Bruce rues 'insignificant' Latics

16 May 2009 18:14
Steve Bruce has told his critics not to forget who Wigan are after the defeat to Stoke City.[LNB] Saturday's 2-0 defeat at the Britannia Stadium means the Latics have extended their barren run to only two wins from their last 17 Premier League fixtures.[LNB]The visitors enjoyed a good start to the match, as they did in their previous two matches against newly-crowned champions Manchester United and relegation candidates West Brom, but ended up losers thanks to goals from Ricardo Fuller and James Beattie.[LNB]The defeat sees Bruce's side leapfrogged by the Potters to compound the reverse but the former Birmingham manager has fought off claims suggesting Wigan's campaign has been a failure.[LNB]"We must remember who we are and what we are," the Latics boss told Sky Sports News.[LNB]Progress"For the last two seasons before this one we've been fighting relegation and going to the last game of the season and the second last so there's been a bit of progress thankfully.[LNB]"But it just takes the shine off it because it could have been one of those really, really good seasons but unfortunately we've petered out into insignificance.[LNB]Wigan - who have now lost three games on the spin - end their season at home to Portsmouth and Bruce blamed a lack of firepower up front as the main reason for the Latics' failures of late.[LNB]"Since we've lost Zaki, we look as if we don't have a cutting threat any more to score a goal and unfortunately if you can't score - you are always going to be up against it," concluded Bruce.[LNB]

Source: SKY_Sports