Alan Pardew’s side moved nine points clear of the relegation zone after yesterday’s 2-1 home win over Stoke City and Europe is now the priority.
Alan Pardew: “It was a massive win for us, and sets up Thursday night for a special evening.
“Our fans have earned the right to get the place as full as we can. The margins are so small against them, we need every advantage.
“It gives me the luxury of making Anzhi my priority – not Wigan. It’ll be Thursday night. God willing, we’ll get a great win.
“To be honest, I think we are done.
“You have got to get 40 points, of course, but we are now seven points from that with nine games left.
“You’d expect this team to follow through with the standard it has got now to be able to do that.
“But the bigger picture is to finish strongly like Everton (last season) and take it into next year, and we are showing some good signs in terms of doing that.
“We are looking no further than Thursday – we’ve got a great opportunity in that competition. We’re in the last 16 in Europe.”