Dave Whelan wants some answers from Roberto Martinez on Monday morning, as Wigan Athletic fell to a fifteenth Premier League defeat of the season.
The Latics suffered a disappointing 2-0 home defeat to Swansea City on Saturday afternoon, meaning they remain at the foot of the table with just 11 fixtures remaining. Martinez’s men have now won just one of their last 12 outings, and you have to go back to the end of August to find the last time they recorded three points at their DW Stadium home.
Although Wigan are still just two points adrift of a safety spot, there is a growing feeling amongst supporters that their seventh successive season in the top-flight could end with relegation to the Championship. And after leaving star players Mohamed Diame, Victor Moses and Hugo Rodallega on the bench for the visit of Brendan Rodgers men, chairman Whelan is keen to discover the reasons behind Martinez’s approach.
“That was our worst performance in four or five years,” he said. “I will have a meeting with him (Martinez) on Monday morning and ask him some questions about the performance and his selection. We had three quality players on the bench and I want to know why.”
Of the 11 remaining fixtures in their calendar, Wigan still have to travel to Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal, whilst Manchester United visit in April. If, though, they can keep within touching distance of the survival places until the final month of the campaign, their final two matches, away to Blackburn Rovers and at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers, will offer hope they can pull off another escape.
Whelan has in the past stated that Martinez will not be sacked even if the Lancashire side are relegated, and even though he repeated this stance after this latest loss, the Spanish coach may find his return to work on Monday an uncomfortable one.
Follow takefootball on twitter – https://twitter.com/#!/takefootball
