Fan scuffles mar Latics win

Wigan’s Franco Di Santo enjoys his moment.

Wigan’s final home match of the season at home to already-relegated Wolves was marred by a couple of minor skirmishes at the final whistle after fans invaded the pitch.

The Latics won 3-2 to secure an eight successive season in the Premier League and many of the near sell-out crowd came on to the field at the final whistle.

While it began as a good natured celebration, the party atmosphere turned unsavoury as those on the pitch taunted the away end.

A couple of Wolves fans broke the line of stewards across the 18-yard line and scuffles were seen to break out with at least one man leaving the field with a bloodied face. However, the exchanges were not allowed to escalate and order was restored very quickly.

With the threat of the players’ end-of-season lap of honour being cancelled the playing surface was cleared quickly after an appeal over the stadium’s PA system.

The majority of the DW Stadium expressed their disapproval with boos and chants of “off, off, off”.

Wolves players returned shortly afterwards to applaud their fans and were given a warm welcome by all four sides of the ground, before the Latics came out to thank their fans.

Bottom club Wolves departed the Premier League with a whimper as Wigan showed their visitors exactly what is required to survive in the top flight.

The Molineux side finished the campaign having conceded 82 goals and it was their leaky defence which cost them again.

Emmerson Boyce, who has excelled on the right of midfield since manager Roberto Martinez adopted a 3-4-3 formation, scored twice and could easily have had a hat-trick.

Matt Jarvis had put Wolves ahead but Franco Di Santo and Boyce turned things around very quickly and when the latter spectacularly volleyed home in the second half the result was put beyond Wolves despite substitute Steven Fletcher’s late consolation.