liverpool got the month off to a bad start from a Premier League perspective, but back to back wins over Newcastle and Norwich City lifted the gloom as survival looked a real possibility.

The Newcastle match also saw McManaman hit the headlines for the wrong reasons after he made dangerous tackle on Massadio Haidara, which went unpunished.

April

Again Wigan's month centred around the FA Cup as they reached the final for the first time in their history thanks to a 2-0 win over Championship side Millwall. McManaman again was involved, this time on a positive note as he scored one of his team's goals.

Their Premier League status started to slip away though because just two points were collected from a possible 12.

The 2-2 home draw with Spurs looked to be particularly costly. It appeared that Wigan were going to take all three points until Emmerson Boyce put through his own net in stoppage time.

May

The final month of the campaign was a real rollercoaster of emotions for everybody connected with the club.

It started with hope as a 3-2 win was picked up at West Brom, but that was dashed as Swansea City won by the same scoreline during a clash at the DW Stadium.

They were able to put that disappointment to one side though to make history in the FA Cup final. Some bookmakers gave odds of around 9/1 that Wigan would overcome Man City to lift the trophy, but they managed it thanks to a late header from substitute Watson.

While Wigan were celebrating, their fellow relegation candidates had picked up positive results in the league and consequently only a win would do next time out against Arsenal if they were to have any chance of playing in the Premier League next year.

Despite a spirited display, it wasn't to be and the Gunners ran out 4-1 winners at a wet Emirates Stadium to confirm Wigan's relegation.

In true Wigan style, the team rallied on the final day of the campaign to claim a 2-2 home draw with Aston Villa. It is likely to be an uncertain summer at the DW Stadium though, with the biggest question mark surrounding the future of boss Martinez.

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