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