COLUMNIST KEN BUCKLEY

From my seat: Wigan (a)

By Ken Buckley :  20/01/2008 :  Comments (14) :

To see us lead 2-0 at the break was remarkable as Wigan had started at a high tempo and pegged us back to such an extent that 'One up front' was a reality. It took to the quarter-hour mark for us to have our first shot, which passed over the bar from Carsley. Wigan, for all their pressing, could not find a telling pass against a determined and resolute defence.

There was no doubt that Wigan were the better side to date and first Bent had a free header excellently tipped onto the bar and scrambled away, then Valencia had a goalbound effort thwarted by Cahill throwing his body in the way.

Bruce must have wondered when, not if, a goal would come and he must have been devastated when on the 40-minute mark it came to the Blues. Cahill and Arteta between them won the ball in midfield and the Spaniard played the channel ball for the 'One up front'. Bramble got there first and in attempting a routine pass to his keeper made a complete hash by under hitting it. AJ didn't need any encouragement and ran on toward the keeper and at the right moment fired past him into the net. Wild cheers and celebration but you could not help but think that was against the run of play.

More was to come when a corner from Arteta caused an almighty melee at the near post and with the ball ricocheting Lescott quietly pulled away to the back post in top striker mode and surely enough the ball squirmed through to that area and he smashed home from four yards.

Half-time: outplayed and two up... you didn't know what to make of it!

The start of the second half saw us the more likely and about ten minutes in Wigan made a double change as they were awarded a free kick. Koumas was one of the subs and he took the kick; it looked routine for Howard to clear out but he seemed to hesitate and ended up flapping at it and missing the ball the next thing you knew it was in the back of our net (Jags own-goal) but really it should have been dealt with by the keeper and for the second time in three games he has dithered in making the decision to come or stay.

We didn't look so composed now and Wigan had a 10-minute spell that had us right on the back-foot and finding it difficult to get out. We then got a bit more of a grip in midfield and it became a more end-to-end contest and Osman should have done better by his standard with a curler that went just wide with the keeper beaten.

Wigan pressed hard to gain an equalizer and pushed us back again so with 20 minutes to go the manager swopped Neville for Vaughan and went 4-4-2 which certainly occupied their defence more and with their eager running of the channels took some pressure off and we didn't have a further scare until the dying moments when Bent skied when in a good possition.

I could not offer a Man of the Match in this game as on such a pitch all semblence of pretty football and silky pass-and-move had to replaced with grit, determination and sheer effort and every player played his part in putting in workman-like shifts.

Overall I thought the manager picked the right team and tactics to suit even though we didn't get the glimpse of Manny that we had hoped for.

I think most Blues will take today's three points and not worry to much over the niceties of the beautiful game. Having played in such conditions I hope good and speedy recoveries are made so that we may have a cracking night on Wednesday. UP THE BLUES

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