The Betfair Contrarian: Why Wigan will not get relegated

 

The Contrarian tells us all we need to know as to why Wigan will still be a Premier League club next season...

 

Wigan Athletic are the masters at putting their fans through the mill as they play their now traditional game of chicken with the drop.

 

Somewhat sidetracked by a terrific FA Cup run though, their customary survival surge is taking just a little longer than usual to arrive this year. But this is expert  escapologists Wigan we're talking about, and the Contrarian for one believes Roberto Martinez's side will delight their audience and survive once more.

 

The Latics can be laid for Relegation at 1.76. Here's why you should do it...

 

 

Wigan ALWAYS stay up

 

Experience of surviving these relegation battles is paramount. Facilitated by the riches of local millionaire Dave Whelan, the Latics shot to Premier League prominence  with a tenth-place finish in their maiden voyage into Premier League waters back in 2005/06. Aside from one other such heady campaign in 2008/09 when they finished  11th however, their other six seasons in the top-flight have involved constant flirtation with the trapdoor. But somehow it's ingrained in Wigan's fabric that they'll  put a run together and stay up, highlighted famously when winning eight of the last 10 games last year after laying bottom for the majority of the season. They  actually have the same points total now (33) as they did at this juncture last season.

 

 

They have the right manager and the right players

 

To his huge credit another constant of the Roberto Martinez era has been the Spaniard's keen eye in bringing talent to the club that others have overlooked. Players of  the calibre of Antonio Valencia and Victor Moses have completed a Wigan apprenticeship, and this year's crop are no exception - 12-goal Ivorian Arouna Kone is another  great example of Martinez' transfer mastery. Despite his run-in with notoriety Callum McManaman has also caught the eye with some dazzling displays out on the wing and  in Scotland international Shaun Maloney, Wigan have a man playing the best football of his career. The Latics have the perfect blend of experienced campaigners and  fresh talent to see the job through.

 

 

A favourable run-in

 

Wigan's FA Cup heroics mean they have a game in hand over their fellow flounderers, most notably Aston Villa, just three points above them. Crucially, Wigan still have  to face Villa on the last day of the Premier League season and guess what, the Latics are at home. Of course, Wigan pulled off their most emphatic victory of the  entire campaign over the Villans back in December, running out 3-0 victors back in December. The Lancastrians have won three out of their last four games on the last  day of the season too. Looking at Wigan's other four fixtures gives those of a blue and white striped persuasion even greater cause to believe; two teams - West Brom  and Swansea - have embarked on dismal downturns and have nothing left to play for. They also play Spurs - who they beat at White Hart Lane in November - and Arsenal  away, where they won last season.

 

 

They are better equipped than Aston Villa to stay up

 

With Sunderland and Stoke waking up to their possible fate and recording wins in recent weeks, it looks like being a straight shoot-out with Aston Villa to avoid  Premier league termination. Villa are in deep trouble as they face up to a resurgent Paolo Di Canio-inspired Black Cats fresh from consecutive wins. Due to the  fledgling age of Paul Lambert's squad there just simply isn't enough experience to deal with these situations like seasoned Wigan can. This is highlighted by the fact  Villa have dropped a league-high 23 points from winning positions while Wigan have passed up only 11.

 

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