Al-Habsi looks to Wigan lift

Wigan Athletic’s goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi is upbeat about his side’s performances, despite suffering their sixth-straight league defeat against Newcastle United on Saturday.

Roberto Martinez’s side were dominant for long periods of the game, but Yohan Cabaye’s 82nd-minute strike saw the Latics leave Tyneside empty-handed.

And despite the disappointment following the defeat, Al-Habsi believes that his side have shown enough quality on the pitch to turn their fortunes around.

“We showed a fantastic attitude, we were solid across the park, but we just didn’t take our chances,” he told the Wigan Evening Post.

“It was important to show a response to what happened against Bolton, and we did that. And to lose the game is almost too hard to take.”

“We deserved at least a point, if not more, and if we can continue to play like that, I’m sure we’ll be all right.”

Wigan are 19th place in the table, with only goal difference keeping them above north-west neighbours Blackburn Rovers.

They face fellow strugglers Fulham at the DW Stadium next Saturday, in a match which both sides will be looking to as a turning-point for their season.

Martin Jol’s side find themselves in a similar position to Wigan at the moment, after they went down 3-1 at home to Everton on Sunday having created a host of chances to win the game.