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).
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).
Labels: Wigan vrs City
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