Al Habsi to head home a Wigan hero

Ali Al Habsi preserved three priceless points for Wigan with a stunning late save to deny Ryo Miyaichi and will now lead his team back to his homeland in a bid to boost their unlikely survival mission.

The Latics goalkeeper is Oman’s only top-flight footballer and as such is feted in the Gulf state, where the Wigan squad will head this week for a mid-season break and a friendly against Al Habsi’s national team.

It is a rich reward for the in-form former Bolton reserve, who stretched to his left to tip Miyaichi’s 85th-minute drive round the post and seal a 2-1 win over Bolton that pulled his team to within sight of safety.