Wigan would be a team before the start of the season you’d put a bet on for promotion after finishing last season very strong but now, sitting 23rd in the championship and only getting one win in their last 17 games, the threat of relegation is looking like a serious possibility for the former premier league side. But how have the lactics become to a poor team this season and is there any way for them to get out of the mess they’re in?

Poor Form

Wigan have one of the worst records in the league only managing 4 wins in the league and not being able to get any points against teams near the bottom they need to beat to be safe from relegation. You’d think the appointment of Malky Mackay, who had been promoted from this league with Cardiff 2 seasons ago would help them start pulling together results however he is not having any luck at all only managing one win in his time as manager.

Lack of goal threat

A key factor in being successful in this league is having goal scorers which it seems the lactics don’t have. There top goal scorer James McLean only has 5 goals to his name, below him Martyn Waghorn only has 2 and if Wigan are to survive this season, they have to start finding the back of the net more often because if they don’t they won’t be able to get them valuable points to get out of the bottom 3. They have strikers like Grant Holt and Marc-Antoine Fortune who need to start showing form that they are capable of otherwise Wigan need to be preparing for league 1.

Key players leaving

It’s no surprise that many players are starting to leave an apparent sinking ship but some of the leaving players really were key to Wigan for example Callum McManaman who was actually a key player for Wigan’s goals having scored 5 left to join premier league West Brom and Adam Forshaw who was an integral part in the lactics midfield left to join high flying Middlesbrough. And with others knowing the situation they are in, don’t be surprised if more start to pull out the fight for survival as well.

Any hope for the latics?

Having said about the lack of goal threat and poor form, you have to admit Wigan do have a talented squad at the end of the day, and have brought in some decent signings for example Leon Clarke who we know can score goals and Liam Ridgwell who is an experienced defender. Malky Mackay is also a decent manager that has proved to be successful in this league especially providing form which is what Wigan need.

However if he wants to stay up this season, he’s got one huge fight on his hands and he needs to improve to make sure the lactics can still be in the championship after a season to forget.