Nerves a-jangling, tensions a-fraying and hands a-shaking - the Latics had one final task to do before the season closed.
With 2 games left the main thing was to secure 2 vital points which would guarantee a lottery place, known as the play-offs. I suppose it was fitting that the Blues would be left to worry about securing this place after the twists and turns this season, but if Saturday's match against Swindon was bad - what will it be like when the real stuff begins?
To be honest, the eventual demolition of Swindon spoke volumes about the side. The Latics can't win at home eh? Well, that's 8 goals in 2 games without reply and it is surely something that will set the minds thinking around our play-off rivals. Going into the last game of the season, the Latics can boast just 1 defeat in 10 games and that was away at the Champions. And with injuries clearing and being suspension free (while teams around are finishing their games with 9 men on the pitch) the Latics will be able to boast a near-full squad on May 10th, should we be unscathed at relegated Huddersfield on Saturday.
Not only was the result vital, the performance was important too. Maybe not quite as important admittedly (any win would do) but to see the Latics, who may have shown nerves and a lack of composure after that Wigan defeat, put in such a well-oiled performance was a testament to their courage. Hopefully the next time they're on the big stage, during the play-offs, they won't show such frailties after sailing through this potential storm.
As Dowie summed up in his speech to end the home campaign, the biggest testament is that the Latics have never had 2 consecutive defeats all season. Not one other 2nd Division team can boast that (not even the Champions or promoted Crewe). Maybe that should stand us in good stead for the play-offs, whatever happens. When you look at what the Latics have had to put up with, they deserve to be triumphant. As a good friend of mine said during the after-match celebrations - had it not been for a shocking red card against Crewe in January, after the visitors had been given a football lesson for 30 minutes, then we may have been going to Huddersfield in 2nd place.
They are all ifs, buts and maybes now though. If we start on that route, we'll dredge up the cost of the points against Port Vale and Cheltenham too. No doubt, with 1pt separating the 4 play-off sides, every team could talk that way. Everyone has had their chance, Crewe have taken theirs.
Moving onto this well worked win then - the Latics didn't start as brightly as fans would have liked. The opening half an hour was a bit of a nothing affair until the goal, with both sides failing to use their possession to penetrate. The hosts enjoyed the lions share of the play, but for a short period things never materialised into serious chances. Only sporadically did a sight at goal occur, but when it did you felt the chance should have been dealt with better.
On 11, Andrews was fed in behind but the angle was too tight to beat the keeper at the near post. Instead, he sent his effort wide of the far post. Swindon replied 5 minutes later, when ex-Latics striker Sam Parkin looked to be in a decent position but he woefully sent an early, hopeful effort over the bar.
The game continued to trudge along without any direction or sense of a goal but then on 26, the Latics worked the first breakthrough. Armstrong's cross into the box fell at Wijnhard's feet. The Dutchman attempted to slot the ball home from 6 yards, but the ball hit goalkeeper Farr and rebounded back out to Low, who poked the ball into the back of the net. It was a scrappy goal, but a vital one. 1-0.
Having gone infront, the Latics had to press on and get a quick 2nd and they did so within minutes. It was Low whose scent was all over this goal, with a persistence and determination that Latics fans would love to see more of. Knowing he had the measure of his marker, the former Cardiff winger tussled with his man and forced a corner. Low fired the ball into the box, but it rebounded back out to him. With the cheekiness of a player brimming with confidence, Low cleverly dropped a shoulder and dinked inside to skip past his man. That allowed him space to slot a neat ball into the 6 yard box for Eyres to storm in and smash home. 2-0.
With the Latics in full control now, the game settled again. However, another should've been added on 38 when Low was fed down his right channel again. His cross was perfect for Murray, but Swindon managed to scramble enough players back in order to block. Wiggy couldn't direct is follow-up volley on target.
As half-time came and went, the Latics had an even better chance to settle the tie on 48. Low, instrumental in most moves, flicked the ball over a static back-line for Wiggy to run onto and in behind the defence. Taking the ball towards the right post, the Dutchman dragged Farr out of goal leaving a route into the other corner of the goal. However his lofted effort passed not only the Swindon keeper, but the far post by inches. You could see the methodology in his finish.
Just minutes later another effort was worked and spurned, with undoubtedly the Latics best move of the game. Eyres turned Herring, leaving him for dead and fed Murray. He advanced into the box and facing another defender, a little step over sent the defender one way allowing Murray to run into space the other way. Spotting Wiggy, the midfielder slid him in on the edge of the box and with Farr stranded between his net and Wiggy, the Latics striker chipped at goal. The ball agonisingly sailed over and onto the roof of the net. It would've be a classy goal.
With time running down, the Latics still only held a 2 goal advantage and knew that should Swindon score, then nerves would again be tested. And on 72, that worst nightmare almost came true. A cross from the right found Parkin unmarked and his glanced header from 6 yards smashed against the crossbar. What a let off. And what a turning point that might have been.
As the Latics breathed a sigh of relief at one end, the visitors ended up breathing an even bigger sigh of relief at the other, minutes later. Andrews threatened to run clear on the left wing, but Reeves pulled the forward to the ground in a desperate bid to stop him. Reeves was the last man and it looked certain that Andrews would have gone on to face Farr, one-on-one. Amazingly, just a yellow was shown and that sent Latics fans into dismay - many still not forgetting that treacherous decision we got at home vs Crewe.
Despite the disappointment, the hosts served up the perfect response. Just 2 minutes later, a corner into the box created chaos, and Haining somehow stuck a leg out to force the ball marginally over the line. 3-0.
Obviously the hosts were reeling at the lack of a red card as they served up another goal on 83 to finish the rout. In truth, the Swindon defence now looked about as stable as a tightrope walker in a gale. Infact, it was all over the place and the Latics summed this up as Murray and Andrews both could have shot from an angle when left with acres of room, but Murray intelligently fed unmarked Corazzin who had an empty net to tap into. 4-0.
With the crowd now celebrating and singing we want five, their wish was almost granted on 85. Corazzin ran along the edge of Swindon's box, taking defenders with him. Andrews ran past in the opposite direction and he took the ball off the Canadian and sweetly slotted Eyres into the space Corazzin had just opened up. That left the veteran winger with only Farr to beat, but unusually his 1st touch left him with a lot to do and indeed his chip flew wide of the far post.
Dowie claims the win was imperative and flattering. I agree with the imperative, but that's all. Andy King meanwhile thought the Latics were cocky and claimed Dowie was out of order with his 4 finger salute in response to the Chaddy's chant of "what's the score." King even had the gall to mention the tension Parkin's header could have caused had it not hit the bar. All sour grapes really - Swindon never looked like winning and the Latics were worthy of the win.
Now that a play-off is a certainty and Huddersfield are down, the Latics can enjoy the trip across the Pennines now. However, a win is still important to the blues in order to finish in 3rd - B.City should beat Port Vale, QPR will probably beat Colchester and I suspect that Cardiff will draw at Crewe this Saturday. If it all pans out that way, then the Latics will face Cardiff and get them away in the 1st leg.
My mind says that to get Cardiff in the Semi's might not be a bad thing. It would be better to beat them in a 2-leg semi rather than facing them in a final and also, playing away first means we can finish the job off at home. Now that does sound pleasing. As Dowie says though, we've proven how good we are to get here - bring anyone on now and we'll do our best to turn them over. Let's hope there is never a truer word spoken between now and May 25th!!!