Wigan Trying Not to Repeat Last Year's Ugly Start to Season

Last season. Wigan fans went into the first match of the season with newly promoted Blackpool on their schedule. The Latics were looking forward to an easy win over a club who were playing their first ever game in the Premier League. Well, they were out for a shocking result at the DW Stadium.

It all started with a Gary Taylor-Fletcher goal for the visitors in the 16th minute and once the final whistle was blown, it ended up a 4-0 win for Blackpool.

Things could not have gotten worse, but somehow they did as Wigan were thrashed by Chelsea by a score of 6-0 at home once again.

This season, the schedule looks somewhat similar on opening day as the Latics will host Norwich City on Saturday. And instead of having a powerhouse like Chelsea in game two, Roberto Martinez's club is blessed with visiting playoff winners Swansea and then the third promoted team, QPR, in the first three games.

Wigan fans who saw the nightmare at the DW Stadium last season are not at all taking any of these three sides for granite and may actually the best thing for the Latics.

If the club go into the three-game stretch with a mentality that they are playing three strong clubs, instead of the three new guys on the block, it could give Wigan a huge advantage.

Being tabbed as one of the clubs to be in the relegation battle alongside these three promoted clubs, Wigan could get a quick nine points in their first three games and it could give the club positive momentum going into the rest of the season, in which the schedule gets tougher with trips to Manchester City and Everton followed by a home match with Tottenham.

The key thing for Roberto Martinez and Co. to remember during their first three games this season is to not repeat the dreadful start that they had last season. Also, to build on the momentum on possibly gaining nine points and being near the top of the table to start the season.