Wigan Athletic boss Steve Bruce had no excuses after their thumping by Everton yesterday.

Bruce told evertonfc.com: "Everton were terrific. That was the best a side has played against us all season.

"You sometimes have to take a beating - and Everton were far better than us all over the park. They were excellent.

"It is difficult after international periods when you have so many players away - and a lot of our players have to travel very long distances - but that should be no excuse. Defensively we looked all over the place. I just hope they don't think that, after being used to relegation fights, that now we have got to 41 points it is a case of job done, because it isn't and that is the message I will be giving them first thing tomorrow."