Melchiot misery for Latics
27 Apr 2008 - 11:47:16
Wigan Athletic manager Steve Bruce fears that Mario Melchiot will miss the Latics' last two games of the season after the club captain tore a groin muscle in the goalless draw with Reading.
Wigan, who end the season with tough matches against Aston Villa and Manchester United, still need two more points to be sure of staving off relegation, but Bruce is in an upbeat frame of mind as the campaign draws to a close.
He said after the stalemate: "We started well but lost some impetus after Mario went off.
"I can't see Mario coming back for the remaining two games of the season and we now have to focus on those.
"The game petered out into two nervous, anxious teams fighting for their lives.
"For both sets of players the occasion and the magnitude made them forget how to play the game but, who knows, that might be the point that keeps us in the league.
"We've got to go to Aston Villa next week and then Manchester United here but no-one gave us a chance of getting anything at Chelsea so we'll have to see what happens."