Wigan Athletic 0 v 2 Everton
22nd January 2007
A very ordinary looking Everton team came away from the JJB Stadium with their first ever league win over a sorry Wigan Athletic side that looks destined for the drop.
Over fourteen thousand Wiganer's in attendance could not believe the third rate football put on show, which consisted purely of long balls punted forward to the front men who were easily marshalled by the Toffee's back four. The team looked incompetent from start to finish and it was only in the third minute of stoppage time that Everton goalkeeper, Tim Howard had to make a save.
Emile Heskey was just about the only player to emerge from this shambles with any credit, although he hardly set the game alight, however, in his defence there wasn't a ball played to his feet throughout the 96 minutes that the game was played. Lee McCulloch looked to have his mind more focussed on how Rangers were getting on and looking forward to teaming up with his mate Barry Ferguson in the next few days and Fitz Hall was, well, Fitz Hall.
The Latics team line up was somewhat surprising as both the new Scandinavian signings (touted as the club's saviours) were not featured, although Andreas Granqvist did make it onto the bench. David Unsworth though became the mainstay of the back four despite being signed 'just in case'! There was a welcome return to first team duty from Luis Antonio Valencia who did reasonably well despite having to be replaced with David Cotterill late in the second half due to tiredness creeping into his game.
The score line suggests that a decent Everton side overcame stubborn little Wigan, but this is far from the truth. Everton's first goal came courtesy of a well struck Mikel Arteta penalty in the 65th minute, and that was Everton's first shot on target. The Toffee's had lost Andy Johnson just five minutes earlier due to injury and this should have been seized on by Latics as some sort of incentive to inflict some damage on Everton, but it wasn't to be because the team, as stated by Denny Landzaat this season, is unable to play the ball on the ground. The second Arteta goal came in the ...
(go on, have a guess, which minute it came in!).
One pleasing aspect of the game was the introduction of Ryan Taylor who combined well with David Cotterill on the right hand side of the park, and if the team can just muster a win from somewhere, perhaps the fans would see them playing with a lot more confidence and self belief. At the very worst, at least Latics will have a decent right sided pairing in the Championship next season.
Paul Jewell needs fresh blood in the team now to avoid the drop, it is as simple as that. The Wigan fans, who have been subject to a few verbal attacks from their own club this season should be applauded to turn up in their thousands to watch this dross being served up as football.
WIGAN ATHLETIC, Chris Kirkland, Emmerson Boyce, Fitz Hall, (Ryan Taylor 65), David Unsworth, Leighton Baines, Luis Antonio Valencia, (David Cotterill 78), Josip Skoko, Denny Landzaat, Kevin Kilbane, Emile Heskey, Lee McCulloch. Subs not used, John Filan, Andreas Granqvist, Andreas Johnasson.
EVERTON, Tim Howard, Phil Neville, Joseph Yobo, Alan Stubbs, Joleon Lescott, Mikel Arteta, Leon Osman, Lee Carsley, Tim Cahill, (James Beattie 88), Simon Davies, Andy Johnson, (Victor Anichebe 60). Subs not used, Richard Wright, Andy Van Der Meyde, Allesandro Pistone.
Goal scorer, Mikel Arteta (pen) 65 mins, 90 mins
Referee, Howard Webb (South Yorkshire)
Attendance, 18, 149
A very ordinary looking Everton team came away from the JJB Stadium with their first ever league win over a sorry Wigan Athletic side that looks destined for the drop.
Over fourteen thousand Wiganer's in attendance could not believe the third rate football put on show, which consisted purely of long balls punted forward to the front men who were easily marshalled by the Toffee's back four. The team looked incompetent from start to finish and it was only in the third minute of stoppage time that Everton goalkeeper, Tim Howard had to make a save.
Emile Heskey was just about the only player to emerge from this shambles with any credit, although he hardly set the game alight, however, in his defence there wasn't a ball played to his feet throughout the 96 minutes that the game was played. Lee McCulloch looked to have his mind more focussed on how Rangers were getting on and looking forward to teaming up with his mate Barry Ferguson in the next few days and Fitz Hall was, well, Fitz Hall.
The Latics team line up was somewhat surprising as both the new Scandinavian signings (touted as the club's saviours) were not featured, although Andreas Granqvist did make it onto the bench. David Unsworth though became the mainstay of the back four despite being signed 'just in case'! There was a welcome return to first team duty from Luis Antonio Valencia who did reasonably well despite having to be replaced with David Cotterill late in the second half due to tiredness creeping into his game.
The score line suggests that a decent Everton side overcame stubborn little Wigan, but this is far from the truth. Everton's first goal came courtesy of a well struck Mikel Arteta penalty in the 65th minute, and that was Everton's first shot on target. The Toffee's had lost Andy Johnson just five minutes earlier due to injury and this should have been seized on by Latics as some sort of incentive to inflict some damage on Everton, but it wasn't to be because the team, as stated by Denny Landzaat this season, is unable to play the ball on the ground. The second Arteta goal came in the ...
(go on, have a guess, which minute it came in!).
One pleasing aspect of the game was the introduction of Ryan Taylor who combined well with David Cotterill on the right hand side of the park, and if the team can just muster a win from somewhere, perhaps the fans would see them playing with a lot more confidence and self belief. At the very worst, at least Latics will have a decent right sided pairing in the Championship next season.
Paul Jewell needs fresh blood in the team now to avoid the drop, it is as simple as that. The Wigan fans, who have been subject to a few verbal attacks from their own club this season should be applauded to turn up in their thousands to watch this dross being served up as football.
WIGAN ATHLETIC, Chris Kirkland, Emmerson Boyce, Fitz Hall, (Ryan Taylor 65), David Unsworth, Leighton Baines, Luis Antonio Valencia, (David Cotterill 78), Josip Skoko, Denny Landzaat, Kevin Kilbane, Emile Heskey, Lee McCulloch. Subs not used, John Filan, Andreas Granqvist, Andreas Johnasson.
EVERTON, Tim Howard, Phil Neville, Joseph Yobo, Alan Stubbs, Joleon Lescott, Mikel Arteta, Leon Osman, Lee Carsley, Tim Cahill, (James Beattie 88), Simon Davies, Andy Johnson, (Victor Anichebe 60). Subs not used, Richard Wright, Andy Van Der Meyde, Allesandro Pistone.
Goal scorer, Mikel Arteta (pen) 65 mins, 90 mins
Referee, Howard Webb (South Yorkshire)
Attendance, 18, 149
Labels: Wigan vrs Everton
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