Wigan vs Blackburn preview - Watson highlights need to win

Posted Saturday, February 05, 2011 by PA

Ben Watson has conceded Wigan are in serious trouble of relegation from the Barclays Premier League and must win nearly half of the remaining fixtures to be safe.

With 13 matches left, the Latics are 19th and just two points ahead of bottom club Wolves, who have a game in hand.

It is a perilous situation and Watson admits a drastic upturn in form is required.

They have won just four matches this season - a figure the midfielder thinks they must more than double between now and May.

He told the Evening Post: "We know we need to start winning games if we are to get out of trouble. There are only 13 games left, and we probably need five or six wins from somewhere. It'll be a tall order but that's got to be the aim.

"Every game from now on is going to be like a cup final, but it's a challenge we'll relish. It won't be easy but we'll take it one game at a time and we'll give it our best shot."

Blackburn are first up at the DW Stadium and with heavy hitters Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool following them in the league programme, it already has the look of a must-win fixture.

Wigan drew 2-2 with West Brom in midweek, and although Marc-Antoine Fortune's late equaliser was hard to take, Watson has taken heart from the performance.

"Blackburn have looked good in the last few weeks, but if we can continue playing like we did at West Brom we shouldn't have any problems," he added.

"We had chances to kill the game off at 2-1, we failed to do so, and we got punished. The frustrating thing is we looked so comfortable after coming back (from behind) and we should have killed the game off."

Blackburn manager Steve Kean paid tribute to former chairman John Williams as he made final preparations for the team's visit to Wigan.

Williams has left after 14 years and he becomes the second high-profile departure from Ewood Park since the Venky's takeover following the sacking of Sam Allardyce in December.

In a press conference broadcast on Sky Sports News, Kean said: "He has been here a very long time. He's done a fantastic job over the years, at times tough times financially for the club.

"He's led the club through so it's disappointing that he has decided to stand down.

"I've always had a great relationship with John, probably more when I was first-team coach I had more contact with him.

"I've not really had as much contact in the last couple of months as I did in my other job. I wish him all the best and I'm sure he would wish us all the best."

Blackburn are ninth and will be looking for their fourth away win when they make the short trip to the Latics as they attempt to make up for their 1-0 home defeat to Tottenham in midweek.

Defender Chris Samba, who has committed himself to the club until summer 2015, told the club's official website, www.rovers.co.uk: "We were unlucky, we just didn't get that lucky bounce. We didn't deserve to lose, but we did everything we could, we played very well.

"Saturday is an important game for us. We want to get back to winning ways and we are going to be ready to be on the front foot to win the game."