View from the East Stand

• Wigan Athletic succumbed to a 1-0 defeat to Blackpool in the clash of the Championship’s bottom clubs at Bloomfield Road. 
• This was another abject performance by Latics whose Championship status is now hanging by a thread. If they fail to win at Stoke on Tuesday night and other results go against them they will be relegated.
• Blackpool were ahead after only two minutes as Omar Rekik gave the ball away and Keshi Anderson fed Jerry Yates who finished via the far post.
• Latics had a couple of shouts for penalties but they once again lacked a cutting edge in the final third.
• Latics are bottom of the table and are 10 points from safety with only four games remaining. Blackpool are second bottom and four points from safety.

Shaun Maloney made three changes from the defeat to Swansea with Omar Rekik, Thelo Aasgaard and Will Keane returning to the starting line-up.

It was a dreadful opening for Latics as Blackpool went ahead in the second minute. Rekik tried to find Thelo Aasgaard but Anderson stepped in and fed Yates who got in behind and finished via the far post.

Latics were enjoyed plenty of possession but without really threatening the hosts goal.

Aasgaard had an attempt from 25 yards out, but disappointingly dragged his effort wide. At the other end, Josh Bowler fired over for Pool from distance.

Callum Lang created a chance for Keane but a Blackpool defender got back to block as Latics looked for an equaliser.

As Latics tried to play out from the back, Jack Whatmough almost conceded a goal as his pass was charged down by Yates and it narrowly missed Amos’ post.

Whatmough left the field through injury soon afterwards and Ashley Fletcher replaced him in an attacking change.

Tom Naylor might’ve had a penalty on the stroke of half-time after a scramble at the back post but referee Thomas Bramall waved away Latics’ appeals.

Blackpool had an early chance in the second half as a ball from the left found Josh Bowler free inside the box, he chested down, but his shot was straight at Amos.

Ryan Nyambe then crossed from the right and found Aasgaard but he failed to make a proper contact and his effort was easily saved by Daniel Grimshaw.

Later a good cross from Fletcher found Aasgaard but his header looped onto the roof of the net.

Anderson then fired a volley wide from 30 yards before Fletcher headed a James McClean free kick wide.

Latics huffed and puffed but just weren’t convincing in the final third. Keane was withdrawn and replaced by Josh Magennis on 74 minutes, but the two pronged attack of Fletcher and Magennis was far too easily blunted.

In nine minutes of added time Latics almost managed to equalise when Power’s cross came to James McClean at the back post, but he could only hit the side netting.

Latics had an appeal for a hand ball very late on but referee Bramall once again waved away their appeals.

The match ended 1-0 to a chorus of boos from the Tics fans who understandably believe they have been badly let down by the players and the ownership this season.

Overview

It had been a mediocre match between two poor teams but Blackpool had done just enough to secure the three points which keeps their survival hopes alive. Latics had been toothless in attack and are now all but mathematically relegated.

Despite enjoying the greater possession Latics had no cutting edge which has been their biggest problem for most of the season.

Charlie Wyke has been absent due to injury and the sale of Everton loanee Nathan Broadhead hasn’t helped the cause but Latics’ other strikers goal return has been pitiful.

They are the joint lowest scorers in the Championship which goes a long way to explain why they have been relegated.

I don’t expect Ashley Fletcher or Josh Magennis to be at the club next season and Latics will need new blood if they are to make a challenge.

The players are now totally lacking in confidence and the fight has gone out of them recently. Maloney has a difficult task to rebuild the club after the disappointments of this season.

Phoenix 2021 have a lot to do to regain the trust after some damaging decisions which have contributed to the relegation.

The squad will have to be trimmed for League One, but they must try to hang on to their best players and good recruitment will be crucial.

The fans are understandably very down at the moment after a truly awful season. However, as everyone knows Latics have experienced some lows in the past but the club has managed to bounce back and there is no reason why it can’t do so again. Up the Tics! Keep the faith.

Championship Table

Post match comments

Speaking afterwards Maloney started with a message to the travelling support inside Bloomfield Road, as well as those at home, following the defeat.

“I’ll start with an apology really, and not just for today,” he said.

“That (apology) is for a long period of time, as this season has not been at the levels that this Club should be at. I appreciate every single one of them (the fans) that come and pay to watch us.

“I said at the very beginning when I started that win, lose or draw, I will come and show my appreciation.

“I know these days are difficult, but whatever anger and unhappiness is there – that’s for me. I know what I want to see, and that wasn’t it.”

Latics were stung early on the Seaside as the hosts took the lead inside the opening two minutes. Despite seeing a lot of the ball, Maloney spoke of the frustration that they couldn’t convert that possession into chances and goals.

“I knew the game was going to start hectic and I knew how they would start,” he said.

“The reality of it is, we were still goalside of the player that scores and we don’t follow the run. It was the same against Swansea and it’s the same of many games and it’s a big issue.

“We can do all the work to improve the team. Defensively, we’re one of the better ones in the league now, but we’re so far away from being a good, attacking team.

“We have to change that – starting now into the next few weeks and then into next season. I don’t want to have 60/70% possession and not have the threat to win games.

“Today, and probably the last few weeks, is a culmination of where I see the Club, and there’s a lot of things that need to change and be rebuilt. I need to be ruthless because the levels are not what I want to see and where they should be at.”

Player ratings

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