Wigan Athletic 1 v 0 Portsmouth
3rd February 2007
Wigan Athletic looked a totally different team at the JJB Stadium against Portsmouth. They played with passion, commitment and enthusiasm as they silenced the Pompey chimes in epic fashion. A major contribution to this were the home debuts given out to strike pair Julius Aghahowa and Caleb Folan and the inspirational, true grit of Latics legend Lee McCulloch.
Another factor of this great victory were the fans who had turned out on a bitterly cold, foggy day to witness a team struggling at the foot of the table was nothing short of magnificent. They encouraged the team from the first whistle until the last and the atmosphere created by fans, determined to see their team through a difficult season, was brilliant. The players responded magnificently and the after match celebrations were a joy to behold. The players, and the 14.000 hard core Wigan fans celebrated together. It felt special.
Perusal of the team sheet before kick off held a surprise as Leighton Baines wasn't on it due to a training ground injury and his place on the left side of defence was taken by David Unsworth. As expected Nigerian international striker Aghahowa was given his debut, whilst Folan made his home debut as well. McCulloch had recovered from an injury picked up at Reading in mid week and if he was disappointed with missing out on a move to his dream club, Rangers, it certainly didn't show.
Before kick off there was a minutes silence impeccably observed by both sets of fans for Latics President Stan 'Mr Wigan Athletic' Jackson, who sadly passed away earlier in the week and hopefully he was looking down on one of the major loves of his life as they then commenced to tear Portsmouth to shreds.
Harry Redknapp had made three changes to the team that had drawn against Middlesbrough in midweek, dropping Djimi Traore, Matt Taylor and Gary O'Neill, replacing them with Noe Paramot, Richard Hughes and Rodolf Douala.
Portsmouth just didn't perform on the day and only two of their players, Sol Campbell and Linvoy Primus looking 'up for it'. As early as the fourth minute both Folan and McCulloch had had efforts on target. Two minutes later Emmerson Boyce did well to stop Benjani Mwaruwari from bearing down on goal, but after that it was all Latics. Aghahowa and Luis Antonio Valencia were causing all sorts of problems for Pompey and there was a major scare for goalkeeper David James who handled outside his box in the 24th minute, but referee Graham Poll, to James' relief, whistled for a Folan offside run instead which was the first offence.
By the half hour mark the pace of the game had slowed down a touch, but it was still Latics doing all the pressing for an elusive home goal. And in the 31st minute Folan saw himself through on goal with only James to beat, or so he thought. Just as he was about to pop the ball into the net Campbell made one of his trademark tackles to nick the ball from Folan's foot. The last fifteen minutes saw Latics roared on by the crowd as they assaulted the Pompey goal area, but all of the effort only resulted in a booking for the impressive Ryan Taylor just before Poll blew the half time whistle.
Half time brought news that both West Ham United and Charlton Athletic were losing and whether or not this gave Latics the jitters as the second half got underway is unknown. The second period was a more even affair, but you still sensed that Wigan had just enough to come out on top. There was a scare in the 48th minute when Taylor stopped the marauding Glen Johnson with a thunderous tackle. There was a collective sharp intake of breath from both the players and the crowd, to the relief of all Poll adjudged the tackle to be hard but fair saving Taylor the second yellow card.
England goalkeeper Chris Kirkland saved Taylor's bacon with five minutes of the second period played when he saved from Rodlof Douala who had ghosted pat Latics' right back as if he wasn't there. Redknapp made his first substitution two minutes later, replacing the ineffective Lauren with Lomana Lua Lua, but he too had little impact on a Latics defence that was as solid as a rock for the most part with Unsworth snuffing out every threat down the left flanks with ease.
With Taylor looking as though he was fearing the red card, Jewell decided to bring on Fitz Hall for Valencia on the hour mark, thus relieving Taylor from the risk of walking for a mistimed tackle and sticking him in midfield whilst Hall took on his defensive duties. Eight minutes later it was Hall who was instrumental in Latics taking the lead. The ball was played into the Pompey area and Hall laid off the ball for the incoming McCulloch who steamed onto the ball and lashed a superb shot past a helpless James. Three sides of the JJB ground erupted as the big Scot became the joint third highest JJB Stadium goal scorer, with 44 league goals to his name, behind Andy Liddell and Nathan Ellington. McCulloch clearly loves scoring past James as he has done it twice against him this season and also scored the winner at the City of Manchester Stadium last season!
Redknapp, who was getting more and more frustrated in his technical area brought on Andy Cole for Kanu in the 70th minute and then Matt Taylor for Noe Paramot three minutes later as he tried to claw something from the game. But it was still Latics who were creating the better chances with Aghahowa's pace a constant thorn in the Pompey sides. He was given a standing ovation when he was substituted by Andreas Johnasson after running himself into the ground with six minutes remaining, by which time Portsmouth were a well beaten team.
With West Ham United losing at Aston Villa, the result left Latics five points clear of them, with a game in hand. Add this to the fact that Charlton Athletic, Watford and Sheffield United were also beaten and you realise this was a very good day for all concerned at Wigan Athletic AFC.Stan, this one was for you!
WIGAN ATHLETIC, Chris Kirkland, Ryan Taylor, Emmerson Boyce, Matt Jackson, David Unsworth, Luis Antonio Valencia, (Fitz Hall 61), Josip Skoko, Denny Landzaat, Lee McCulloch, Caleb Folan, Julius Aghahowa, (Andreas Johansson 85). Subs not used, John Filan, Kristofer Haestad, Kevin Kilbane.
Goal scorer, Ryan Taylor 44 mins
Booked, Lee McColloch 68 mins
PORTSMOUTH, David James, Glen Johnson, Linvoy Primus, Noe Pamarot, (Matt Taylor 74), Lauren, (Lomana Lua Lua 52), Pedro Mendes, Richard Hughes, Rodolf Douala, Nwankwo Kanu, (Andy Cole 71), Benjani Mwaruwari Subs not used, Jamie Ashdown, Sean Davis.
Referee, Graham Poll (Hertfordshire)
Attendance, 15,093
Wigan Athletic looked a totally different team at the JJB Stadium against Portsmouth. They played with passion, commitment and enthusiasm as they silenced the Pompey chimes in epic fashion. A major contribution to this were the home debuts given out to strike pair Julius Aghahowa and Caleb Folan and the inspirational, true grit of Latics legend Lee McCulloch.
Another factor of this great victory were the fans who had turned out on a bitterly cold, foggy day to witness a team struggling at the foot of the table was nothing short of magnificent. They encouraged the team from the first whistle until the last and the atmosphere created by fans, determined to see their team through a difficult season, was brilliant. The players responded magnificently and the after match celebrations were a joy to behold. The players, and the 14.000 hard core Wigan fans celebrated together. It felt special.
Perusal of the team sheet before kick off held a surprise as Leighton Baines wasn't on it due to a training ground injury and his place on the left side of defence was taken by David Unsworth. As expected Nigerian international striker Aghahowa was given his debut, whilst Folan made his home debut as well. McCulloch had recovered from an injury picked up at Reading in mid week and if he was disappointed with missing out on a move to his dream club, Rangers, it certainly didn't show.
Before kick off there was a minutes silence impeccably observed by both sets of fans for Latics President Stan 'Mr Wigan Athletic' Jackson, who sadly passed away earlier in the week and hopefully he was looking down on one of the major loves of his life as they then commenced to tear Portsmouth to shreds.
Harry Redknapp had made three changes to the team that had drawn against Middlesbrough in midweek, dropping Djimi Traore, Matt Taylor and Gary O'Neill, replacing them with Noe Paramot, Richard Hughes and Rodolf Douala.
Portsmouth just didn't perform on the day and only two of their players, Sol Campbell and Linvoy Primus looking 'up for it'. As early as the fourth minute both Folan and McCulloch had had efforts on target. Two minutes later Emmerson Boyce did well to stop Benjani Mwaruwari from bearing down on goal, but after that it was all Latics. Aghahowa and Luis Antonio Valencia were causing all sorts of problems for Pompey and there was a major scare for goalkeeper David James who handled outside his box in the 24th minute, but referee Graham Poll, to James' relief, whistled for a Folan offside run instead which was the first offence.
By the half hour mark the pace of the game had slowed down a touch, but it was still Latics doing all the pressing for an elusive home goal. And in the 31st minute Folan saw himself through on goal with only James to beat, or so he thought. Just as he was about to pop the ball into the net Campbell made one of his trademark tackles to nick the ball from Folan's foot. The last fifteen minutes saw Latics roared on by the crowd as they assaulted the Pompey goal area, but all of the effort only resulted in a booking for the impressive Ryan Taylor just before Poll blew the half time whistle.
Half time brought news that both West Ham United and Charlton Athletic were losing and whether or not this gave Latics the jitters as the second half got underway is unknown. The second period was a more even affair, but you still sensed that Wigan had just enough to come out on top. There was a scare in the 48th minute when Taylor stopped the marauding Glen Johnson with a thunderous tackle. There was a collective sharp intake of breath from both the players and the crowd, to the relief of all Poll adjudged the tackle to be hard but fair saving Taylor the second yellow card.
England goalkeeper Chris Kirkland saved Taylor's bacon with five minutes of the second period played when he saved from Rodlof Douala who had ghosted pat Latics' right back as if he wasn't there. Redknapp made his first substitution two minutes later, replacing the ineffective Lauren with Lomana Lua Lua, but he too had little impact on a Latics defence that was as solid as a rock for the most part with Unsworth snuffing out every threat down the left flanks with ease.
With Taylor looking as though he was fearing the red card, Jewell decided to bring on Fitz Hall for Valencia on the hour mark, thus relieving Taylor from the risk of walking for a mistimed tackle and sticking him in midfield whilst Hall took on his defensive duties. Eight minutes later it was Hall who was instrumental in Latics taking the lead. The ball was played into the Pompey area and Hall laid off the ball for the incoming McCulloch who steamed onto the ball and lashed a superb shot past a helpless James. Three sides of the JJB ground erupted as the big Scot became the joint third highest JJB Stadium goal scorer, with 44 league goals to his name, behind Andy Liddell and Nathan Ellington. McCulloch clearly loves scoring past James as he has done it twice against him this season and also scored the winner at the City of Manchester Stadium last season!
Redknapp, who was getting more and more frustrated in his technical area brought on Andy Cole for Kanu in the 70th minute and then Matt Taylor for Noe Paramot three minutes later as he tried to claw something from the game. But it was still Latics who were creating the better chances with Aghahowa's pace a constant thorn in the Pompey sides. He was given a standing ovation when he was substituted by Andreas Johnasson after running himself into the ground with six minutes remaining, by which time Portsmouth were a well beaten team.
With West Ham United losing at Aston Villa, the result left Latics five points clear of them, with a game in hand. Add this to the fact that Charlton Athletic, Watford and Sheffield United were also beaten and you realise this was a very good day for all concerned at Wigan Athletic AFC.Stan, this one was for you!
WIGAN ATHLETIC, Chris Kirkland, Ryan Taylor, Emmerson Boyce, Matt Jackson, David Unsworth, Luis Antonio Valencia, (Fitz Hall 61), Josip Skoko, Denny Landzaat, Lee McCulloch, Caleb Folan, Julius Aghahowa, (Andreas Johansson 85). Subs not used, John Filan, Kristofer Haestad, Kevin Kilbane.
Goal scorer, Ryan Taylor 44 mins
Booked, Lee McColloch 68 mins
PORTSMOUTH, David James, Glen Johnson, Linvoy Primus, Noe Pamarot, (Matt Taylor 74), Lauren, (Lomana Lua Lua 52), Pedro Mendes, Richard Hughes, Rodolf Douala, Nwankwo Kanu, (Andy Cole 71), Benjani Mwaruwari Subs not used, Jamie Ashdown, Sean Davis.
Referee, Graham Poll (Hertfordshire)
Attendance, 15,093
Labels: Wigan vrs Portsmouth
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