Source: FOOTYMAD
Boyce backs Latics to avoid the drop
Emmerson Boyce is tipping the Latics to avoid the drop with a final day victory over Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium. Along with Mike Pollitt and Chris Kirkland, Boyce is one of only three survivers of the team that managed to defeat Sheffield United on that fateful day in 2007. Now, the Barbadian defender is tipping the Latics to pull off a similar victory against Stoke City and survive to fight another season in the Premier League. Speaking to the Wigan Evening Post, Boyce said: “There are definite shades of Sheffield United from 2007, and we’ll need that same spirit we showed that day to get through. “At the end of the day, at this stage of the season, you want things to be in their own hands - and if we win I think we’ll stay up. Simple. The lads who have been there before - me, Kirky, Polly - we can try and give advice, which we will do. “I’ll try my best to help if that would help anyone. But sometimes the less focus you put on something, the more you can relax and the better you play. “It is tough when everything is on the line on one 90-minute game. The consequences of going down are massive. We all know that. “It’s not just going to affect the players - it affects the people who work behind the scenes, the fans, everyone. We have got a lot of people depending on us, and we all want Wigan Athletic to remain a Premier League club. “Self-pride comes before everything, though, and I’ve been relegated before. It’s not a nice feeling, and certainly not something you want on your CV. “As far as the club are concerned, it’s vital we stay in the Premier League. We’re a growing club going in the right direction, with a fantastic young manager, and we play football in the right way. “We celebrated on Sunday night, let’s just say that, but we know the job is only half done and we’re all fully focused on Stoke. It would be the perfect time to come up with back-to-back wins for the first time.”
