Little Wigan will stand alongside Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and
Liverpool in the Premiership next season.
First-half goals from Lee McCulloch and Jason Roberts and a late Nathan
Ellington header completed the Latics fairytale rise to England's elite just 27
years after they were accepted into the Football League.
In cementing second spot behind Sunderland, Paul Jewell's side became the most
unfancied team to muscle their way into the top flight since Wimbledon's
abrasive gatecrashing exercise nearly two decades ago.
Jewell deserves much of the credit, as do the players, particularly Roberts
and Ellington, who between them have contributed an incredible 45 goals to the
Wigan cause.
But the club's growing band of fans know who they really have to thank for an
ascent totally unthinkable until his arrival 10 years ago, chairman, owner and
financial backer Dave Whelan, who at the final whistle, stood in the stand, lord
of all he surveyed, with a lump in his throat, dark glasses masking the tears
welling up in his eyes.
The kind of emotional roller-coaster the end of seasons like this one can
produce are surely not good for a man of Whelan's age.
Clearly, the proud Lancastrian, who by his own admission has ploughed
£75million of his own personal fortune into a now-successful quest to transform
Wigan from Third Division nonentities into a Premiership outfit and will need to
invest another £25million to keep them there, has a constitution befitting his
no-nonsense northern upbringing.
Whelan had barely taken his seat before he was informed Ipswich had gone in
front at Brighton, a goal which at that stage sent Wigan tumbling into the
play-off lottery.
If the colour had drained from his cheeks, the JJB Sports supremo could have
been forgiven. He remained unmoved, convinced the team Jewell has used his money
to build would eventually come good.
Brighton had pulled level by the time his faith was justified, two goals in a
magical three minutes creating an explosion of noise only seen at this stadium
when rugby league's most famous club are giving St Helens a pasting.
With their own promotion hopes hinging on a positive result, Reading had been
expected to push forward. Instead, they found themselves overwhelmed by a side
that cast off the shackles which had seen them collect just one point from their
previous three outings on home soil.
Ellington had already gone close with one drive that Marcus Hahnemann fumbled
round the post and Jason Jarrett sent a header fizzing wide.
But any fears that might have been building among the sell-out home section
were cast aside in the momentous 180 seconds in which Wigan's fate was sealed.
Roberts is often given second billing in the prolific Latics strikeforce, yet
the former West Brom man is the one with Premiership experience and when he
latched onto Nicky Eaden's pass, he used all of it, delaying his cross until he
got right to the by-line.
The cut-back was perfect. Ellington's finish was not. Fortunately, the
striker's mis-hit four-yard effort rolled perfectly into McCulloch's path and he
gleefully rammed the ball home.
Reading were still clearing their heads when Ellington provided Roberts with a
through ball that left him with only Ibrahim Sonko to beat. The defender
obligingly fell in Roberts' path, offering a clear sight of goal which was not
wasted as he rolled a shot under Hahnemann.
After claiming an assist for the first two, Ellington might have put Wigan
three up before the break but he wasted a good chance by drilling a 20-yard
effort straight at Ivar Ingimarsson.
The introduction of Les Ferdinand for possibly the final game of a fine career
half an hour from time was designed to unsettle the hosts. But their hearts
remained as strong as their owner's.
Jarrett might have done better with a close range volley that allowed
Hahnemann to save, then McCulloch did fully test the Reading keeper with a
25-yard stinger.
Ellington tested Hahnemann again nine minutes from time. Once more the
American came out on top. Five minutes later, Hahnemann's luck ran out,
Ellington rising at the far post to beat him with a firm downward header.
Steve Sidwell scored the most irrelevant goal of the season for Reading in
injury-time.
Wigan are up and Whelan's dream has come true.
Teams
Wigan Filan, Eaden, Breckin, Jackson, McMillan, Jarrett,
Bullard (Teale 82), Kavanagh, McCulloch, Roberts (Mahon 63),
Ellington (Wright 89).
Subs Not Used: Johansson, Walsh.
Booked: Kavanagh.
Goals: McCulloch 18, Roberts 21, Ellington 85.
Reading Hahnemann, Murty, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Hughes,
Little (Owusu 72), Harper, Sidwell, Brooker (Ferdinand 57),
Kitson, Forster.
Subs Not Used: Keown, Newman, Young.
Booked: Little.
Goals: Sidwell 90.
Att: 19,662
Ref: M Atkinson (W Yorkshire).
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