Wigan are down if appeal fails
THE APPEAL is going in and the Championship table is accompanied by a huge asterisk. Wigan Athletic are down, yet they are not. Not just yet, anyway.
And they do not deserve to be. If the 12-point deduction for going into administration is upheld when heard on July 31, they will be the only second-tier team in history to suffer relegation with a positive goal difference.
Fulham, who head into the playoffs, equalised here to send Wigan down but defiance remained at the DW Stadium. Wigan were fantastic last night and have been since January, when they were bottom — seemingly down and out — before a flurry of results that shocked this division.
They produced an exceptionally emotive video earlier in the week, a journey through their 88-year history, the narrator summing them up as ‘unique, different... special’.
Football clubs are more than just sports teams in towns like Wigan.
Regardless, there was a job to do and Paul Cook’s side, who have lost only twice since January, performed it admirably. ‘Higher, higher, higher,’ demanded Cook in hoarse scouse, and Fulham were unsettled in their own half.
Wigan deserved their lead. In what should be his last game for the club, Kieffer Moore headed home the industrious Nathan Byrne’s cross.
A win would have kept Wigan up despite their points penalty but Fulham equalised four minutes after the break, a stunning freekick by Neeskens Kebano (below) arching away from David Marshall.
Chances came and went for Wigan, but it was not to be.
‘I don’t know what it is, but it is something,’ that video’s narrator ended by describing his town. Wigan’s story certainly is something — and it still has extra time in court to go.
David Phillips QC needs to nod in a last-minute winner to save them now.
8.40pm
Wigan in trouble as Neeskens Kebano levels for Fulham. West Brom tighten their grip on promotion as Robinson puts them 2-1 up.
8.50pm
QPR refuse to lie down. Ebere Eze’s stylish finish makes it 2-2 at West Brom. At the bottom, Luton stretch their lead with a James Collins penalty.
9.05pm
Brentford finally stir with a Josh Dasilva equaliser. The goal means Charlton (4-0 down at Leeds) are now safe and Barnsley are going down with Hull and Wigan.
9.10pm
Forest are 3-1 down and Swansea are 3-1 up, and within another goal of the final play-off place.
9.25pm
now 4-1 down. Clark Odour pounces for Barnsley who avoid the drop with seconds to spare.
9.30pm
As you were at the top: Leeds and West Brom are promoted. Brentford, Fulham, Cardiff and Swansea in the play-offs. Hull, Wigan and Charlton relegated. Wigan’s appeal hearing for the 12-point deduction is next week. Barnsley are the team in danger if they overturn the penalty.