Wigan Athletic 1 v 2 Aston Villa

Saturday 29th December 2007

BBC Version awaiting official YOTAC feedback before amending:

Aston Villa came from behind to hand Wigan their first defeat in four games.

Titus Bramble outmuscled Martin Laursen at a corner to thump a header into the net and give Wigan a deserved lead.

But Villa, who last lost away from home back in August, pulled level early in the second half when Curtis Davies angled a header past Chris Kirkland.
Villa's winner showcased the skills of their emerging young players as Ashley Young teed up the ball for Gabriel Agbonlahor to flick home a header.

Wigan initially mastered the testing conditions - a rutted pitch and blustery wind - more competently than Villa and deserved to go in at the interval ahead.

Luis Antonio Valencia was particularly impressive for Wigan on their right wing in the opening period and he gave Wilfred Bouma all sorts of problems.

In the second half, those two had a minor spat after a Bouma tackle angered the Ecuador international, whose influence waned.

Villa had to rejig their team after just 11 minutes when Luke Moore replaced John Carew, who was injured after being tackled by Paul Scharner.

The loss of Carew saw Villa struggle to hold up the ball in attack and it took them well over half an hour before they threatened the Wigan goal.

By then Wigan were in front as Ryan Taylor won and took the corner that enabled Bramble to power a header past Scott Carson after he got to the ball ahead of Laursen.

Shaun Maloney hinted at better things to come from Villa when he forced the first save of the game as Kirkland moved quickly across his line to gather the former Celtic forward's shot.

Moments later, Young might have done better when he picked up the ball at the far post but the Villa winger slashed widely with his shot.

Villa's equaliser also came from a corner as Davies sent an arcing header past Kirkland, with Denny Laandzat unable to clear the ball on the line.

If Bramble's career has had something of a topsy-turvy profile, Davies has had a similarly up-and-down season.

On loan from West Brom it was his first goal for Villa as he made his first full Premier League start for Martin O'Neill's side.

Davies had a disastrous debut for Villa in the Carling Cup defeat by Leicester, afterwards comparing himself to a "pub player", but he can allow himself a toast for that goal.

His strike emboldened Villa and the speed of Young and Agbonlahor began to unsettle Wigan.
Young's run and cross for Villa's second was quite superb - the former Watford winger skipped past Valencia and Mario Melchiot with nonchalant ease - and Agbonlahor's delicate headed finish was just as noteworthy.
Wigan manager Steve Bruce: "We deserved something from that game.

"Both sets of players deserve a pat on the back for the effort and endeavour they've put in.

"They were atrocious conditions out there. There is nothing worse than that, with horrible, swirling wind, lashing rain and a poor pitch."

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill on Curtis Davies' performance: "His performance was 5,000 times better than against Leicester.

"It was a great effort from him, in particular as he has been waiting around for a while now.

"He can do it, and I hope he is here for the long haul."

Wigan: Kirkland, Melchiot, Scharner, Bramble, Kilbane, Valencia, Landzaat (Olembe 80), Brown, Taylor, Sibierski (Aghahowa 63), Bent.

Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Granqvist, Skoko.

Booked: Bramble.

Goals: Bramble 28.

Aston Villa: Carson, Mellberg, Laursen, Davies, Bouma, Maloney (Gardner 60), Reo-Coker, Barry, Young (Petrov 90), Carew (Moore 11), Agbonlahor.

Subs Not Used: Taylor, Harewood.

Booked: Agbonlahor.

Goals: Davies 55, Agbonlahor 70.

Att: 18,806

Ref: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).

Wigan Athletic 1 v 0 Newcastle United

Wednesday 26th ecember 2007

Fancy dress @ the JJB was about the highlight of the first 60 minutes, the half-time parade produced more action than the dull first half. Apart from a deflected shot from Paul Sharner neither keeper had a save to make.

Sibierski looked like he was pushed in the back but MotD viewers saw that it was inconclusive so reluctantly I’ll apologize for my “you don’t know what you’re doing ref” outburst. To be brutally honest the second half wasn’t really much better, we had a stunning strike from Ryan Taylor to settle the outcome and a couple of pantomime moments to wile away the last 45 minutes.

Just after the half-time interval a you get it/I’ll get it syndrome saw Mario Melchiot and Chris Kirkland on the edge of the area and the ball bounce free to Mark Viduka who with his back the toon army sent a arcing overhead kick goal-wards, however Titus Bramble easily managed to head the ball off the line, and that threat was the barcodes only serious attempt on target in the whole ninety minutes. So our proud record of never letting them score let alone get a point @ the JJB remains soundly & steadfastly intact.

Latics responded to the isolated threat to their goal, Valencia had a couple of good runs and Scharner hit a twenty five yarder which Given easily held. Then in the 65th minute the only true quality of the game surfaced when Ryan Taylor scorched a free kick past the despairing dive of Shay Given, the rest of the match was huff & puff with once again neither side getting close apart from that man Taylor again who made the Magpies keeper save low down at his near post.

Not even talisman Obafemi Martins made a difference after he replaced the ineffective Geremi, the 2nd pantomime gem occurred when the Irish keeper did a keepie uppie before hitting the ball on the volley, however the ball spooned over his head and luckily for him cleared the bar and went wide, o how we would have laughed at that.

Once again a referee upset the home fans, this time it was Mike Dean who made some and I’m being polite here “curious” decisions, usually against Latics.The papers are full of how bad Newcastle was and “Big Sam” © tabloids lambasted his players, however they only performed as well as we let them, both MotD & the press really didn’t give us many compliments, are we bothered ? nope we’ll have the three points thanks very much.

Also noted that Villas defence looked suspect, just the four conceded and with Emile due back I feel a six point festive home feast being a well deserved order of the day.

P19 W4 D4 L11 F19 A34 Pts16 – Position now 17th

Wigan: Kirkland, Melchiot, Scharner, Bramble, Kilbane, Valencia, Brown, Landzaat, Taylor (Olembe 74), Bent, Sibierski (Aghahowa 70).

Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Boyce, Skoko.

Booked: Brown.

Goals: Taylor 65.

Newcastle: Given, Beye, Taylor, Faye, N'Zogbia, Milner, Smith, Geremi (Martins 66), Emre, Duff (Jose Enrique 78), Viduka.

Subs Not Used: Harper, Cacapa, Butt.

Booked: Milner, Emre, Smith, Taylor.

Att: 20,304

Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral).

Fulham 1 v 1 Wigan Athletic

Saturday 22nd December 2007

As I predicted in the preview (smug face) Agahowa partnered Bent up-front while Ryan Taylor maintained his deserved place in the side.

In the first half Latics were on the back foot, Landzaat cleared off the line, Kirkland saved well & Diomansy Kamara knocked the ball wide from just inside the six yard box. but really a drab event was only illuminated by a crashing shot against Kirklands woodwork from a cracking effort from Paul Konchesky.
Late in the half both Bramble and Scharner came close to gaining a lead with crosses from the impressive Ryan Taylor.

0-0 at the break and the game droned on as per the first half, just on the hour mark Sibierski replaced the out of confidence Aghahowa and just after that Marcus Bent put Latics ahead.

Seven goals now for the number 23 as he crashed the ball in from two yards after a flick on from centre back Titus Bramble.

However Titus ensued a scramble in our eighteen yard area as his header ballooned up in the air. Dempsey headed the ball goalwards and Kirkland had to dive at the feet of Healy, a lucky escape for Latics as it was a right mess in the box.

Under eight minutes later and another clean sheet went out the window as Bairds cross found Kamara whose mis hit shot wrong footed the away teams defence and USofA Dempsey slotted the ball home, the first for over 360 minutes for Fulham.

Game on and the improving with every game AntonioValencia escaped from the Fulham defence but took to long and and Niemi came out to block his attempt.

Chris Kirkland decided to juggle a cross but atoned with a save from Kamara, and “Sibs” clipped the top of the bar with a header late on.

Neither team dominated the match so a 1-1 draw was probably a fair enough result, however it did stop the abysmal run of seven consecutive away day defeats, so far its P18 W3 D4 L11 F18 A34 Pts13 – Position still 19th.

Fulham: Niemi, Omozusi (Baird 60), Bocanegra, Hughes, Konchesky, Bouazza (Kuqi 72), Davis (Healy 59), Murphy, Davies, Kamara, Dempsey.

Subs Not Used: Warner, Ki-Hyeon.

Goals: Dempsey 78.

Wigan: Kirkland, Boyce, Scharner, Bramble, Kilbane, Valencia, Brown, Landzaat, Taylor (Olembe 86), Aghahowa (Sibierski 63), Bent.

Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Granqvist, Skoko.

Goals: Bent 70.

Att: 20,820

Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).

Wigan Athletic 5 v 3 Blackburn Rovers

Sunday 16th December 2007

Well, well, well, what a match to behold, sublime skill, great finishing, alarming defending, bad misses, last ditch tackles, eight goals, penalty save, dubious decisions, ticket tape yellow cards & Rovers fans leaving early with and without a Police escort.

The, in the end emphatic 5-3 win is what football is all about, sheer entertainment and a joy & privilege to be in the 16489 crowd at the theatre that is the JJB.

Latics stormed into a 3-0 lead with a robustious start that had Mark Hughes grimacing, first the Dutch maestro Landzaat who scored his 2nd in two games with a fine 1on1 with Friedel after a neat touch from hat-trick to be Bent.

Just two minutes on and Marcus ("A" team) Bent scored with a good finish from a narrowing angle across a despairing dive of the U.S.ofA keeper.

In fact Bent should have done a whole lot better before that when a Ryan Taylor cross hit him in the face, head the thing Marcus, head it.

Now then Ryan Taylor, I did muse in various scribings on the YOTAC site that a place must be found the lad, it was and at Koumas's expense, his whole hearted display touched with skill is what the whole team has been lacking, his crosses were "Beckhamesque" and his tackles crisp and clean for the most part. (Jason off in January ?)

2-0 up and with Heskey & Bent "leading the line" Blackburn were getting a footballing lesson when Mr Clatternburg followed his usual nature and awarded Daves old club a lifeline. Yes Heskey was cuddling Samba but that stuff goes on all the time in the eighteen yard box with very little intrusion from the men in black, even the Blackburn players failed to appeal and looked as surprised as any-one when the decision was given in their favour.

As it was Chris Kirkland guessed correctly and saved the spot kick from Beni McCartheys attempt.
Big Emile got his revenge however, 36 minutes had passed in this enthralling encounter when he & Samba tussled in the box, it looked like handball from the big No4 AND it looked liked he felled Heskey in the box not just outside of it.

Up stepped that man Taylor to hammer the ball across the box onto Paul Scharners head & into the Blackburn net, the big Austrian made up for the comical own goal of the week before, god knows how his head is feeling after ploughing the thunderbolt cross in.

3-0 against one of our local rivals, it seemed that all our Christmas's had come at once but this is Latics and the game was far from over.

Emile Heskey left the field on a stretcher after forty minutes and shortley after slack marking allowed the ever dangerous Santa Cruz to score a delightful goal deep into added on time, although it was a quality finish it did appear that Latics No1 was a little flat footed and I'm sure he was a bit disappointed to be beaten at his near post at a "nice height"

With the momentum now with the red & black halves, the Paraguayan made it 3-2 just five minutes after the restart, Latics struggled to to deal with bad boy Emerton's cross from the right, which hit Steven Reid bringing a great save out of Kirkland before the ball fell for Santa Cruz to hit home close in.

Game on, Rovers poured forward sensing a equalizer which they dually got but not before the daft Aussie Brett got a red card for upending Taylor in a off the ball incident. ( Sweet justice really as Emerton should have been sent off in the first half for scything the same player down, Mr Clatterburg gave only a throw in on that occasion.)

Bentley surged at the Latics rearguard and the ball fell kindly to the onrushing Warnock who crossed for Cruz to power a header past a stranded keeper, initially I thought Chris should have come for the cross but the ball was swinging away & I doubt if he would have got it anyway.

A three goal lead pulled back and against ten men, oh dear many thought, but our club stormed back in a grand finale, Rovers thought they could win it but Mr Bent had other ideas, the fourth goal came from the ever improving Antonio Valencia, his cross found Marcus on the far post to nod home.

Hat trick hero Cruz missed the chance of the match to make it 4-4 but headed over & 81 minutes on the unselfish Aghahowa who could have gone on to score his first for Latics, instead he squared it for his strike partner to tap into the net past a despairing dive from the Brad man.

5-3 and although we stay in 19th place, we might, just might be on the road to recovery.

Wigan: Kirkland, Taylor (Olembe 89), Boyce, Bramble, Kilbane, Valencia, Brown, Scharner, Landzaat, Bent, Heskey (Aghahowa 40), Aghahowa (Granqvist 90).

Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Koumas.

Booked: Heskey, Taylor, Aghahowa, Brown.

Goals: Landzaat 10, Bent 12, Scharner 37, Bent 66, 81.

Blackburn: Friedel, Emerton, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock, Bentley, Reid, Savage, Pedersen, McCarthy (Derbyshire 74), Santa Cruz (Dunn 90).

Subs Not Used: Brown, Mokoena, Olsson.

Sent Off: Emerton (57).

Booked: Samba, Emerton, Warnock, Savage.

Goals: Santa Cruz 45, 50, 61.

Att: 16,489

Ref: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).

Bolton Wanderers 4 v 1 Wigan Athletic

Saturday 8th December 2007

The match kicked off under a blue sky in Horwich with Super Mario's 3 match suspension meant a start for Andreas Granqvist in the heart of Latics defence, apart from the centrebacks inclusion it was an unchanged line-up and Marcus Bent had a early chance but headed wide from a Boyce cross. Then after only three minutes and Latics conceded another early goal, a header from Paul Scharner deflected passed a bemused Chris Kirkland.

Offsides for both teams ruled the roost & just after ten minutes Andrew O’Brien was booked for a foul on Emile Heskey, a couple of minutes on from that and the much maligned Dutch maestro Denny Landzaat got Latics on level terms with a 25 yard strike that left Jaaskelainen or any other keeper with no chance.

After ten minutes of nip & tuck in the middle of the park, the home side gained a corner and Kilbane handled the box. Referee Martin Atkinson had no option but to award a spot kick but the Premierships leading scorer one Nicolas Anelka blasted the ball into row Z much to the delight of the away faithful.

However villain Anelka turned hero by easing his way down the wing to cross for Bolton’s talisman & Captain Kevin Nolan to cheekily back heel the Trotters in front, while Latics defence took a early Christmas break.

As the half came to a close Jason Koumas was a shade unlucky with a free kick that nearly brought Latics level for a second time, Bolton went in at the break a shade lucky to be 2-1 ahead, great first half entertainment, alas a bad score line for the likes of us.

Latics started the 2nd half well with six corners in 3 minutes, Jaaskelainen making two quality saves to keep the lead intact then went down injured to ease the pressure on the under siege whites.

Eventually the home team hit back and Anelka and Campo had shots blocked by Scharner, also Diouf had a header blocked by Boyce, the pressure told and Antonio Valencia was booked for a foul on Gardner, his first of the season.

El-Hadji Diouf crossed in for Kevin Davies to slide in a third killer goal, again Latics defence seemed to stand & watch the action, a severe lack of concentration perhaps ?

Emile Heskey was replaced by Michael Brown just after the goal on 70 minutes, while Jason Koumas tried to stamp his authority on the remaining fifteen minutes and Danny Guthrie was booked for his trouble in stopping the Wigan midfielder.

Austrian midfielder Paul Scharner was felled in the box but the ref waved away Latics appeals for a spot kick, Boltons penalty miss was well & truly forgotten by the home fans when Anelka scored from inside the six yard box to seal a 4-1 defeat.

Latics defence needs a serious overall by Bruce, to many stand and watch while Kirkland is well exposed, perhaps Chris needs to organize the defence better, he does seem a little quiet on the verbals.
Both full back positions need addressing, playing a centre half is ok for an emergency substitution but to have an attacking midfielder on the other side is soccer suicide.

The team needs to compete and that includes Scharner & Landzaat who need to take a close hard look at their performances and attitude.

To many players @ Latics are ex-Premiership journeymen with nothing to prove to themselves, long gone are the days when we had hungry for success players from a lower standing with points to prove.
The likes of Scottish International Lee McCulloch springs to mind.

With Middlebrough & Spurs both winning to-day & Reading yesterday the clubs in the drop zone are getting stranded with an ominous gap now beginning to appear.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Hunt, Meite, Andrew O'Brien, Gardner, Nolan (Giannakopoulos 90), Campo (Speed 90), Guthrie, Davies, Anelka, Diouf (McCann 77).

Subs Not Used: Al Habsi, Michalik.

Booked: Andrew O'Brien, Guthrie.

Goals: Scharner 3 og, Nolan 37, Davies 70, Anelka 89.

Wigan: Kirkland, Boyce, Granqvist, Bramble, Kilbane, Valencia, Scharner, Landzaat, Koumas, Bent, Heskey (Brown 72).

Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Taylor, Skoko, Cotterill.

Booked: Valencia.

Goals: Landzaat 14.

Att: 20,309

Ref: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

Wigan Athletic 1 v 1 Manchester City

Saturday 9th December 2007

18614 turned up at the JJB as winter draws into the hectic Christmas fixtures, City were trying to win the obnoxious away kit of the season award and to gain their first Premiership points against us, they achieved both.

Of all the starts in all the matches in the global game Steve Bruce got it in fine style, as the ballad of Bramble goes, “Things can only get better” and in reality they did.

I always remember the schoolteacher who said, always play the ball the way you are facing, especially when you are defending, Titus tried a Beckenbauerish pass along to Kilbane but just set up the darling of the City support Geovanni to round the restored Kirkland & finish into the South Stand net.

City keeper Andreas Isaksson looked dodgy all the game, especially with the back passes and Bent was a shade unlucky when the ball didn’t fall kindly as he closed him down on more than one occasion.
Latics slowly but surely got themselves back into the encounter and Emile was his usual strong self while Bent actually looked more than just interested.

A cross from the lively Valencia found its way to Jason Koumas who tricked the defender into thinking a right foot cross was imminent when in actual fact he got to the byline and crossed onto the diving of Paul Scharner who scored with a well placed powerful header in front of the we only sing when we are winning support.
Chances were few and far between, Petrov hurried thro onto the Wigan goal but Kirkland was quicker and hoofed the ball to safety.

1-1 at the break but after only five minutes in Emile ambled off to be replaced by Ryan Taylor who took over from Koumas on the right hand side while Jason moved into the middle with a mandate to help out Bent.
Latics were on top for the majority of the 2nd half, a chant between the Great Escape drumming/clapping was who needs Mourinho we have have Steve Brucio brought a snigger from the national press sat just over my shoulder.

The afore mentioned RT was desperately unlucky not to score with a well executed volley at the far post which brought one of the saves of the day from the City netminder.

Mr Riley endeared himself into the Latics hall of fame with two penalty decisions, that didn’t go in our favour, what a surprise eh ? one was stonewalled, the other I have seen given and this plus the straight red for Mario just about summed it all up.

In defence of Mr Riley, having watched a slow-mo several times the big Wigan defender did go in two footed and his feet were off the ground, BUT in his defence he did win the ball first, which in itself was well clear of Irelands feet and MMs studs were only just above turf level.

In the strict letter of the law he had to go but I cast my mind back to Hunts tackle last weekend when he launched at the guys thigh and only got a yellow.

All in all a fair result after a horrendous start with a battling come back against a team that started the day third in the table and Steve Bruce must now know that Jason Koumas must start in the middle to stop him sulking, Landzaat caps for the Dutch team mean nothing when he does nothing on the pitch and room must be made for Ryan Taylor.

Also a plaudit for Emmerson Boyce who held the defence together whilst Titus tried to come to terms with his error.

Wigan: Kirkland, Melchiot, Bramble, Boyce, Kilbane, Valencia, Scharner, Landzaat, Koumas, Bent, Heskey (Taylor 53).

Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Granqvist, Cotterill, Skoko.

Sent Off: Melchiot (88).

Booked: Bramble, Scharner.

Goals: Scharner 25.

Man City: Isaksson, Corluka, Dunne, Richards, Garrido (Ball 36), Ireland, Hamann, Gelson, Geovanni (Etuhu 69), Petrov, Samaras (Bianchi 78).

Subs Not Used: Hart, Jihai.

Booked: Hamann, Ball.

Goals: Geovanni 1.

Att: 18,614

Ref: Mike Riley (Yorkshire).

Arsenal 2 v 0 Wigan Athletic

Saturday 25th November 2007

Mr dependable Mike Pollitt started the game for the “ill” ? Chris Kirkland, various reports stated he was dropped/ill depending on who you want to believe. Also starting for the first time was new signing Soloman Olembe, about time to me thinks !

Arsenal forced a couple of early corners while Michael Brown was running about committing fouls here there & everywhere. Meanwhile Paul Scharner had a couple of long range efforts easily blocked then referee Peter Walton had enough and eventually booked Michael Brown for unsporting behavior, that’s five yellows so far this season.

Midway thro’ the first half Adebayor struck a right-footed shot from centre of penalty area but produced a fine save by Michael Pollitt who tipped the ball around post. So half-time arrived and 0-0, apparently it was because Arsenal were poor & not that Latics had played well - piff paff. A spirited first half performance and Latics give as much as they got and better finishing by Bent or Scharner could have seen us a goal in front.

Unsurprisingly, considering that they are at home AND are the league leaders the gooners had 65% of the possession BUT it the score on the door that counts and that with 45 mins to play is 0-0. ( And Arsenal had two shots on target to Latics one).

No changes to either team & the second half started with Michael I’m determined to be sent-off Brown made Almunia save via a left foot shot. Latics centre back Andreas Granqvist was booked for a foul on Arsenals number 7 Rosicky. Big Emile came on for new starter Olembe and shortly after it all kicked off with Marcus Bent clobbering Denilson and getting booked for his time & trouble, also Emile got a yellow card along with Gallas.

The Arsenal defender had the last laugh by scoring with a header in the 83rd minute, Latics stormed forward and got caught out when Arsenal counter attacked and scored a second via Tomas Rosicky who slotted in from twelve yards. It finished 2-0, ah well.

All this was a bit harsh on a battling performance from the Blues, Mr Bruce will take quite a few positives from this match, other results are seemingly going for us BUT we now need to kick on & do what we have to do and not leave it for others to keep us up.

Arsenal Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Eboue, Denilson, Diarra,Rosicky, Adebayor, & Walcott,

Substitutes Lehmann, Senderos, Eduardo, Song Billong, Bendtner

LATICS Pollitt, Boyce, Granqvist, Bramble, Kilbane, Brown, Scharner, Landzaat, Olembe,Koumas & Bent

Substitutes Kirkland, Hall, Sibierski, Heskey & Skoko

Tottenham Hotspur 4 v 0 Wigan Athletic

Saturday 11th November 2007

Sunday away @ the Lane and one for Latics fans not to remember on this Poppy day of 2007. Even with David Cotterill making a rare start, Marcus Bent was the only one upfront as per is the norm of late so it was no surprise that Spurs strolled to a two nil lead before the half hour mark was up.
New boss on the block Juande Ramos must be thinking that the Premiership is a doddle as woeful Wigan lay down and died.

Shocking defending led to all the goals, with severe lack of concentration and commitment being a ever consistent problem.

Unlucky for Wigan the hosts took control on with the opener coming in the 13th minute.
Robbie Keane was fed the ball on the left by Malbranque before taking the proverbial out of Granqvist on the byline. The resulting cross should have been easily sorted by Kirkland buta bad error effort could not prevent Jenas scoring his first of two by tapping in on the line.

Berbatov started to enjoy himself as nearly all the Bulgarian's flicks and tricks were coming off. Dimitar set up the next two goals, the first of which came after another 13 minutes, Robbie Keane was definately offside when Berbatov's through ball was made, however Jenas had made a run on the blindside of a slow acting Wigan defence and he sauntered past Kirkland before scoring past Kevin Kilbane on the goalline.

34 minutes in and a rout looked likely as Englands No1 launched a mega kick onto Berbatov who slipped the ball onto Neil Lennon who controlled it with his first touch & scored with a cracking volley towards the far post. Antoine Sibierski came on for the ineffectiual Welsh winger Dave Cotterill but all Latics had to offer was hopeful high balls in the vague diection of Tottenhams goals.

Jenas should have had a hat-trick a minute before the break, he ran onto yet another Berbatov fick but he shot a lick of paint the wrong side of the post from Spurs point of view.

The second half was a real worry for the travelling faithfull, just how many goals would Spurs go on and get ? As it was, thankfully just the one but the half started badly when Keane lobbed over when he was sent thro' as the Cockerals refused to sit back. Chimbonda made Kirkland save at his near post, & Kirland saved well from Lennons rasping drive but Spurs Bent added the last nail in the coffin 17 minutes before the end, his shot hit the post after two goal hero JJ had threaded him through.

Howard Webb was the ref, we couldn't blame him, the team has to take the collective responsibility for one of our poorest performances in the Premiership.

Latics fans bemoaned the board on Five Live, allegedly only two turned up and PJ who wants Chris Hutchings as his assistant has allegedly asked for sky high wages and been turned down by the club. Smokescreen tittle tattle but rumours abound about our club, meanwhile taken from the BBC website..........

Wigan caretaker boss Frank Barlow's views on the 4-0 defeat

"The scoreline was a fair reflection of the match - very fair. We were very disappointing, and contributed to a couple of their goals, while Spurs were outstanding at times.

"We knew before today the position we're in - and this result only compounds that. We can't afford to wait for a new manager to come in and wave a magic wand, we have to sort ourselves out now.

"We have to be fit, passionate and determined to turn things around because this team is capable of staying in this league."

Kirkland , Taylor , Melchiot, Bramble, Scharner, Granqvist, Skoko (Brown 64), Kilbane, Landzaat, Cotterill (Sibierski 39), Bent.

Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Hall, Olembe.

Wigan Athletic 0 v 2 Chelsea

Saturday 3rd November 2007

A game of the cliché two half’s, first half Chelsea strolled it while in the second half they dropped down to walking pace allowing a Latics revival to send the home fans happyish.

The high glow luminous shirts of the Pensioners swarmed all over a poor Wigan team, with just one up front, Latics looked like a side who just couldn’t be bothered with it all, especially after Paul Scharner had headed just wide early on. Mummy’s boy Frank Lampard scored from a great precision low cross from Shaun Wright-Phillips to put them ahead. Frankie must really learn to shut up & just play the game, if he wants to ref the game he needs to take a massive drop in wages and don a black shirt.

The ball looked to have gone out for a throw in but then full back Juliano Belletti went unchallenged from well in his own half and finished off with a curling strike for number two and only after 18 minutes.

No personnel changes after the break but while Chelsea took it easy with a Champions League game to look forward to Latics actually started the second forty five with a renewed vigor and out of form Dutch international Landzaat had a shot deflected wide.

Wigan were a tougher proposition for Chelsea as they adopted a more physical approach and got into the Pensioners faces and “tough guy” Michael Brown almost earned some reward but his shot from the 18 yard line was blocked by defender Alex. Didier Drogba was making his 100th league appearance for the Kings Road club but he was taken off after 75 minutes, before he got sent off for a second yellow card.

The last team Chris Hutchings picked was Wigan :

Kirkland , Melchiot, Granqvist, Bramble, Kilbane , Valencia , Brown (Skoko 85), Scharner, Landzaat (Sibierski 82), Koumas, Bent.

Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Aghahowa, Boyce.

And one of Chris Hutchings last quotes before he was shown the door"It was excellent from us in second half. We didn't have any real luck in box but obviously conceding two goals in first half was disappointing.
"One or two players slept in and did not do what we required and that cost us. "We have to keep positive."

Birmingham City 3 v 2 Wigan Athletic

Saturday 27th October 2007

Wigan Athletic manager, Chris Hutchings, was boosted three times when making his team selection as Mario Melchiot resumed his duties at right back, whilst Antoine Sibiersji recovered from injury sufficiently enough to take his place up front. Luis Antonio Valencia was back on the right wing which meant that Michael Brown was dropped as acting right winger Paul Scharner was moved into his favoured central midfield role.

Former Latics boss, Steve Bruce didn't tinker too much with his Birmingham team that lost at Manchester City last week, although Daniel De Ridder started in place of Gary McSheffrey in an otherwise unchanged line up.

It was Birmingham who started the game in the ascendancy with Cameron Jerome in particular in sparkling form and missing with two half chances before the ten minute mark. However on the quarter hour mark the tide began to turn when Olivier Kapo brought down Jason Koumas just outside the penalty area, although the opportunity was missed, within minutes Valencia swung a great cross into the Birmingham area and Scharner missed a good chance to open the scoring, even though he should probably have left the ball for Koumas who was in a better position.

Valencia had an effort knocked over the bar by Liam Ridgewell in the 17th minute but Marcus Bent had more joy three minutes later when he opened the scoring for the visitors. He latched onto a long ball from the midfield, bamboozled a static hosts defence and powered a great shot past a bemused Maik Taylor.

However just three minutes later Scharner became the villian of the moment when he handled in the box following a Birmingham corner. Olivier Kapo stepped up and slammed the resultant penalty past Chris Kirkland to level the score much to the annoyance of an irate Chris Hutchings on the touchline.

That equaliser seemed to knock the stuffing out of the visitors and the home side began to get the upper hand again with former Latics transfer target Daniel De Ridder, who was far and away the 'man of the match' up to that stage, forcing a good save from Kirkland with just ten minutes of the first half left, although Latics countered almost immediately when Koumas forced a good blocking save from Taylor.

Valencia had certainly stiffened the right side of a faltering Latics team following his reintroduction to the team today, and he was unlucky to see a 'shot cum cross' intercepted by Rafael Schmitz with just a few minutes of the first period remaining. De Ridder and his team mates finished the half the stronger and Latics were relieved when referee, Steve Tanner, blew for the half time break.

The second half started in the same manner as the first, with the hosts starting brightly, with three minutes gone Wilson Palacios struck a speculative long range shot that went wide of the target, but it did serve as the hosts 'statement of intent' to the slate shirted visitors. Fortunately, Latics took notice of it and Scharner was unlucky not to do better with a headed attempt at goal from a Valencia cross that caught City on the break.

With ten minutes of the second half gone, Kirkland did very well to stop a pile driver from Fabrice Muamba and then after Scharner had blazed over the bar in the 57th minute Bent gleefully slammed home his second goal of the game. following a horrible mix up between Steve Kelly and Taylor in the hosts penalty area following a Melchiot cross into the box. Could Latics keep hold of the lead this time?

Ask a silly question!#

In the 63rd minute Jerome Campbell saw his shot blocked by Kevin Kilbane, but this proved only to be a brief respite for Latics. Just four minutes later the Latics defence was at 'sixes and sevens' and Liam Ridgewell scored his first goal for the club to bring the scores level again!

Paul Scharner was certainly having a 'handy' game, as in the 71st minute, he was in a great scoring position only to be penalised for using his hand to control the ball, having all ready been yellow carded he was fortunate to stay on the pitch.

With just fourteen minutes remaining Latics should have scored their third goal of the game, and Bent who was on a hat trick, saw his shot go just wide of the Birmingham post, whilst the home side then immediately went to the other end and Latics' towering Andreas Granqvist had to be at his best to deny Schmitz a goal scoring opportunity.

You could cut the tension at St Andrews with a knife. However, it disappeared for the home spectator with just ten minutes remaining when Kapo scored his second, and Birmingham's third goal of the game.

Hutchings' response was to replace an ineffective Sibierski with Nigerian hit man Julius Aghahowa, but it was too little too late as the City defence and midfield held firm to secure a vital victory. For Latics it was now a case of dreading the dreaded drop from now until the end of the season. The omens are not good as the men from the JJB Stadium have now won just two points from a possible TWENTY FOUR and are still boasting the Premiership's longest consecutive losing run.

The performance at least was better, but just how much more time will Chris Hutchings expect with which to turn things around?

More to the point, given a midweek rant, will the chairman give him it?

WIGAN ATHLETIC, Chris Kirkland, Mario Melchiot, Andreas Granqvist, Titus Bramble, Kevin Kilbane, Luis Antonio Valencia, Paul Scharner, Denny Landzaat, Jason Koumas, Antoine Sibierski, (Julius Aghahowa 84), Marcus Bent.

Subs not used, Michael Pollitt, Emmerson Boyce, Ryan Taylor, Josip Skoko.

Goal scorers, Marcus Bent 20 mins, 59 mins

Booked, Paul Scharner 16 mins

BIRMINGHAM CITY, Maik Taylor, Rafael Schmitz, Steven Kelly, Franck Quedrue, Wilson Palacios, (Sebastian Larsson 78), Liam Ridgewell, Olivier Kapo, Daniel De Ridder, Medhi Nafyi, Fabrice Muamba, (Gary O'Connor 62), Cameron Jerome.

Subs not used, Richard Kingson, Neil Danns, Gary McSheffrey

Goal scorer, Olivier Kapo (pen) 23 mins, 81 mins, Liam Ridgewell 67 mins

Booked, Referee, Steve Tanner (Somerset)

Attendance, 27,661

Wigan Athletic 0 v 2 Portsmouth

Saturday 20th October 2007

Wigan Athletic manager, Chris Hutchings, is at this moment in time playing too many players out of position and this has resulted in Latics picking up just two points out of a possible twenty one over the last seven games, a run that has seen the Blues plummet somewhat spectacularly into 'relegation mode' again.

Playing a left sided midfielder at left back, with a player on the bench (Salomon Olembe) who plays in that position is puzzling to say the least. Playing Paul Scharner wide on the right also results in the midfield becoming unbalanced due to his forte being in the centre of either the defence, or in more recent months, the centre of the midfield. Persisting with an injury prone Antoine Sibierski up front is beginning to look rather pitiful, but considering his only other options are a loanee Championship striker and another 'hit man' unproven at this level, it has to be admitted his options up front are rather limited given Emile Heskey's long term injury.

However, today's showing against a very decent Portsmouth outfit left the fans feeling that the team is now getting used to being beaten and it doesn't look like things are going to improve any time soon. And you get the feeling that the absence of the England striker is becoming a rather lame excuse for the lack of firepower. Perhaps it is even becoming something of a rather depressing psychological battle that the player have got to learn to come to terms with, quickly.

Only two players, Michael Brown and Titus Bramble seemed to put in maximum effort with most of the rest appearing to just go through the motions. If it wasn't for a Scharner effort on goal in the first half the home contingent of a crowd of almost 18,000 would have had absolutely nothing to cheer.

Then again in defence of the home team, it was the magnificent away support that was doing most of the cheering and the visiting Pompey team certainly rewarded their efforts with two of the simplest goals that Latics are ever likely to concede this season. To add insult to injury the goals came courtesy of Portsmouth's only two clear cut chances of the game.

In the 81st minute the hosts defence went missing as Muntari floated a ball into the Latics penalty and Benjani joyfully banged the ball home from just 12 yards. The second goal came just five minutes later and Glen Johnson was left in acres of space by a bemused blue and white shirted defence to rattled a 20 yard effort past a static Chris Kirkland.

The Pompey chimes went wild and the hordes of Latics fans leaving the JJB Stadium in disgust must have still heard the ecstatic travelling supporters as they walked over the canal bridge, back to Springfield or the Wigan Town centre seven minutes later!

Latics now find themselves fifth from bottom of the Premiership, just one point clear of the final relegation placed team, Tottenham Hotspur who have a game in hand. Next up are Birmingham City at St Andrews, and Latics now need the maximum points haul in England's second city next Saturday.

WIGAN ATHLETIC, Chris Kirkland, Emmerson Boyce, Andreas Granqvist, Titus Bramble, Kevin Kilbane, Paul Scharner, Michael Brown, Denny Landzaat, Jason Koumas, Antoine Sibierski, (Julius Aghahowa 52), Marcus Bent.

Subs not used, Michael Pollitt, Salomom Olembe, Fitz Hall, Josip Skoko.

Booked, Julius Aghahowa 53 mins, Titus Bramble 88 mins

PORTSMOUTH, David James, Sol Campbell, Sylvain Distin, Heidar Hreidarsson, Glen Johnson Nico Kranjcar, Pape Bouba Diop, Jihn Utaka, Sulley Muntari, Sean Davis, (Pedro Mendes 77), Benjani.

Subs not used, Jamie Ashdown, Noe Pamarot, Matt Taylor, David Nugent.

Goal scorers, Benjani 81 mins, Glen Johnson 86 mins

Booked, Sol Campbell 39 mins, Sean Davis 59 mins, Sulley Muntari 79 mins

Referee, Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)

Attendance, 17,695

Manchester United 4 v 0 Wigan Athletic

Saturday 6th October 2007

Wigan Athletic manager, Chris Hutchings, who was no doubt thinking of the last time he visited Old Trafford as a top flight manager, opted to give a debut to Cameroon international, Salomon Olembe in place of Nigerian hit man, Julius Aghahowa, which meant a change in formation to 4-5-1. Loanee, Marcus Bent was Latics' loan striker as Hutchings desperately wanted to avoid the 6-0 drubbing that his Bradford City team suffered here in 2000.

Up until the end of the first half the Blues held an average looking United side to just two chances. The first was an awful back pass to his goalkeeper, Chris Kirkland, by debutant Olembe. The former England keeper had to save smartly as the ball very nearly flew over him and into the net. Then, in the final minute of the first 45 minutes, Carlos Tevez broke in the Latics penalty area but his shot was deflected by the timely boot of captain, Mario Melchiot.

The start of the second half was an unmitigated disaster and there was a lot worse to come. The hosts came out flying, especially Wayne Rooney and Tevez and a succession of corners for the home side luckily came to nothing. Six minutes into the action Melchiot was forced to leave the pitch with Fitz Hall, who hasn't played a Premiership game all season, replacing him.

Within three minutes United had taken the lead and it was Tevez who finished off a beuatiful three-man move by United. Rooney had found Brazilian midfielder Anderson who passed precisely to Tevez who rounded both Kevin Kilbane and Kirkland to finally cause a noise to emanate from the Old Trafford stands.

Four minutes had elapsed before Ronaldo put the Red Devils 2-0 up courtesy of a fine header from a Ryan Giggs corner. By now Latics looked dejected and no player was more depressed than Olembe whose debut was brought to a premature end when Hutchings decided to replace him with Luis Antonio Valencia in the 66th minute. His first match action was a terrific shot that United keeper, Tomasz Kuszczak did very well to parry for Latics' first corner of the game.

But with Hutchings still playing just Bent up front in an effort to keep the score line respectable things then exploded into his face. The next ten minutes saw Kirkland deny Ronaldo, Rooney and Tevez, but in the 76th minute he could do nothing to deny Ronaldo from gleefully slotting home after a marauding run down the left channel by Rooney who set the Portuguese hot shot clear on goal.

Hutchings must have been a relieved man when in the 81st minute Tevez was replaced by Luis Carlos Nani, but his thoughts must have been racing back to his previous visit to Old Trafford when Rooney headeded United 4-0 to the good after Danny Simpson had found him perfectly with a defence splitting pass with eight minutes of the game remaining. Fortunately, a jittery Latics side 'held on' to a 4-0 defeat and that is about the best that can be said of thier performance in the second half today.

WIGAN ATHLETIC, Chris Kirkland, Mario Melchiot, (Fitz Hall 51), Emmerson Boyce, Titus Bramble, Kevin Kilbane, Josip Skoko, Paul Scharner, Michael Brown, Jason Koumas, Marcus Bent, Salomon Olembe, (Luis Antonio Valencia 66). Subs not used, Michael Pollitt, Denny Landzaat, Julius Aghahowa.

Booked, Josip Skoko 50 mins

MANCHESTER UNITED, Tomasz Kuszczak, Gerard Pique, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, (Anderson 21), Patrice Evra, John O'Shea, (Danny Simpson 30), Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Carlos Tevez, (Luis Carlos Nani 81), Wayne Rooney.

Subs not used, Tom Heaton, Chris Eagles

Goal scorers, Carlos Tevez 54 mins, Cristiano Ronaldo 59 mins, 76 mins, Wayne Rooney

Booked, Wayne Rooney 31 mins

Referee, Mike Riley (Yorkshire)

Attendance, 75,300

Wigan Athletic 0 v 1 Liverpool

Saturday 29th September 2007



Fulham manager, Lawrie Sanchez, is probably in deep water following his comments about bad refereeing decisions costing his team points, week in and week out, especially against the so called 'bigger teams'. However, after this game fans of s called 'small clubs' can certainly see where he is coming from.



After this game Latics boss, Chris Hutchings, kept a dignified silence despite once again seeing his team denied a penalty. He also refused to comment on Marcus Bent's 'goal' that was disallowed despite no offence, as determined by FIFA rules. being committed. His opposite number, Rafa Benitez, also kept quiet, knowing that his side got out of jail at the JJB Stadium.



There was a surprise or two when the Latics team was announced. Hutchings decided to play Emmerson Boyce as Titus Bramble's partner in the middle of the defence with Andreas Granqvist demoted to the subs bench, whilst up front Julius Aghahowa was preferred to leading gal scorer Antoine Sibierski. One can only presume that 'Sibs' was unfit for duty.



Benitez, fielded his strongest possible team as the Reds desperately needed victory to consolidate their top four place, and this meant a strike pairing of £26.000.000 man Fernando Torres and Dirk Kuyt with Andriy Voronin on their bench.



An already injury hit Latics side, containing no natural left back, no fully match fit right sided player and two second choice strikers was set for a torrid time. Or so we thought.



In truth Liverpool just about came out on top after the first 45 minutes. The hosts were devoid of striking options but the rest of the team coped well enough when it came to defending against the marauding Jermaine Pennant and Torres. On the half hour mark Torres finally did get a break and he jinked past a static Latics back line, only for Chris Kirkland to spot the danger early, run out of his six yard area and block his shot. The ball rolled loose, heading for the Latics goal, but thankfully it trickled just wide of the post.



A few minutes later Torres went into 'pose mode'. A dangerous ball was floated into the Latics area by Pennant and the Spanish hit man painted a glorious picture of a perfect footballing specimen (for the benefit of the TV cameras), hoping for a 'wonder goal' and he ballsed up, big style. He had the time to score correctly by bringing the ball down and then having his pick of where to place the ball in the Latics net. Instead he over dramatically struck the ball wide!



Towards the end of the half Aghahowa, in a rare foray up front, was brought down in the Liverpool box but the referee, Mark Clattenburg, adjudged that he was offside moments before making his run. Then in the final minute of added time at the end of the first half 'Pool keeper, José Reina made a crude attempt to get Paul Scharner sent off. Rather than just collecting the ball and clearing it he decided to deliberately run at Scharner, whose back was turned, bounce off him and appeal for a foul!



For all or the first half Jamie Carragher and Steve Gerrard appeared to be talking to the referee and instructing him on when and where to penalise any Latics players, and it went on for all of the second period as well, it looked quite pathetic actually. Maybe tactics like this from the so called 'big clubs' need to be looked at and stamped on immediately.



The ineptitude of certain referees was brought into question again just six minutes after the restart, when Marcus Bent broke through on goal and slammed the ball past a bemused Reina. Unfortunately the referee's assistant failed to see Jermaine Pennant playing Bent onside, raised his flag and Clattenburg had no hesitation in disallowing the goal, following a tete a tete with Carragher!



It was now verging on the point of ridiculousness. In addition to this, three occupants of the front row of the press box (two blokes and a female) were inciting the Latics fans in front of them by constantly cheering for Liverpool and the club need to look into this situation and I have already despatched an e-mail to a relevant club official with regards to this matter, as I doubt for a moment they were genuine press people and were, more likely, just free loading Liverpool fans. Either way, I want an explanation as to why the unbiased press feel that upsetting genuine Latics fans by uttering disparaging comments about our team within our earshot is fair game. Or the reason these Liverpool fans were in the press box. And I expect something to be done about it.



Injury hit Latics were causing the cream of the crop problems by the hour mark and Benitez brought on Yossi Benayoun in place of Fabio Arelio and it was Benayoun who scored the only goal of the game, against the run of play, with just fifteen minutes remaining. It was a great individual goal and the press gang/fans behind me at least had the decency to keep their feeling themselves!



Over in the East Stand the goal prompted great celebrations from Wigan based Liverpool fans, this resulted in a few minor scuffles and a sad shake of the head by the majority of the sell out crowd. Hopefully, one day in the future, Wiganer's will not feel the need to jump on anybody else's glory hunting bandwagon.



The remainder of he game saw Latics continually pressing for the equaliser and in the final minute the chance of the game fell to Aghahowa. After another of Koumas' attacking runs at a faltering Liverpool defence his cross sailed over the static Reds' back line an landed perfectly on the head of the Nigerian hit man. It was harder for him to miss the net than score. He headed wide!



One plus from the game was the return of Ryan Taylor and hopefully his presence on the right side of midfield will steady the good ship Latics in the stormy seas of the Premiership.



WIGAN ATHLETIC, Chris Kirkland, Mario Melchiot, Emmerson Boyce, Titus Bramble, Kevin Kilbane, Paul Scharner, (Ryan Taylor 82), Michael Brown, Josip Skoko, Jason Koumas, Marcus Bent , Julius Aghahowa.



Subs not used, Michael Pollitt, Salomon Olembe, Andreas Granqvist, Fitz Hall.



Booked, Michael Brown 74 mins, Mario Melchiot 88 m ins



LIVERPOOL, Jose Reina, Sami Hyppia, Alvaro Arbeloa, Fabio Arelio, (Yossi Benayoun 56), Jamie Carragher, Steve Gerrard, John Arne Riise, Xavier Mascherano, Jermaine, Pennant, (Andriy Voronin 82), Fernando Torres, (Mohamed Sissoko 89), Dirk Kuyt.



Subs not used, Charles-Hubert Itandje, Steve Finnan.



Goal scorer, Yossi Benayoun 75 mins



Booked, Xavier Mascherano 74 mins



Referee, Mark Clattenburg (Tyne and Wear)



Attendance, 24,311

Reading 2 v 1 Wigan Athletic

Saturday 22nd September 2007

Last weekend against Fulham at the JJB Stadium, Latics hardly deserved the point they gained. Today they suffered a defeat that they didn't deserve, such is the game of football.

As expected, Hutchings decided to start with the team that drew against the Cottagers, with the exception of Kevin Kilbane. Josip Skoko started his first Premiership game of the campaign, whilst Emmerson Boyce made way for Kilbane. Marcus Bent started up front in place of Emile Heskey and new signing, Salomon Olembe, started on the bench.

Royals manager, Steve Coppell, made two changes from his last line up against Sunderland. He brought in centre half Michael Duberry who had recovered from injury and Kevin Doyle replaced Leroy Lita.

For the first ten minutes of the game Latics were in the ascendancy, with both Bent and Antoine Sibierski wasted good half chances and ironically it was only a great tackle by Titus Bramble on the ten minute mark that denied Royals' striker Kevin Doyle from hitting the back of the net. The next quarter of an hour belonged to the hosts with Chris Kirkland denying Liam Rosenior in the twelfth minute, whilst Andreas Granqvist did well to hoof the ball for a corner following a great attempt at goal from Dave Kitson.

However, he wasn't to be denied in the 26th minute when he latched on to a Kirkland slip to put Reading 1-0 to good as the Mad Stad erupted.

Latics immediately went on to the attack and Jason Koumas' storming run into the Reading box resulted in him being fouled from behind and referee, Kevin Stroud, immediately pointed to the penalty spot. Meanwhile his assistant was flagging furiously and after consulting with the flag waver changed his decision to a Latics free kick from the edge of the area. Koumas himself decided to take a shot at goal and was disappointed to see his shot ricochet off the underside of Marcus Hahnemann's bar.

The injustice of the situation seemed to spur Latics on and Steve Coppell was a relieved manager that his side were still 1-0 up as the referee blew for half time.

Within four minutes of the restart the visitors got the equaliser that they were looking for when Bent scored his first Latics goal, a powerful header from a sweetly taken Koumas corner. Ten minutes later, he should have put Latics in front but Hahnemann tipped his effort past the post as he came out on top of a one on one situation.

Sensing a Latics comeback, Coppell replaced Rosenior with Bobby Convey on the hour mark and just minutes later created a great chance for Steven Hunt who headed wide from Convey's inch perfect cross.

Latics were still playing a lot of good football and Bent found himself one on one again with the Royals keeper with just four minutes of the game remaining and was just about o score the winning goal when Duberry appeared from nowhere to secure what everybody thought would be a point for the home team.

Then in the final minute of the game Latics were revisited by the ghost of the previous season, and they conceded a dreaded last minute killer goal. James Harper struck a beautiful shot past a bemused Kirkland that flew in at the near post and the Latics players melted into the background as the home fans reacted as if they had won the FA Cup final!

So, the Blues left Reading with their third successive defeat against the Royals and they remained in tenth place in the Premiership. However, they were also just four points from the drop zone and awaited the visit to the JJB Stadium of Liverpool next Saturday.

READING, Marcus Hahnemann, Graeme Murty, Michael Duberry, Ivar Ingimarsson, Nicky Shorey, Liam Rosenior, (Bobby Convey 64), Steven Hunt, Brynjar Gunnarsson, James Harper, Kevin Doyle, (Andre Bikey 90), Dave Kitson.

Subs not used, Adam Federici, Emerse Fae, Shane Long.

Goal scorer, Dave Kitson 26 mins, James Harper 90 mins

Booked, Ivar Ingimarsson 32 mins, Liam Rosenior 45 mins, Marcus Hahnemann 90 mins

WIGAN ATHLETIC, Chris Kirkland, Mario Melchiot, Andreas Granqvist, Titus Bramble, Kevin Kilbane, Josip Skoko, Michael Brown, Paul Scharner, Jason Koumas, Marcus Bent , Antoine Sibierski, (Julius Aghahowa 78).

Subs not used, Michael Pollitt, Emmerson Boyce, Salomon Olembe, David Cotterill,

Goal scorer, Marcus Bent 50 mins

Booked, Michael Brown 35 mins, Titus Bramble 90 mins

Referee, Kevin Stroud (Hampshire)

Attendance, 21,379

Wigan Athletic 1 v 1 Fulham

Saturday 15th September 2007

Hand on heart, Latics did not deserve anything from this game.

Admittedly the Blues were without the services of three key players at kick-off, but even taking this into account the team should not have allowed Fulham the freedom of the JJB Stadium in the way that they did.

Chris Hutchings had to play Emmerson Boyce at left back due to Kevin Kilbane's suspension and Salomon Olembe's lack of fitness, whilst David Cotterill made his first Premiership start of the season in the absence of Luis Antonio Valencia. Former Cottager, Michael Brown also played as cover for Dutch international Denny Landzaat, who is recovering from an eye injury.

Lawrie Sanchez opted to leave David Healy on the bench, opting for a front pairing of Diomansy Kamara and Hameur Bouazza.

The opening exchanges gave no hint of the mundane performance that Latics were about to display as the game swung from end to end with Heskey picking up where he left off for England. However, in the fifth minute of the game he picked up a knock and was limping badly after sustaining a knock on his foot. Despite an attempt to 'run it off' and treatment on the touchline line, Hutchings had no choice to to bring Marcus Bent on in his place four minutes later.

As if that wasn't bad enough, only three more minutes had elapsed when the visitors took the lead when Clint Dempsey latched on to a loose ball in the hosts' penalty area to score his third goal of the season, much to the delight of the 250 or so Fulham fans who had made the epic trip up from London!

Fulham then commenced to play a lot of passing football, most of it which completely bypassed a bemused Latics midfield, rather than sit on their one goal lead. Heskey's presence up front was being badly missed as Bent and Antoine Sibierski were chasing shadows for most of the first half, which the Blues were fortunate to end it only one goal down.

The second period was only a few minutes old when Chris Kirkland had to pull off a terrific double save to keep Fulham from increasing their lead as the visitors went for the jugular. In fairness, Latics then began to get their act together, but the lack of decent chances to open the scoring was becoming more and more alarming.

On the 56 minute mark Kirkland once again pulled off a wonder save to deny Dempsey who must have thought he was going to put the Cottagers 2-0 up as he raced clear of the defence with only the keeper to beat.

The midfield was still at sixes and sevens, and in the 61st minute Josip Skoko was introduced to the action in place of the ineffective Cotterill, whose impressive runs up either flank were let down badly by very poor crosses into the visitors' danger areas. From then on, Latics looked to be more settled in the middle of the park as the midfield slowly began to have more 'bite'. Testimony to this is the fact that Skoko was the first and only player to be booked in the game, on the 67th minute mark and that yellow card was picked up because of the Socceroo's winning mentality, rather that a cynical foul.

Sanchez brought on Healy for Kamara in the 68th minute, obviously feeling that the Cottagers could produce their first away victory of the season, especially given Latics' utter uselessness in front of goal. In an effort to rectify this, Sibierski was replaced by Nigerian hit man Julius Aghahowa in the 76th minute.

Just when things looked very bleak, with most fans anticipating a very dire defeat, Mario Melchiot was pulled down in the Fulham area by Bouazza in the 79th minute and referee, Rob Styles, had no hesitation in awarding a spot kick, which Koumas slammed past Anti Niemi to give the Blues a goal they never looked like scoring.

From then on, Latics looked like a different team and both Aghahowa and Scharner missed opportunities to literally steal the three points for Latics. But in truth, the Blues didn't deserve the one point that kept them in ninth spot in the Premiership at five o clock.

By then news had circulated that Heskey had broken his fifth metatarsal, which was a very cruel blow to both Latics and England.

WIGAN ATHLETIC, Chris Kirkland, Mario Melchiot, Andreas Granqvist, Titus Bramble, Emmerson Boyce, David Cotterill, (Josip Skoko 60), Michael Brown, Paul Scharner, Jason Koumas, Emile Heskey, (Marcus Bent 9), Antoine Sibierski, (Julius Aghahowa 74).

Subs not used, Michael Pollitt, Fitz Hall

Goal scorer, Jason Koumas 80 mins

Booked, Josip Skoko 66 mins

FULHAM, Anti Niemi, Aaron Hughes, Carlos Bocanegra, Chris Baird, Paul Konchesky, Alexei Smertin, Clint Dempsey, Simon Davies, (Danny Murphy 84), Steven Davis, Hameur Bouazza, (Ky Hyeon Seol 84), Diomansy Kamara, (David Healy 67).

Subs not used, Kasey Keller, Dejan Stefanovic

Gal scorer, Clint Dempsey 11 mins

Referee, Rob Styles (Hampshire)

Attendance, 16,973

England 3 v 0 Russia

12th September 2007

A Michael Owen brace helped a vibrant England to a vital win over Euro 2008 qualifying rivals Russia.

Owen was composure personified when Gareth Barry's cross fell to him 10 yards out and he sidefooted in off the post to give England an early lead.

Russia's Konstantin Zhyrianov had a goal harshly ruled out for handball before a lethal Owen powered in a shot.

England weathered a spell of pressure from Russia before Rio Ferdinand angled in a shot to complete the win.

England's performance had Wembley rocking at the end of a game which began with tensions high as Russia led Steve McClaren's side by a point in Group E.

A Russia win would have all but ended England's hopes of reaching Euro 2008 and the visitors began by trying to deny the hosts the sort of time and space Israel afforded them on Saturday.
But an England side exuding confidence quickly asserted their authority, and Owen put them ahead after seven minutes with a clinically-struck trademark finish.

Steven Gerrard dinked a ball through the heart of Russia's backline to set up Heskey, who got the nod ahead of Peter Crouch to start, but his shot was blocked by keeper Vyacheslav Malafeev.

Owen appeared to slip as he attempted to slot in the loose ball as a second goal eluded England.

Russia tried to hit back as they pressed for an equaliser, and England were reprieved when Zhyrianov slotted in a shot only to be harshly penalised for handball.

A Shaun Wright-Phillips point-blank header went wide before England keeper Paul Robinson had to dive to his right to smartly palm away a Diniyar Bilyaletdinov strike.

England regained the upper hand with a slick passing game intertwined with clever movement, which left Russia struggling to cope.

TOP ENGLAND SCORERS
Bobby Charlton - 49 goals (from 106 games)
Gary Lineker - 48 goals (from 80 games)
Jimmy Greaves - 44 goals (from 57 games)
Michael Owen - 40 goals (from 85 games)

Joe Cole had a deflected shot saved before a second Owen goal put the gloss on an impressive first half from England.

Owen was found in space by a Heskey flick-on and he arrowed in a shot for his 40th international goal.

The precise passing and discipline of Gareth Barry was particularly impressive for England, but they were given two early scares after the interval.

Dmitri Sychev powered an angled shot across goal just wide and just failed to make contact with a the ball as he slid into meet a near-post cross.

A resurgent England professionally closed out the win as McClaren's balanced and buoyant side showed maturity and mettle.

Ferdinand latched on to a pass from Owen and lashed in a shot to put the icing on the cake at the end of an open and entertaining match.

England: Robinson, Richards, Ferdinand, Terry, Ashley Cole, Wright-Phillips, Barry, Gerrard, Joe Cole (Neville 88), Heskey (Crouch 80), Owen (Downing 90).

Subs Not Used: James, Brown, Smith, Johnson.

Booked: Joe Cole.

Goals: Owen 7, 31, Ferdinand 84.

Russia: Malafeev, Vasili Berezutsky, Ignashevich, Alexei Berezutsky, Aniukov (Kerzhakov 80), Bilyaletdinov, Zhirkov, Semshov (Bystrov 40), Sychev (Pavluchenko 63), Arshavin, Zurianov.

Subs Not Used: Shunin, Torbinsky, Pogrebniak, Kolodin.

Att: 86,106

Ref: Martin Hansson (Sweden).

England 3 v 0 Israel

8th September 2007

Match Report Later - & Only Because Emile is Playing this afternoon!

England produced a fine display to brush aside Israel in their Euro 2008 qualifier at Wembley.
A sidefooted Shaun Wright-Phillips volley from Joe Cole's slanted cross to the far post put England ahead as they took command of the tie.

Michael Owen swivelled on the spot and brilliantly unleashed a precise 18-yard strike to extend the home side's lead.

Israel did not even force a save out of keeper Paul Robinson as Micah Richards headed in a corner to complete the win.

The relief at the end of the game was in stark contrast to the jangling nerves beforehand.

Injuries to key players and England's precarious position in Group E had added even more pressure on to the team's shoulders, with the visitors hoping to capitalise.

Israel predictably sat back in numbers right from the start and set England the challenge of finding a way through their heavily banked lines.

Steve McClaren's side threatened early on with Emile Heskey, whose last game for England was in a loss to France at Euro 2004, playing a prominent role.

His strength in the air almost released Owen on goal and Heskey's physical prowess and hold-up play gave England a vital attacking option.

Owen scored a spectacular goal for his 38th goal for England.

Heskey should have scored when, in a role reversal, he was set up by Owen but blazed a clear strike at goal high.

But, just when it seemed Israel had weathered the opening assault, Wright-Phillips coolly applied the finishing touch to a Joe Cole cross to the far post to ease England's nerves.

The trickery and tirelessness of Wright-Phillips and the creativity of Joe Cole helped a confident-looking England create a regular flow of chances - and they could have been further ahead before the break.

Joe Cole laid the ball off to Owen to leave the striker with only the keeper to beat but his angled shot hit Dudu Auoate and his sliced rebound effort spun wide.

Owen released Ashley Cole on goal as England dominated and his strike went was saved, with Israel fortunate to be only one down at half-time.

But England turned their superiority into goals as Owen, with his back to goal, took a touch to gather a Gareth Barry pass before turning on the spot and arrowing in a shot.

Israel were short of ideas and fell further behind when Richards nodded in from the impressive Barry's cross after 66 minutes as England cruised to a first win at the new Wembley.

With 20 minutes left, McClaren had the luxury of taking off Steven Gerrard, who was suffering from cramp, because England have another crucial qualifier against Russia looming on Wednesday.

Russia are second in Group E, one point ahead of England, and two points behind leaders Croatia.

England: Robinson, Richards, Ferdinand, Terry, Ashley Cole, Wright-Phillips (Bentley 83), Gerrard (Neville 71), Barry, Joe Cole, Heskey (Johnson 71), Owen.

Subs Not Used: Brown, James, Downing, Defoe.

Booked: Terry.

Goals: Wright-Phillips 20, Owen 49, Richards 66.

Israel: Aouate, Spungin, Ben-Haim, Gershon, Ziv, Benayoun, Badir, Benado (Golan 57), Tal, Katan (Zandberg 73), Itzhaki (Tamuz 46).

Subs Not Used: Antebi, Balili, Alberman, Davidovitch.

Booked: Gershon, Benado, Ziv, Aouate.

Att: 85,372

Ref: Pieter Vink (Holland).

Newcastle United 1 v 0 Wigan Athletic

Saturday 1st September 2007

Newcastle United finished this game with their unbeaten Premiership start still intact, whilst Latics, shock horror, dropped to sixth place in the Premiership. Although it is fair to state that of the two teams the Geordies did deserve to run out winner, Latics boss Chris Hutchings will be furious with the referee, Steve Bennett, who sent off Kevin Kilbane for two innocuous challenges in the 41st and 46th minutes of the game, which effectively sealed his club's fate despite some resolute defending.

Before the game Hutchings raised a few eyebrows by leaving Luis Antonio Valencia out of the squad altogether, opting to play Michael Brown in midfield from the start for the first time this season. Up front Antoine Sibierski was deemed fit enough to start which meant that new loanee striker, Marcus Bent was left on the bench.

For the first fifteen minutes of the game it is fair to say that the Geordies dominated possession and goal scoring chances, indeed England hit man, Michael Owen, starting his first game of the season, thought he had scored in the 16th minute, but thankfully, the linesman raised his flag to indicate that both the striker and his partner, Mark Viduka, were in off side positions.

Two minutes later Latics had their first effort on goal. Jason Koumas struck a wonderful free kick from the edge of the hosts penalty area, only for Steve Harper to pull off one of the finest saves that anybody will witness this season. Newcastle were bhouyed by the wonder save and were unlucky that N'Zogbia and Viduka failed to capitalise on good goal scoring chances. On the half hour mark Hutchings was forced to take off the injured Denny Landzaat and replace him with Josip Skoko who was making his first Premiership start of the season.

Alan Smith was unlucky not to head the barcodes in front courtesy of a scissor kick and the Kilbane saw yellow when he put out a foot to stop N'Zogbia in his tracks, and then a minute later Kirkland pulled off a good save to deny Nicky Butt. Latics went in at half time relieved not to be at least two goals adrift but within a minute of the restart Kilbane was sent off when the referee deemed him to have head butted Smith as the pair challenged in the air for a loose ball. The decision was certainly a blow, considering, as well, that 'Killer' will now face a ban and he is covering as left back as the club do not currently have one on their books following the sale of Leighton Baines to Everton last month!

Emile Heskey picked up a 'sympathy' booking on behalf of his team mate and Sibierski was the other victin of the sending off as Hutchings had no choice but to bring on Emmerson Boyce in place of Kilbane who had trooped off the field in utter disbelief.

The Magpies then began to make their superiority tell and it is fair to say that the visitors were under the cosh for most of the remaining game. Just when it seemed that Latics would hold out up popped Owen to head past Kirkland, who up until then had had an outstanding game. In the final few minutes Heskey was unlucky not to put the ball in the net following a lovely Scharner free kick, but Harper flung himself at both the Latics hit man and the ball which then ballooned over the bar.

For the remainder of the game the Geordies kept possession well and were overjoyed when the final whistle was blown and it dawned on them that they had beaten ten-man WIGAN!

NEWCASTLE UNITED, Steven Harper, Steven Taylor, Claudio Cacapa, David Rohzenal, Geremi, Nicky Butt, Charles N'Zogbia, James Milner, Alan Smith, (Obafemi Martins 66), Mark Viduka, (Shola Ameobi 46), Michael Owen. Subs not used, Shay Given, David Edgar, Matty Pattison.

Goal scorer, Michael Owen 87 mins

Booked, Alan Smith 58 mins, Charles N'Zogbia 90 ins

WIGAN ATHLETIC, Chris Kirkland, Mario Melchiot, Andreas Granqvist, Titus Bramble, Kevin Kilbane, Michael Brown, Paul Scharner, Denny Landzaat, (Josip Skoko 29), Jason Koumas, (Marcus Bent 58), Emile Heskey, Antoine Sibierski, (Emmerson Boyce 48). Subs not used, Michael Pollitt, Julius Aghahowa.

Booked, Kevin Kilbane 42 mins, Emile Heskey 48 mins, Paul Scharner 61 mins, Michael Brown 78 mins

Sent Off, Kevin Kilbane 46 mins

Referee, Steve Bennett (Kent)

Attendance, 50, 461

West Ham United 1 v 1 Wigan Athletic

Saturday 25th August 2007

Wigan Athletic travelled to East London, knowing that they had never lost a Premiership fixture at the Boleyn Ground, and by the final whistle that proud record was still intact.

However, unlike the total annihilation of Roy Keane's Sunderland the previous week, this game was hard fought and in truth, Chris Hutchings' men travelled back to Wigan thankful of the point that ensured that they finished the day in third place in the Premiership.

Both managers resisted the urge to make changes to their teams, this meant that Latics midfielder Michael Brown had to be content with a place on the bench for the second consecutive game as Hutchings is a manager loathe to tinker with his starting eleven. His opposite number, Alan Curbishley did bring back Lucas Neill in place of Jonathan Spector who dropped to the bench, despite starting the Hammers' two previous Premiership games.

The Hammers started the game at a sun drenched Boleyn Ground in the ascendancy and Keiron Dyer in particular was in sparkling form, giving Jason Koumas and Kevin Kilbane plenty of problems, but despite Dyer's good crosses into the danger area neither Craig Bellamy or Bobby Zamora were able to take the chances that he created. Bellamy did have the ball in the net on the quarter hour mark but it was disallowed as Latics employed a pretty useful offside trap, a tactic that frustrated the Hammers quite a few times as Latics played to their defensive strengths for the majority of the game.

There was a scare for Latics on the half hour mark as Antoine Sibierski pulled up with what looked like a knee injury and within a few minutes Nigerian international striker, Julius Aghahowa made his third substitutes appearance of the season. How much longer do we have to wait to see his spectacular goal scoring celebrations in a competitive game?

For the remainder of the first half the hosts peppered the Latics penalty area but the defence held firm and Latics nearly took an undeserved lead when Koumas let fly with a thunderous 25 yard shot that cannoned of the West Ham post with Green totally beaten. Heskey then headed a Koumas cross over the bar and the half time whistle put a stop to the short spell of Latics pressure, much to the relief of the home supporters.

Neither manager decided to tinker with his side during the interval and Latics were thankful for their expertly crafted offside game when Dyer thought he had broken through just five minutes into the second period. Curbishley was as frustrated as the home fans as the game wore on and in the 60th minute he decided to bring on talisman striker Dean Ashton for Zamora just before Latics missed a glaring chance to take the lead. Just how Aghahowa and then Melchiot failed to score from almost point blank range is a mystery!

By now the Hammers were getting the jitters, despite their superiority with regards to possession and efforts on goal, you did sense that Latics did have a goal in them.

In the 78th minute it arrived, when Heskey flicked a Melchiot throw in to Scharner who reacted superbly, blasting the ball past Green courtesy of a beautiful over head kick, reminiscent of David Lowe's effort in the Freight Rover Trophy final in June 1985, and it was greeted by the Latics faithful congregated behind the opposite goal mouth with equally as much rapture.

The Boleyn Ground was silenced and if Latics could have hung on for five minutes the game was won, although in truth, they didn't deserve it. However, Hammers substitute Lee Bowyer, on the field for Hayden Mullins, latched on to a through ball by the other Hammers sub, Ashton, and gleefully equalised with a well struck shot into Kirkland's bottom corner.

From then on, the game swung from end to end and Bowyer in particular was unlucky with a well struck long range effort late in the game, and it wouldn't be West Ham if they didn't try to cheat, would it?

With just a minute of the game remaining Dyer tried to con the referee into thinking that Titus Bramble had brought him down in the box. Luckily Andy Marriner saw the attempted scam for what it was and he whistled for the corner kick and not the penalty.

Latics were more than happy to hear the final whistle and in truth, this point could be vital when it comes to Latics' points tally with regards to attaining at least a UEFA Cup qualifying position come May!

WEST HAM UNITED, Robert Green, Matthew Upson, Anton Ferdinand, Lucas Neill, George McCartney, Mark Noble, Matthew Etherington, Keiron Dyer, Hayden Mullins, (Lee Bowyer 65), Craig Bellamy, (Luis Boa Morte 75), Bobby Zamora, (Dean Ashton 61). Subs not used, James Walker, Jonathan Spector.

Goal scorer, Lee Bowyer 81 mins

Booked, Matthew Upson 64 mins

WIGAN ATHLETIC, Chris Kirkland, Mario Melchiot, Andreas Granqvist, Titus Bramble, Kevin Kilbane, Luis Antonio Valencia, (Michael Brown 77), Paul Scharner, Denny Landzaat, Jason Koumas, Emile Heskey, Antoine Sibierski, (Julius Aghahowa 38). Subs not used, Mike Pollitt, Fitz Hall, Caleb Folan

Goal scorer, Paul Scharner 78 mins

Booked, Denny Landzaat 54 mins, Michael Brown 88 mins

Referee, Andy Marriner (West Midlands)

Attendance, 33,793

Wigan Athletic 3 v 0 Sunderland

Saturday 18th August 2007

Wigan Athletic finished this game at the summit of the Premier League. After what was a merciless destruction of media darling, Roy Keane's, expensively assembled flops, being the current best team in the land was just reward for a job that was very well done. Not content with that accolade, Antoine Sibierski ended the game as the Premiership's leading scorer as well!

Chris Hutching's side is now getting to grips with becoming an established Premiership outfit and their massacre of Sunderland, destined for the drop given this poor showing, showed Roy 'I will sign Leighton Baines, no matter what' Keane, the kind of team work, sublime skill and artistry that is needed to be a top flight team in this country.

To say that the blue and white clad Latics could have won this game by a landslide score is an under statement. If Sunderland had been a horse, they would have fallen at Beecher's Brook and would most certainly have been put down as early as half time, that is how bad Keane's charges were.

As early as the third minute Emile Heskey was brought down in the box with the goal at his mercy only for referee, Mike Riley to deny his penalty appeal. Mario Melchiot almost opened his Latics goal scoring account three minutes later.

Two more penalty appeals were given short shrift by Riley, who was probably feeling sorry for the shell shocked Black Cats, but there was no denying Heskey on the twenty minute mark when he latched on to a peach of a cross from Sibierski to slot past nine million pound Craig Gordon in the Sunderland goal. He was denied adding to his tally just 120 seconds later when he was adjudged to be offside by Riley, who must have seen something that the vast majority of people in the ground didn't!

From then on, Latics seemed to step up a gear, and the only surprise at half time was the 1-0 score line to the Latics.


Roy Keane had read the riot act to his inept team at half time had replaced Dwight Yorke and Anthony Stokes for Danny Collins and Liam Miller respectively. Hutchings was content to let his 'relegation certainties' (copyright all the so called professional pundits and national media) continue the obliteration of the poorest team to ever grace the JJB Stadium since Latics won promotion to the Premiership.

Sunderland's five million pound striker, Michael Chopra, actually managed a shot on target in the 53rd minute, but it came to nothing. Then the Black Cats had their most promising three minutes of the game when they won three successive corners, but their blatant lack of Premiership quality meant that nothing materialised from any of them.

Wigan Athletic then proceeded to put on the best football show seen at the JJB Stadium for many years. In the 61st minute midfielder Danny Collins resorted to thuggery to bring down Sibierski in the penalty area and Holland international, Denny Landzaat slotted the ball easily past a bemused Gordon.

Keane immediately brought on Russell Anderson for the woeful Paul McShane, then Dickson Etuhu was booked for a callous foul on Scharner before Anderson himself brought down Heskey in the penalty area in the 68th minute. Up popped Sibierski to become the Premiership's top scorer, courtesy of a well struck spot kick a minute later.

With the game won and Latics playing as though they were having a training session, Hutchings decided to bring on Julius Aghahowa for 'Le Sib' and Caleb Folan for Heskey. He even felt sorry for Michael Brown in the 82nd minute and decided to give him a run out in place of Scharner, to enable him to make his Latics Premiership debut.

By this time the 'finest supporters in the land' had left the JJB Stadium in droves, but in truth, you couldn't really blame them. Whether or not Latics will get any credit for this mind blowing display is open to debate. However, if you are a Latics fan reading this now...... are you bothered?

WIGAN ATHLETIC, Chris Kirkland, Mario Melchiot, Andreas Granqvist, Titus Bramble, Kevin Kilbane, Luis Antonio Valencia, Paul Scharner, (Michael Brown 83), Denny Landzaat, Jason Koumas, Emile Heskey, (Caleb Folan 78), Antoine Sibierski, (Julius Aghahowa 76). Subs not used, Mike Pollitt, Fitz Hall

Goal scorers, Emile Heskey 19 mins, Denny Landzaat (pen) 62 mins, Antoine Sibierski (pen) 69 mins

SUNDERLAND, Craig Gordon, Greg Halford, Nyron Nosworthy, Paul McShane, (Russell Anderson 62), Ross Wallace, Kieran Richardson, Dickson Etuhu, Dwight Yorke, (Danny Collins 46), Daryl Murphy, Michael Chopra, Anthony Stokes, (Liam Miller 46). Subs not used, Stern John, David Connolly.

Booked, Danny Collins 60 mins, Dickson Etuhu 65 mins

Referee, Mike Riley (West Yorkshire)

Attendance, 18,639

Wigan Athletic 1 v 0 Middlesbrough

Wednesday 15th August 2007

Wigan Athletic fans saw history made at the JJB Stadium during this game. When Antoine Sibierski scored what proved to be the winning goal in the 55th minute, he went down in history as the first ever Latics player to score on both his home and away Premiership debuts. Indeed, he is only the third player to achieve the feat since the Blues entered the Football League in 1978, following in the footsteps of Graeme Jones and Nathan Ellington.

Both managers, Chris Hutchings and Gareth Southgate, stuck mainly to the teams that were both beaten four days ago by Everton and Blackburn Rovers respectively. However, although Southgate named an identical line up, Hutchings opted to start with Antoine Sibierski up front in preference to Caleb Folan.

It is fair to say that the hosts dominated the vast majority of the game and the only surprise of the evening was that the men in blue and white stripes only won by a single goal. During the opening exchanges both Kevin Kilbane and Jason Koumas hit good efforts over the bar, whilst both Boro forwards, Yakubu and Jeremie Aliadiere, were not on the same wavelength for most of the game.

In the 24th minute Latics should have gone ahead and only a brilliant save by Mark Schwarzer in the Boro goal kept a Koumas free kick from blasting into the top corner of the net. By this time the Boro tackles were flying in thick and fast and referee, Steve Tanner, decided to produce the first card of the evening in the 37th minute for a rash challenge by Tuncay Sanli, who was having a wretched time coping with the pace of Koumas and Landzaat. Once again Koumas swung in the resultant free kick and was unlucky to see Andy Davies head the ball into touch.

The first half ended with Latics in the ascendancy, but they couldn't breach the Boro defence, having said that the Riverside Stadium outfit went into the dressing room relieved not to be at least a goal behind.

Neither manager made any changes at half time and almost immediately Latics went on the attack again. Koumas and Scharner had both missed long range efforts before Sibierski netted the winner in the 55th minute. Luis Antonio Valencia fired a speculative shot at Schwarzer, he failed to hold onto the ball and there was 'Le Sib' to poke home the historic goal, which as well as creating a personal record for the Frenchman, condemned Boro to their first ever Premiership defeat at the JJB Stadium.

From that moment on it's true to say that Latics had the upper hand and how Scharner failed to make the score 2-0 with almost the last kick of the game is a mystery!

WIGAN ATHLETIC, Chris Kirkland, Mario Melchiot, Andreas Granqvist, Titus Bramble, Kevin Kilbane, Luis Antonio Valencia, Paul Scharner, Denny Landzaat, Jason Koumas, Emile Heskey, Antoine Sibierski, (Julius Aghahowa 66). Subs not used, Mike Pollitt, Fitz Hall, David Cotterill, Josip Skoko,

Goal scorers, Antoine Sibierski 55 mins

Booked, Kevin Kilbane

MIDDLESBROUGH, Mark Schwarzer, Andrew Davies, Chris Riggott, David Wheater, Andrew Taylor, Tuncay Sanli, (Adam Johnson 71), George Boateng, Julio Arca, Stewart Downing, Jeremie Aliadiere, (Lee Cattermole 87) Yakubu, (Dong Gook-Lee 65). Subs not used, Brad Jones, Seb Hines.

Booked, Julio Arca, Adam Johnson, Tuncay Sanli

Referee, Steve Tanner (Somerset)

Attendance, 14,007

Everton 2 v 1 Wigan Athletic

Saturday 11th August 2007

Wigan Athletic opened up this season's Premiership campaign at a sun drenched Goodison Park just minutes after new boys Sunderland went to the Premiership summit following their home win against Tottenham Hotspur.

Everton boss, David Moyes decided to leave his summer recruits, Phil Jagielka and Steven Pienarr on the bench on the bench, whilst former Latics Leighton Baines was injured. In contract Latics boss, Chris Hutchings handed Premiership debuts to Mario Melchiot, Titus Bramble and Jason Koumas. Andreas Granqvist also made his first Premiership start under Hutchings, whilst Antoine Sibierski was on the bench.

The Toffee's started the game at full throttle with Mikel Arteta beginning to start what he was to do for most of the game, which was, run the show. And it was Arteta who created the first opening of the game in the sixth minute but his clever through ball was blasted over the bar by Leon Osman. Just a couple of minutes later Andy Johnson saw his shot go wide of the post as Latics just could not get into the game.

The central pairing of Granqvist and Bramble were being given the run around by a very lively Toffee's forward line, whilst all Latics had to show for their efforts in the first twenty five minutes of the game was a long range effort from Denny Landzaat.

In the 26th minute disaster struck for Latics when Granqvist faikled to get his head to a ball whipped into the box by Tony Hibbert. That wasn't a problem suffered by the alert Osman who looped the ball over the stranded Chris Kirkland in the Latics goal. On the half hour mark Bramble was lucky not to concede a penalty after a challenge on Arteta who was also giving Jason Koumas a torrid time in the middle of the park as well.

As the minutes started to tick away to the break the Latics faithful were fearing the worst and it came as a relief when the whistle blew for half time with Latics just suffering a one goal deficit. Such was Everton's dominance that a rasping 30 yard drive from Heskey, had it flown into the net with Tim Howard beaten, it would have been an injustice.

Both teams started the second period unchanged and finally Latics decided that it was time to take the game to Everton and began to show some attacking flair and Caleb Folan was was eventually crowded out by the Everyton defence as he ran at goal and Koumas delivered a beautiful corner kick onto Paul Scharner's head, but the ball went over the bar with Howard beaten.

On the hour mark Koumas unleashed a fearsome long range effort that went just inches over the bar. The Goodison crowd were finally being silenced as they sensed that Latics were finally starting to dominate proceedings.

In the 66th minute former Newcastle United star, Sibierski, was handed his Latics Premiership debut when he entered the field of play for the tiring Folan. Moyes decided to change things tactically on the 73rd minute and he gave a debut to new signing Pienarr with foal scorer Osman making way for him. For all Latics' attacking flair they still looked a bit dodgy at the back and they were punished when Everton seized on the problem when Victor Anichebe put the hosts 2-0 ahead with just fifteen minutes of the game remaining. Once again Granqvist was found wanting as Andy Johnson skipped past him to thread the ball to Anichebe who scored despite Brambles brave bid to clear the ball off the line.

However, if the Toffees thought that the game was won, they were forced into a rethink when debut boy Sibierski latched on to a nice through ball from Scharner and he gleefully slammed the ball past Howard. Alan Stubbs wasn't impressed as just a minute later he roughly challenged the Frenchman who thankfully, just picked himslef up, possibly sparing Stubbs from the referee, Mark Clattenburg's notebook.

To their credit, after conceding, Everton decided to play safe, passing the ball among themselves in their own half in preference to going for the killer third goal, that could possibly have left them exposed. Despite the best efforts of the Latics faithful to encourage their side the Toffee's were holding firm, and in truth possibly just deserved to take the three points that were on offer.

EVERTON, Tim Howard, Tony Hibbert, Joseph Yobo, Alan Stubbs, Joleon Lescott, Phil Neville, Lee Carsley, Leon Osman, (Steve Pienarr 73), Mikel Arteta, Andy Johnson, Victor Anichebe. Subs not used, John Ruddy, Phil Jagielka, Andy Van Der Meyde, Nuno Valente.

Goalscorer, Leon Osman 26 mins, Victor Anichebe 75 mins

WIGAN ATHLETIC, Chris Kirkland, Mario Melchiot, Andreas Granqvist, Titus Bramble, Kevin Kilbane, Luis Antonio Valencia, Paul Scharner, Denny Landzaat, Jason Koumas, Emile Heskey, Caleb Folan, (Antoine Sibierski 66). Subs not used, Mike Pollitt, Fitz Hall, Josip Skoko, Julius Aghahowa.

Goal scorers, Antoine Sibierski 80 mins

Referee, Mark Clattenburg (Co Durham)

Attendance, 39,220

Paul Jewell Resigns

Paul Jewell has resigned as Wigan boss - less than 24 hours after saving the Premiership club from relegation on the final day of the season.

Wigan confirmed to BBC North West that Jewell had left his post and they will hold a news conference at 1500 BST.

Jewell's exit comes after the drama of beating Sheffield United 2-1 on Sunday to ensure Wigan's top-flight status.

He has been linked to Manchester City, where manager Stuart Pearce could make way if a takeover of the club succeeds.

Jewell joined Wigan in June 2001 from Sheffield Wednesday.

606: DEBATE
Jewell deserves all the praise coming his way >>BW

He guided The Latics to the League One title in 2002-03 and in 2004-05 they finished runners-up to Sunderland in the Championship to reach the top flight for the first time in their history.

Under Jewell, Wigan surprised many pundits by surviving comfortably in their first season, finishing 10th and also reaching the Carling Cup final.

Previously, Jewell had taken Bradford into the Premiership where he masterminded a similar last-day survival for the Bantams.

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan offered Jewell a job for life at the JJB Stadium outfit last year but also said he would not stand in his manager's way if he had an offer from a bigger club.