Neutral observers felt the Latics did more than enough to win the game as the youthful exurberance of a determined Wigan Athletic team out-ran, and out-played, the ageing Chelsea legs.
Latics boss Roberto Martinez was understandably delighted. He told the Wigan Evening Post: “The performance gives you that feeling that we have picked up all three points not just one. We feel disappointed now that our season has settled down and, in a way, we see this game as two points dropped.
“Even though we were playing a fantastic team in great form, you have to look at the amount of corners we had compared to them, the amount of possession and the attempts on target.
“I think the statistics prove what a fantastic performance it was. The players were thinking at all times and coped with Chelsea’s threat when they had the ball really really well and then we showed a really dangerous streak in the way we played.
“It was a pleasing display and it is a great point gained. But the way we performed is the most important message of today, and we need to replicate this level of performance from now until the end of the season.”
Meanwhile, Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas was left to wonder what might have been. All seemed rosy in the Chelsea garden pre-match following on from last Monday's home win over league leaders Manchester City.
However the youthful Chelsea boss chose to try and hang on to a 1-0 lead against the Latics, a move that back-fired.
Speaking about the match Villas-Boas said: "They were two completely different halves. The first 20 minutes of the second half we were good and it was a question of patience until we found the goal.
"We could maybe have tried to go for the second goal but we decided to try to hold onto the first and exploit the space in behind. But we conceded two minutes from the end.
"That is disappointing and prevented us from getting the three points that we had expected. It's a pity but the players fought hard and I think confidence is not affected."
Martinez however couldn't conceal his delight. Not only had the LAtics out-played Chelsea for large periods of the game, but they also had some strong penalty shouts turned down.
“They [the team] had a great attitude and a brilliant work ethic which has always been really good, but today the tactical awareness was also spot on and it is a great achievement for the football club,” added the Latics boss.
Martinez and his team will no doubt be relishing Wednesday's game with Liverpool at the DW Stadium and hoping for more of the same.
