Call off the campaign

Football is bloody cruel sometimes. How can something you love so deeply, hurt so much? I think tonight I finally accepted defeat.

I excitedly blogged on Tuesday night about how those three points at Reading were the turning point. We could start the 'believe' campaigns once more and there was evidence that the classic Latics grit and determination had returned.

But in that blog I also rolled out the old cliche 'you're only as good as your last game.' Well Wigan weren't even as good as their warm-up once the first Charlton goal had gone in.

It's been an all too familiar tale this season so see our goal scorers crumble when prevented with opportunities. It's all very well starting brightly but what good does that do if you can't convert what you're working hard for?

The optimist here has become the realist. When your defenders look like they're marking each other and your usually reliable goalkeeper has slower reactions than Simon Haworth getting back onside (remember those days?), you start to accept that relegation is inevitable.

I write this with such frustration and a very heavy heart. It's a family trait to allow sporting results to dictate the household mood, so this could be a bleak few days in this part of London. I guess it's preparation for what could turn out to be an even bleaker next 14 games.