Five talking points from Brighton (away)

While that’s been pretty much the case for the last three matches now, anything less than three points from each of their last three games - against Cardiff, Reading and Leeds - and it’s out of their hands. Two wins and a draw may end up being enough, but it’s important Latics do not have to rely on others and keep matters in their own hand for as long as possible.

2 Nick Powell is only human after all. After coming off the bench to be the match-winner against Rotherham and Barnsley, Powell scored for the third game in a row shortly after coming on at Brighton to make it 2-1. With seconds to go in stoppage-time, Powell then won possession, before racing half the length of the field and shooting...unfortunately into the last defender. A team-mate later revealed Powell apologised to the rest of the team in the dressing room for not passing the ball. No apology required, Nick.

3 Only the stoniest of hearts wouldn’t have felt for Jakob Haugaard during Monday’s game. The on-loan Stoke goalkeeper, making his third appearance in a row, struggled to get his hands on the ball, with only a mixture of poor finishing and desperate defending sparing his blushes. Haugaard’s presence on the team sheet is understood to be more down to the terms his loan deal rather than interim boss Graham Barrow. Not an ideal situation for anyone concerned.

4 Wigan Athletic are no strangers to making up the numbers at an opposition party. After being the bridesmaids a number of times over the years - including to Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Burnley, Brentford and Portsmouth - Latics watched on as Brighton made history by becoming the newest member of the Premier League club. Nope, not jealous in the slightest...

5 Brighton is a lovely place. Without wishing to come over all Judith Chalmers, the trip down to the seaside was the jewel in the fixture list both for Latics-supporting families and those intent simply on drinking the city dry. We may have lost Brighton but, if the worst comes to the worst, we could be gaining Portsmouth and Plymouth. Very small consolation at the moment, of course. For the moment...we still believe...