Belief is a Strange thing.....

And so is the world of football. This time last week the Wigan fan population were ready to say goodbye to the Premier League. Really the last chance we had of winning a game before the end of April was gone and all hope of staying up and gone with it. But then seven days late and a 90 minutes which Wigan fans are likely to forget in a hurry. That feeling of belief and hope have returned to the DW Stadium.

Not too dissimilar from last year were a 2-1 against Birmingham in March lifted us up and pushed us on to lose just two of our remaining eight games, picking up twelve points which saw us stay up for our seventh season. Now with eight games to play we have to do it all over again, But this time we have to play three of the countries top teams, all at the wrong time.

So lets take a game by game guide and what Wigan have got to do.

Stoke City (Home)

I like Stoke. Many people may say they play a tough and rough type of football. But one thing they are is honest footballers, and Tony Pulis has done a fantastic job to turn the Yorkshire club into one of the countries finest. He has bought sensibly and stuck to the same principle build a good defence, and play simple football.

In many ways I wish Latics could emulate them. But we don't have the financial capacity that they posses. Football wise however the Premier League meetings between the two sides have been fairly even over the past few years and have seen some fantastic matches.

The 1-0 win on the final day of last season was one. And the 2-2 draws at the DW Stadium after an enthralling first half. And that's if you forget Maynor Figeroua's wonder goal from inside his own half.

So I would expect a lively one. Hopefully a Wigan win with the crowd and the lads up to get all three points.

Chelsea (Away)

The first of the 'big four' that the club beat under Martinez. Away from home we have only ever gained one point at Stamford Bridge and that was back in 2008 under Steve Bruce, and Emile Heskey goal providing the equalizer late on. There have been some great matches between the two sides, and a heavy 7-1 defeat at the end of Martinez's first season in charge of the club.

If anything we face Chelsea at the wrong time. After sacking AVB, they seemed to have found the perfect replacement in the shape of Roberto Di Matteo who has conducted himself admirably. Chelsea will come into the game looking to get three points to push for that important fourth spot.

Any points from Stamford Bridge would be nice.

Manchester United (Home)

We have never managed better that a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Manchester United and I don't see that trend improving as United looked to push hard to win their 20th first division title. The chances are that we will be swept aside as United turn on the class act of winning things that Sir Alex Ferguson has instilled in them.

However you never know and we maybe able to squeeze something out of the game. You never know, miracles do happen.

Arsenal (Away)

Playing Arsenal away has always thrown up some exciting games for Latics. Although we have never actually got a result. The closet we have ever come was a 2-1 defeat which actually put us through to the 2006 Carling Cup Final. For that reason you would expect the third of the big four we play, will be yet another loss.

Especially due to the rich vein of form they have hit in the past few months. Which you could only see continue into mid April, with Robin Van Persie scoring the goals (a side note here, but Robin Van Persie alone has scored one goal less than the whole of the Wigan team this season, kind of puts how poor our strikers have been in perspective).

You would hope that the lads won't have lost theirs heads by this game and keep fighting till the end looking to scrap any point they can do.

Fulham (Away)

One team Wigan never want to play when we need points is Fulham. Home or Away, Fulham is and always has been Wigan's bogey team. No matter what we do, they some how managed to get something from every game we play against them, and at their ground. Well I have a feeling we have yet to win at Craven Cottage since joining the Premier League.

This one will probably go down as a lost, shame really Fulham are a beatable team. Just we don't seem to do it against them.

Newcastle United (Home)

By the time we play Newcastle it could well be over for Wigan. I hope not but you don't know. If we need a win to keep in contention. Then this is a good game to go for. Newcastle have wobbled recently and haven't looked like the side before Christmas and even then we managed to contain them to a 1-0 loss.

Hopefully home advantage will count for something by this time and we will be able to get three points on the board after a tough run of fixtures prior to this game.

Blackburn Rovers (Away)

Again another one of our bogey matches. Not the right time of year to be playing Blackburn away. Again we never seem to be able to beat them away from home. Much like they can't beat us at the DW Stadium. This game will be even more important as the future of the two clubs is likely to rest hard on this game.

Winning for Blackburn could mean they would pull clear of the bottom and relegate Latics. While the other way round could see Wigan force the relegation fight to go right to the wire.

Wolverhampton Wanderers (Home)

The last game of the season again could be another important one. Again between two clubs who will be there or there abouts come the 13th May and this will be a must win for either side. Even if we are both down pride will be on stake so I can see it being an open and true last day encounter.

You have to hope that Wigan will work hard and manage to pull clear before hand. But is we haven't, a home game as the one we need to stay up, may not be what we need. Unless how home form improves between now and the end of the season.

Verdict

Between now and the end of the season if we manage to pick up any more than nine points and we will be lucky. But to stay in the Premier League this year we could desperately need another twelve. Where are going to those points from. I can not see.

But as I said at the start belief and football are two very strange things. You never know quite what is going to happen.