Sunday 22 February 2015 17:25, UK
Malky Mackay admitted he was in disbelief at the problems befalling relegation-threatened Wigan this season as they lost Leon Clarke to a concerning injury during a damaging 3-0 loss to Charlton.
The prospect of Sky Bet League One football next year looks increasingly likely for 23rd-placed Wigan after their six-month winless run at the DW Stadium was extended to 13 games with a demoralising loss which obliterated any confidence built up by the midweek victory over Reading.
First-half goals from Frederic Bulot and Igor Vetokele were added to by debutant Chris Eagles' 88th-minute tap-in as the Addicks waltzed past their woeful hosts and into the top half of the table.
But that was only part of the tale for Latics during a week where they lost Chris Herd to a season-ending knee injury and discovered defender Juan Carlos Garcia has leukaemia.
In this defeat, William Kvist came off with a hamstring injury in the first half, while motionless striker Clarke came off on a spinal board and was taken to hospital.
"I don't think I've ever seen it at a football club as a player or manager, the amount of illness and injury in a short period of time," said Mackay.
"Starting with Grant Holt's cruciate, Emyr Huws' ankle, Juan Carlos contracting leukaemia and now Herd, Kvist and Leon coming off like that.
"To lose that many key players, it's not something that's easy because you don't easily replace key players."
Mackay said it was too early to determine how serious Clarke's problem was.
Expanding on the circumstances, Mackay added: "He had a kind of clash. I'm not sure if he jabbed something on the way down.
"But he never moved, when they came on and tried to move him he screamed in pain and they couldn't move him.
"That being the case, the spinal board is needed and the neck brace is needed. He was taking oxygen at half-time and he's in hospital right now.
"I've no idea right now, obviously I'll be checking on that right now.
"It's another bizarre set of circumstances that has befallen the football club over the last couple of months."
While Wigan are still toiling around the lower reaches, victory edged Charlton nine points clear of safety and manager Guy Luzon admitted the win had extra significance as it harmed a relegation rival.
"Of course it was a very important game," he noted.
"It was a game between teams who fight to stay in the league, a game of six points. We knew it would be tough because Wigan arrived with the good momentum from the win at Reading away. We knew it would not be easy.
"We came with confidence and we were magnificent in defence, organised well and our goalkeeper doesn't need to jump or touch the ball.
"We scored three goals, unfortunately our target was to keep the ball and move the ball, but the pitch was not so good.
"I'm happy and delighted with our performance. We work hard, we fight, we give everything. In defence and attack it was very good."
Luzon was reluctant to declare his side free from trouble, but he did admit they could play with more freedom after lifting themselves above half-a-dozen teams.
"We don't need to look now at the table, the table's not important," he said.
"It's important to move forward to the next game and to continue to keep clean sheets and score in every game. The table is important only at the end of the season."
