There was a distinct failure for the duration of the game to commit numbers forwards as the Latics instead relied on the presence of Charles N'Zogbia and Hugo Rodallega to try and nick a goal.
The latter's finish mid-way through the second half was certainly a special goal, but it wasn't what the Latics deserved. Roberto Martinez' side had a number of players who were guilty of lacking the desire that it needs at the wrong end of the table.
Momo Diame, Ben Watson and Rodallega himself all seemed to be a happy second to every ball on the pitch.
Dixon Etuhu and Danny Murphy had the freedom of midfield for the Cottagers, despite the three central Wigan midfielders that should have been dominated that area of the field. It was a good job Hendry Thomas felt full of running as ever.
The sooner Tom Cleverley, James McCarthy, and Victor Moses make returns to the Latics side the better as they will add the required weight to the attack.
At the back, the same defensive frailties exist. Despite Ali Al Habsi's heroics in goal, the Wigan defence was often split by a simple straight ball through.
There were some very big problems on the field today and Fulham were nothing special. These are the games where the Latics need three points to pull away from the relegation zone.
With Arsenal, Manchester United, and Manchester City to play in the next four games, it could be a a difficult period for the Latics who may well rue the lack of desire on display against Hughes' men.
Here is the reaction of those involved.
Roberto Martinez
It was very disappointing feeling the way you end the game. Obviously the first half, we couldn't be ourselves for many reasons, the pitch conditions and the way that Fulham worked hard to stop us from playing.
We allowed ourselves to get a little bit frustrated and the crowd got frustrated but we created probably the best chance of the game, hitting the post in the first half.
But then in the second half we started with a clear and positive attitude and we slowly were growing into the game and then we did the hardest thing in football which is scoring the first goal from open play and it was a fantastic finish.
Then you think from then on we'll be able to finish the game on the winning side. We had a key moment, a second opportunity where we could have killed the game and even then we had to be beaten by a deflected shot, a very unfortunate action and that's really disappointing.
We corrected a few things, I felt that we could have been a bit braver on the ball. You can understand why the fans got frustrated, the frustration of the fans got into our play. We want to play an expansive game that dictates the game, but we need to have that support.
It's all too easy not to want the ball and just allow the bounce of the ball to go to whatever team, but we want to control the ball and I felt the second half we showed that bravery, we were really focussed on what we were doing and scoring that first goal, which was a fantastic finish, in my eyes it was deserving of the three points.
It's just unfortunate that we couldn't get that bit of luck that you need sometimes, but in terms of effort and the desire we showed in the second half it was very pleasing.
Fulham put a lot of pressure on us, they left themselves a little bit open at the back and we used that. A little bit of luck and you can get that second goal and kill the game. Fulham are in a position where they need to get a goal and they're throwing bodies forward and we needed to keep our concentration.
The goal comes from a sloppy play from us and we give the ball away too cheaply and then we end up defending in the other third and we get unfortunate with a deflection
Mark Hughes
We found ourselves in a situation where we were one down in a game that we controlled. We were looking to make a change just prior to them scoring, we obviously had to up our game and ask more questions of Wigan.
They were one nil to the good, they made it difficult for us and had a lot of people behind the ball. They always had a lot of threats on the break with the likes of N’Zogbia and Rodallega.
I thought the players showed real courage, a couple of key decisions went against us but they kept going and got their reward.
I'm really pleased for Andy Johnson, he's come back from a really significant injury, he gets his goal now and that's him off and running.
We're pleased for him and we welcome back Mousa Dembele, who we've missed this season, he's played less than half of the games we've been involved in. He had a real impact when he was introduced, so things are starting to look better.
I think a few weeks back we would have struggled to get something out of that game, I think it illustrates the qualities that the Team is showing at the moment.
You see in general play that we are a good side, we lacked a cutting edge but there are reasons for that. But we look in better shape now and we're really looking forward to the second part of the season, we're looking to take something from every game were involved in.
The table
| Latest match Saturday, 15th January 2011 |
Pld | Home | Away | Overall | Pts | GD | |||||||||||||||||
| W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | |||||||||
| 1 | Manchester City | 23 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 18 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 19 | 9 | 13 | 6 | 4 | 37 | 19 | 45 | +18 | ||||
| 2 | Manchester United | 20 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 43 | 19 | 44 | +24 | ||||
| 3 | Arsenal | 22 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 22 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 23 | 11 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 45 | 22 | 43 | +23 | ||||
| 4 | Chelsea | 22 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 24 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 38 | 19 | 38 | +19 | ||||
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 21 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 17 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 31 | 25 | 36 | +6 | ||||
| 6 | Sunderland | 22 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 25 | 22 | 33 | +3 | ||||
| 7 | Bolton Wanderers | 23 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 22 | 13 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 34 | 31 | 30 | +3 | ||||
| 8 | Stoke City | 22 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 12 | 14 | 9 | 3 | 10 | 28 | 26 | 30 | +2 | ||||
| 9 | Newcastle United | 21 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 25 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 17 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 34 | 31 | 28 | +3 | ||||
| 10 | Blackpool | 21 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 14 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 17 | 22 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 31 | 36 | 28 | -5 | ||||
| 11 | Blackburn Rovers | 23 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 14 | 27 | 8 | 4 | 11 | 29 | 37 | 28 | -8 | ||||
| 12 | Everton | 21 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 13 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 11 | 12 | 5 | 10 | 6 | 23 | 25 | 25 | -2 | ||||
| 13 | Liverpool | 21 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 21 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 25 | 29 | 25 | -4 | ||||
| 14 | West Bromwich Albion | 22 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 13 | 24 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 29 | 41 | 25 | -12 | ||||
| 15 | Fulham | 22 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 14 | 14 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 11 | 4 | 11 | 7 | 23 | 25 | 23 | -2 | ||||
| 16 | Birmingham City | 20 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 4 | 10 | 6 | 20 | 25 | 22 | -5 | ||||
| 17 | Wigan Athletic | 22 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 21 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 13 | 4 | 10 | 8 | 19 | 34 | 22 | -15 | ||||
| 18 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 22 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 15 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 9 | 23 | 6 | 3 | 13 | 24 | 38 | 21 | -14 | ||||
| 19 | Aston Villa | 21 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 15 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 25 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 23 | 38 | 21 | -15 | ||||
| 20 | West Ham United | 23 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 22 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 22 | 41 | 20 | -19 | ||||
Next game
Next up for the Latics is a tough trip to the Emirates to face Arsenal. Norotiously a difficult place for the club to travel to, anything the Latics get from Arsene Wenger's men will be a big bonus.