COLUMNIST KEN BUCKLEY

From my seat: Wigan (A)

The Poor Pinks Pay the Penalty

On a lovely warm and sunny afternoon that saw some 4/5 thousand Blues descend on Wigan determined to have a good time left with a feeling of ?our lads were not at it? and certainly let them know.

On arriving at the ground we made our way to the Marquee which is much touted by Wigan as exclusively for away fans only to be turned away as it had been handed over for corporate guests. So over to the Red Robin it was. One day soon the fashion status of football will wane and the peasants (If any left) will once again be wooed. It was great sitting out in the sunshine though in the company of what seemed like a thousand Blues.

On to the ground and battle commenced and Wigan desperate for points started much the brighter as first McCarthy then Rodallega threatening. Wigan?s first sorties were seen off then we had a spell but the ball always seemed to end up with Victor who frustrated the faithful with his weak antics time and again. On twenty minutes we gave them the first goal of the game when first Rodwell made no attempt to close down and allowed his man to chip the ball into the box.

More comedy, Howard forced N?Zogbia wide, he fell over, Howard seemed to flap and dance for no particular reason and N?Zogbia picked himself up and curled the ball around the hopelessly out of position keeper and we were one down. Unbelievable. Not one other player had gone to close down N?Zogbia. The faithful assembled were not amused.

Wigan now had something to hold on to and immediately went two banks of four and defended deeper. We tried to make amends and Osman had one tipped over by the keeper and Baines had a dangerous cross headed over his own bar by a defender but the corner came to nought.

Then on 35mins we get a free kick which Baines shaped to cross but instead played it short to Osman who was felled in the corner of the box, a nailed on penalty. ?Come on Bainsey lad? yelled the faithful but it was the anonymous Arteta who pulled rank and duly stepped up and passed the ball back to the keeper who palmed it away when he could easily have caught it. The whole North stand was incandescent with rage. The Wigan crowd then burst into life and the irritating drummer irritated some more and they sang a ditty regarding our support which we countered with a strong rendition of ?You?ve only got one fan?.

Wigan attacked again and on the cusp of half time Howard parried well from N?Zogbia.
H/T whistle and the Pinks were booed off by a large section of those gathered with Arteta, Cahill and Anichebe taking the brunt of the bile.

The second half started with no changes made by the Pinks and we were soon under pressure as Jags made a poor clearance and Howard made a good block from a Moses shot and shortly after the same player shot and Howard tipped over. We did our best to respond but with only Osman showing anything like the craft and guile needed to break down packed defences we were finding it hard. Cahill and Arteta were anonymous and Anichebe played like he wasn?t to bothered and all three were getting more and more abuse as the faithful ran out of patience with their efforts.

Then just after the hour mark the manager hooked both returning stars Cahill and Arteta replacing them with Beckford and Coleman. In truth neither would shine and still it was left to Osman to lift our crowd and the fact Anichebe was left on started getting under many a skin.

Jags had a chance from a deep Baines cross at the far post but the ball seemed to hit the keeper?s leg and rebound onto a post and out for a corner. From that corner a Wigan players hand went up and made contact with the ball. Penalty yelled the faithful, the ref agreed and with Arteta safely in the dressing room up stepped Baines. Their number 5 tried to unsettle him but Baines just stepped up on the whistle and the net almost came off as did the roof of the North stand. Could we now push on for a winner?

Well the manager on 80mins did take off the unpopular Anichebe and introduce Gueye but we could not fashion much at all and indeed it was Wigan who finished stronger and Howard had a series of saves that kept us on terms. He saved twice from I think Rodallega and then beat away a close range drive and finally held a dangerous cross shot. MotM Osman with Howard a close second.

Overall a disappointing performance. At times we played like strangers . The back five were adequate but further forward only Osman looked to have anything about him and left the big names Arteta, Cahill and Rodwell looking decidedly second best. I heard it said that both Arteta and Cahill were not yet fit but were getting some game time. Well in my book that is not good enough.

It costs us a fortune following the team and the least we can expect is that the players taking the field are fit to run around and try, Rusty after injury I can take but unfit and in the team to get game time is hard to take at this level. Three games to go until season end and I am hoping, no, expecting three displays that show respect to their loyal fans. Sadly at the moment we have players who are just not good enough and some others who think they are better than they really are. Much for board and manager to ponder in the summer.

Still we have all renewed and will be back for more. Suckers for punishment or are we indeed unique.
See you Saturday to thrash the City ? Well maybe!
UP THE BLUES

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