Interviews

March looks back on promotion sealing win over Wigan

Winger scored what proved to be the winner on this day in 2017.

By Luke Nicoli • 17 April 2022

By Paul Hazlewood
Solly March gave Albion a two goal cushion, which they were to need after Nick Powell's late strike for Wigan.

The maths were pretty simple: beat struggling Wigan Athletic and Albion were all but promoted to the Premier League, given a vastly superior goal difference over Huddersfield Town – the only other team, aside from second-placed Newcastle United – who possibly catch the Seagulls and who were playing later that afternoon against Derby County.

As a result, there was a carnival atmosphere at the Amex for this Bank Holiday Monday encounter which was, in most fans’ eyes, the most important fixture the stadium had hosted. Yet for the players in Chris Hughton’s squad, they had to detach themselves from the emotion of the occasion and just concentrate on getting over the line.

“We were full of confidence going into the game,” recalls Solly. “We’d won four games on the spin and when you’re win a run like that you, you feel unbeatable. I remember the lads were buzzing in training and we just couldn’t wait for the next game.

“In that run, the 2-1 win at QPR was massive and put us in a really strong position, but as we all know with the Championship, if you take your eye off the ball, you can easily lose. So that’s how we approached the Wigan game; we were confident but we also knew we had an important job to do.”

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Five years on from promotion: Albion 2 Wigan 1

Wigan were in a battle to stay in the division, so there was plenty at stake for both sides as they emerged from the tunnel to a cacophony of noise and colour. March was involved in the early exchanges, sending in a cross which Glenn Murray could not reach before having a shot blocked from the edge of the box.

Yet if truth be told, it was proving to be one of Albion’s less memorable displays, which is probably why Solly has few recollections of the opening half. “To be honest, I can’t remember much – we couldn’t have played that well!” he smiles. “When you know what’s at stake you’re maybe a bit more cagey. I’ve played in other big games, cup games, and you don’t want to make a mistake. But I do remember the opening goal and the noise that followed!”

The all-important breakthrough came in the 37th minute when a long pass from Lewis Dunk was met by Tomer Hemed. He then teed up striker partner Murray to drill home his 22nd and penultimate goal of the season.

“It was a great finish from Glenn but Tomer also did well to beat a certain Dan Burn to win the knockdown! I clearly remember seeing the ball hit the back of the net and the North Stand erupting. You just lose yourself in those moments and I remember us all celebrating in the corner. Whenever we got ourselves in front, we always felt confident of going on to win games. We knew we were a step closer to promotion.”

By Paul Hazlewood
Bruno and Glenn Murray embrace after the striker netted the opener.

Murray then had a header disallowed for offside, and the Seagulls maintained their pressure after the break when Jake Buxton somehow kept out a close-range drive from Hemed. It was one way traffic, with Albion keeper David Stockdale a mere spectator. It was only a matter of time before the second goal duly arrived – and it was March who found the target with 25 minutes remaining.

“[Anthony] Knockaert did really well to twist and turn down the right. I was unmarked on the edge of the box and received the ball from him just in the nick of time. I remember Dan sliding in; I’ve taken it passed him with my left foot and then got enough on the ball to put it through the keeper’s legs with my right. It’s always a great feeling when you score, but that one was extra special.

“When Dan joined us we spoke of that game and that goal. He remembers steaming out and me chopping the ball past him. I do remember coming up against him that day and thinking, ‘Who is this man mountain?!’”

The celebrations had began but they were tempered somewhat when Nick Powell scored a header to make it a nervy final five minutes. By this time, March had been replaced by Jamie Murphy but sitting in the dug-out, he had little doubt his team-mates would hold on for the win.

“When you’ve got a one-goal lead with five minutes remaining, and knowing that if you hold on you’re going to be in the Premier League, it’s going to get a bit edgy but we had the players to protect the lead and see it out.

“I remember the fans just counting the seconds down and then, when the final whistle blew, everyone ran onto the pitch to celebrate – those scenes will live with me for a very long time.

“I wasn’t sure whether to sprint on or just take it all in from the sidelines. I think me and [Jiri] Skalak ran on and we soon realised it was not such a good idea as it took us 20 minutes to get back off. People were lifting you up, ripping at your top and I was just trying to keep hold of my kit. I remember Dunky came back just wearing his pants and socks!”

By Bennett Dean
Anthony Knockaert celebrates as Albion close in on promotion.

With the players back in their inner sanctum the celebrations began, but it wasn’t long before the party continued with the fans as the squad emerged in various states of undress in the press box.

“The champagne was flowing and the next minute we’re out in the main stand celebrating. I don’t know whose idea that was, I just followed everyone else, but it was amazing just witness this sea of people on the pitch in front of us. Some of the players got on the mic and it was great to be able to share that moment with our supporters.”

Promotion was not officially confirmed until the Huddersfield result came in – a 1-1 draw thanks to a late equaliser from Derby’s Jacob Butterfield.

“We were in the players’ lounge by that stage andwere watching the game on TV. Then the celebrations began again – there was more champagne sprayed everywhere. It was great to be able to experience that moment with our families, while some of the players even jumped on a train back into Brighton to celebrate with the fans.

“I remember going home to freshen up; then all of the staff at the club went to a bar hired out by the chairman and we continued celebrating until the early hours. I can’t remember too much about that night, it’s all a bit of a blur to be honest!”

Albion still had three games to win the title but, unfortunately, failed to register a win. The side were still on target to take the title with one minute of the season remaining, only to concede an equaliser at ten-man Aston Villa. It was a bitter pill to swallow at the time, but for the players the disappointment soon ceded.

“Of those final three games, the Villa one was the most disappointing. We were so close, only for Jack Grealish to score. In the changing room afterwards, everyone was a little bit down but once we gathered our thoughts, our main target had been promotion and we’d achieved that.

“We knew that after a few weeks’ break we’d be gearing up to play Premier League football – and if you’d given us second place at the start of the season, we’d have taken it for sure.”

  • Albion 2
  • Wigan Athletic 0

Championship

Albion scorers: Murray 37, March 65

Wigan scorer: Powell 85

Referee: James Linington
Attendance: 29,940

Line-up: Stockdale, Bruno, Dunk, Huenemeier, Dunk, Bong, Knockaert, Stephens, Kayal (Norwood 73), March (Murphy 73), Hemed (Akpom), Murray