Well, it's been two and a half years since we last met in the League. Our record of the last eight meetings reads as four wins and four draws.

Three of those wins and one draw were during the time that both teams played in the top flight. The other four, in the Championship, three draws and one win.

The Pundits would probably say that Fulham haven't been beaten by Wigan in 8 games, or that Wigan haven't beaten Fulham for 13 years. All this is fact but out of context would render a rather sensationalist account.

As the season stands prior to this game, Fulham's record against Wigan is exactly symmetrical. we've lost one third of our games, drawn one third which obviously means that we've won the other third.

I will admit, I was unsure what to expect as the game approached. I've been concerned at the tactics we've employed this season and heave worried that the reliance on playing a possession based strategy, despite being an ambitious and coherent way of controlling a game, comes unstuck as soon as the ball is lost.

This inevitably happens and it has led to our downfall all too often. This has been particularly true when sideways passing in front of and around the keeper occurs, made even more dangerous when close passing under pressure ends up with the goalie being involved in the game of tic-tac-toe.

Bettinelli is a pretty good shot-stopper but he is no Franz Beckanbauer with the ball at his feet. I get the collywobbles whenever we settle into this mode of play, it's so risky.

I needn't have concerned myself because as the game unfolded the team were far more choosy in playing this time-wasting stuff and moved the ball around in offensive areas for much of the game, Johansen making a marked impression in the middle.

A little more from the Bard
KING HENRY V:

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;

Or close the wall up with our English dead.

In peace there's nothing so becomes a man

As modest stillness and humility: But when the blast of war blows in our ears,

Then imitate the action of the tiger;

Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood,

Disguise fair nature with hard-favour'd rage;

Then lend the eye a terrible aspect;

Let pry through the portage of the head

Like the brass cannon; let the brow o'erwhelm it

As fearfully as doth a galled rock O'erhang and jutty his confounded base,

Swill'd with the wild and wasteful ocean.

Fulham started the game more gently than our visitors who robustly began proceedings, Wigan appeared determined to to take the game to the Lilly Whites and for the first five minutes had the lion's share of possession and pushed forward.

They did not, however, threaten or goal or actually put the defence under any real pressure. Once our lads settled, they showed a determined attitude and it became clear that Scotty has given the team a fresh approach, absent was the 'possession at all costs' ethos.

There were no constant cross-pitch passes in front of and to the goal keeper. As a welcome change, the ball was crisply placed into areas in front of the player in possession and the whole team moved as an army on the march.

That was a welcome sign and although we were still missing a vital spark in goal attempts, the quality of our approach play was entertaining to watch and effective as a result.

Stefan Johansen was back to his best and enjoying every touch, his commitment, energy and mobility being back to his best.

All in all a great night