Upbeat McCarthy hails harmony in Wigan camp

MIDFIELDER James McCarthy is hoping Wigan can begin 2012 by bringing Sunderland back down to earth at the DW Stadium tonight.

Martin O’Neill’s side defeated Manchester City at the Stadium of Light, a day after Blackburn beat Manchester United and Aston Villa toppled Chelsea, to climb further away from the relegation zone.

Wigan are still in the bottom three but showed good spirit to salvage a point from an entertaining draw with Stoke on St Stephen’s Day, fighting back from 2-1 down in the final moments despite being a man light following the sending-off of Gary Caldwell.