‘WIGAN ARE EMOTIONALLY FANTASTIC..’
But boss O’Neill warns he hasn’t conjured Stoke escape yet
Batth Clucas
STOKE took a big leap towards Championship safety with a convincing win over managerless Birmingham.
The Potters grabbed three points and jumped four places into 17th spot, four points clear of the drop zone, to ease fears of a second relegation in three seasons.
They are close to pulling off an escape which seemed unlikely when boss Michael O’Neill arrived in November.
Back then they were bottom of the table with only eight points from 15 games, but the former Northern Ireland chief (inset) is not counting his chickens just yet.
“This position was a long way off then, but I don’t feel we’re quite there yet,” he said.
“We’ll have a chance to put more distance between us and the bottom three at Bristol City in our next game.
“But today was positive day for us.
“It was a good performance with good intensity and quality.”
One of the teams they moved above was Birmingham, whose a miserable run now stretches to 11 games without a win.
The Blues had caretaker duo Steve Spooner and Craig Gardner in charge for the first time after manager Pep Clotet left in midweek, but it had little impact.
Four teams would have to overtake them to be relegated, but the nerves will be jangling at St Andrew’s as they have forgotten how to win.
They switched to three at the back, but it did not work and Spooner is desperate to turn Blues’ fortunes around.
He said: “The players are bitterly disappointed with the goals we conceded. That wasn’t about formation but application, and sensing danger.”
After being thrashed
5-0 by Championship leaders Leeds three days earlier, Stoke came flying out of the traps eager to make amends.
Sam Vokes had already headed against the bar and Nick Powell had forced Lee
Camp into a fine save before they went in front. Birmingham went to sleep at a short corner and Powell’s cross to the back post was turned home by Danny Batth. The Potters were dominant and James McClean was twice unlucky not to put his team two up. The Irishman stung the hands of Camp with one drive and then fizzed another against the top of the bar from 25 yards.
Instead, McClean turned provider as his pass into Sam Clucas ended with the Stoke skipper curling beautifully past keeper Camp into the far corner.
Blues were better after the break and substitute
Jeremie Bela was not far wide with their best effort.
But it was too little and far too late and they now face a crunch game against fellow strugglers Charlton at home on Wednesday.
Spooner added: “We don’t want to go into the last game needing something.
“So the quicker we can get a win, the better.”
STOKE:
BIRMINGHAM:
MOTM
Referee: Scot Duncan
SAM CLUCAS (STOKE)
WIGAN
WIGAN assistant boss Leam Richardson insists his players are united in their battle for Championship survival.
The Latics could have their legs cut from under them – and be sent stumbling into League One.
But Richardson insists: “At the minute emotionally the lads are fantastic.”
Paul Cook’s men are nine points off the drop zone but a 12-point deduction looms after they went into administration, which would currently send them bottom.
They have Hull at home tomorrow night followed by Charlton and Fulham, games they must negotiate without defender Danny Fox – sent off at Barnsley (above) for a foul on Elliot Simoes.
Richardson said: “I’ve been lucky enough to be around certain clubs and changing rooms and the spirit is as good as anything.
“So off the pitch they’re great and they certainly know the job they’ve got at hand is a tough ask but they’re ready for the fight.“
Barnsley are three points from safety at the bottom and travel to Leeds on Thursday before facing high-flyers Nottingham Forest and Brentford.
Yet Austrian midfielder Marcel Ritzmaier believes the Tykes can survive despite their daunting run-in – starting at Elland Road.
He said: “We have nothing to lose. We know we are a good team and we can just spring a surprise and if we play the same as the last couple of games I think we are going to make a good game.
“The last games we played really well. Everybody is confident, you see it on the pitch as well and with those three games there are a lot of possibilities.”
BARNSLEY:
WIGAN:
REF: