Harbinger Of Glory

”Full-time at Craven Cottage,” the commentator said as the players slowed to a halt after the whistle, signalling the end of the afternoon’s events.

Players in white and blue drifted toward one another for handshakes while others headed straight for the tunnel.

”Wigan Athletic have done it again. Another one-nil away, this time though, away from home.

They have played four matches now, all resulting in victories, and Shaun Dawson’s side remain perfect in the Premier League. They are the only side still with this record after Pep’s Manchester City.”

The co-commentator let out a quiet laugh.

”Twelve points from twelve. If you’d predicted that before the season, people would’ve thought you’d completely lost it.”

Despite the dwindling numbers of the players from the pitch, the Wigan fans in the away section still sang on top of their lungs, aimed at the receding backs of the Fulham players as well as their fans who were all turned towards the exit of the stands.

”They’re fifth as things stand,” the commentary continued.

”Brighton sit directly behind them on the same points, separated only by goal difference, and that’s an interesting little detail because Brighton’s only defeat this season came against Wigan on opening day.”

The main commentator nodded.

”People are still waiting for this run to end, but what keeps standing out isn’t just the results.

It’s how different they look from week to week. Today they defended patiently for an hour, then punished Fulham the moment the game opened up.”

”That’s what good teams do,” came the reply. ”They don’t always have to control the ball to beat you. All they need is just a single moment.

And that showed today as Wigan had just 4 shots the entire game, and then only effort that was on target was the one that ended up in the back of the net to give them the win.”

By the evening, the discussion had spread well beyond Craven Cottage.

Fulham supporters were the latest group trying to work out exactly how Wigan had walked away with three points, away from home too, and with a relatively weaker side on paper too.

Cravenhunter: I don’t even think we played badly. We just got... outplayed without them even having the ball.

MasatoshiK: How do you dominate possession and still feel like the other team controlled the game?

A_sadcottager: Every time we committed bodies forward, they looked like they were scoring.

Throughout the whole game, we committed bodies forward just 3 times and on two of those occasions, they scored one and almost scored a second had it not been the post.

In the same space, the Chelsea supporters recognised the feeling immediately.

Zenonblack: Welcome, Fulham fans. We’ve been trying to explain this since they put four past us a couple of weeks ago.

Estevaodalao: Thought our result was just one of those weird afternoons, but I am starting to think it wasn’t.

While this went on, the Brighton supporters arrived not long afterwards.

Seagooner: Remember when everyone laughed because we lost on opening day? Doesn’t seem so funny now.

Hove-VO: Been saying it for weeks. This team are organised. Really organised.

West Ham fans joined in too.

ChoppedRice: We conceded twice against them and still don’t think we created anything easy all afternoon.

ContentHammer: They’re horrible to play against. That’s probably the biggest compliment you can give them. And also, when are the top teams coming in for Leo? That kid could probably not touch the ball the whole game and still be the biggest influence they have.

Wolverhamptonintrovert:My thoughts exactly. We play them next, and although I don’t wish evil on anyone, just for him I wish he gets injured for exactly 1 week so he can skip that game because how can a defensive midfielder or whatever he is, feel more scary than a striker.

As usual, there were always going to be the occasional denial or discrediting comments.

”Still, they haven’t really played a proper top side though,” a comment said, and when he did, replies flooded in almost immediately.

What top sides? Brighton finished sixth last season but lost against them. Chelsea even spent half a billion in the transfer window but still couldn’t compete.

West Ham literally won the European Conference League. How many teams do they have to beat before people stop moving the goalposts?

The debate rolled on long after midnight, nobody really convincing anyone else.

By breakfast the following morning, television had caught up.

On one of the morning programmes, the host smiled as the discussion turned toward Wigan.

”Four games, four wins. We keep saying they’ll come back to earth, but every week they give us another reason to postpone that conversation.”

One of the pundits nodded.

”I know, right. They play like a different side each week, and we will have to credit that to Dawson and also the Wigan players who are as adaptable as they come.”

He pointed toward the screen, where it showed Fulham’s disallowed goal was being replayed and beside it was another screen of their Wigan’s defensive line right before the international break.

”Look at that defensive line. It’s widely different. Against West Ham, the defence was acting on its own, but yesterday, we saw Leo Calderon, an 18-year-old boy leading the defensive line and telling them where and when to act.”

After that, the clip changed to Leo’s long pass that had started the winning move.

”They defend like that, and then five minutes later they’re catching you in transition from forty yards. They’re adaptable. That is their biggest strength, and until something drastic happens, it will keep on being so.”

”Most promoted teams survive by doing one thing well. Wigan don’t. One week they’ll press high, next week they’ll sit in, next week they’ll keep the ball.

Dawson changes the approach depending on who he’s facing, and the players are buying into it.”

The host nodded before turning towards the screen.

”Which brings us to next weekend.”

As he said that, a fixture graphic appeared showing;

Wigan Athletic vs Wolverhampton Wanderers

”This will be their second home match of the season.”

”And one that will have a lot of pressure, much more than even the Chelsea or Brighton game,” another pundit added.

”It’ll be interesting to see what Dawson comes up with this time now that a lot of eyes are on his side.”

The host smiled.

”That’s becoming the question every week now, isn’t it?”