Wigan Athletic will quickly bounce back into the Premier League, according to boss Roberto Martinez as the club’s eight-year stint in the top-flight ended with a draw against Aston Villa.
Emmerson Boyce’s header cancelled out Darren Bent’s opener before Nathan Baker’s own goal put the Latics ahead but Ron Vlaar levelled to share the spoils at the DW Stadium.
And as Wigan prepare for life in the Championship next season after finishing 18th in England’s top league, Martinez said his side will soon return to where they belong.
“Our fans keep telling us don’t worry about the league campaign because we can correct that and they’re right,” the Spaniard told the club website.
“This team doesn’t deserve to be in the position it is in. For one reason or another we’ve been in the middle of an amount of situations that went against us.
“We can make sure we can bounce back as quick as we can to the level Wigan Athletic showed they deserve to be at.
“We’ve made history [by winning the FA Cup] and I think we’ve changed the perception of our club. We’ve got more determination to get back to where Wigan Athletic belongs.
“We’ve got European football which means Wigan Athletic is going to be travelling around Europe with a real sense of pride and making sure next season is going to be a success.”
Darren Bent threatened to end Wigan’s season on an unhappy note when he opened the scoring for the visitors after just five minutes with his first goal since September.
But the Latics equalised when Boyce powerfully headed home Roger Espinoza’s high cross into the six-yard box with 21 minutes played.
And they went ahead just before half-time after FA Cup hero Ben Watson’s shot was cleared off the line by Ashley Westwood but rebounded off Baker’s left foot into the net.
But Villa’s captain Vlaar denied the Latics a victory on the hour mark with a half-volley into the top left-hand corner after controlling Joe Bennett’s free-kick into the area.
And despite missing out on three points on the final day with relegation looming, Martinez praised his team’s unwavering efforts and the fans’ support throughout the season.
“It’s disappointing in one way because we wanted to win the football game and I thought at times we were unplayable,” he said.
“But defensively one shot on target in the second-half ends up in the back of the net and that’s been the reflection of the season and that’s disappointing.
“We were one goal down and anyone could have this team could just cave in but the personality of this group of players is incredible.
“We got in front deservedly and the performance was as usual full of effort, full of quality. Then we ended up with a real sense of celebration with the fans.
“They have been there for us when it was most needed. They have been a massive part of wining the FA Cup, something which is going to be there forever.”
Image courtesy of BBC Sport, via YouTube, with thanks
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