COLUMNIST KEN BUCKLEY

From my seat: Wigan (A)

By Ken Buckley   ::  04/02/2012 Another Howard howler has us on the back foot but Big Vic rose to rescue a point when, after such gritty and determined displays against both Fulham and City were set aside, we played as though it was our right to win and the build up play was so slow it gave Wigan a lift.

After beating the top side and entertaining so many Blues, even the manager joined in and expressed his new-found belief and confidence as we went to bottom side Wigan. But instead of going at it as we had v City, we went all tippy tappy and paid a price of two points.


The team as announced showed changes from a successful night v City. Distin returned and replaced Hibbert who moved sideways and replaced Neville and the prodigal son replaced Drenthe. Was that the right thing to do after our super night v City? Well the man who is payed a fortune to decide these things thought it was.

From the off, I thought we were to deliberate in our build up which in turn gave Wigan time to regroup. Pienaar proved this beyond doubt when he beat three men in impressive fashion but he took so long in making the pass to La Traca that the Argentine was left offside by a simple walk forward by Wigan defenders.

Not a lot was happening despite some good work by Fellaini who won his fair share of ball and was always available to receive the ball. He played both Donovan and Pienaar in down both flanks but resultant play was mostly stifled as players took too long on the ball and we got nowhere. Wigan took heart and gave us a fright when a long ball found Di Santo who was through but thwarted by the feet of Howard.

As the half was meandering toward the whistle we did have one good move of pace that saw Baines race to the by line and pull a delightful ball back for Gibson. We all held our breath, last week?s hero, the man with the reputation for having dynamite in his boots this time hit it unconvincingly high and wide.

H/T and most of the chat was about how we looked a pale shadow of our swashbuckling selves from the last two matches but most thought we could still sort it second half and it was unanimous that the new lad Jelavic should be introduced.

There was a change at the start of the second half but it was Neville replacing Cahill who I presume must have been injured. It does make you think though, a full back who can play mid-field on for the second striker. It would be nice if sometimes a manager could let us fans in on the secret of such manoeuvres. We played ok but much in the vein of the first half, slow, but we did get the ball wide and Donovan and Pienaar looked to make things happen but there was just no ?get up and go? about it all.

With the number of travelling Blues in attendance and the sparcity of Wigan fans it was akin to a home match and the travelling faithful upped the ante and on the hour mark a tremendous reception was heard as our new striker Jelavic replaced La Traca who in truth had looked no more than a real trier. He was soon in the action as the impressive Hibbert got forward yet again and put in a decent cross which our new man stepped over with the intention of leaving Fellaini with a tap in, unfortunately there was a Wigan player between the two of them and a promising raid was lost.

Fellaini was now orchestrating most things and Pienaar and Baines were trying to replicate the moves of a season gone by but each time it seemed too much time was taken before a decisive pass could be mustered. We were on top and Wigan were looking less and less a danger that is until Neville and Howard took a hand in proceedings or in Howard?s case he did not put a hand to proceedings.

On 75mins Wigan?s new man Beausejour crossed hard and low, Neville swung a boot at it and diverted the ball at Howard who somehow allowed a ball that admittedly changed course as it hit the turf to go past him and into the net. Players and fans alike were stunned. I expect many an excuse will be offered but from my seat that ball was well within the reach of a hand that could and should have at least pushed the ball away from goal as it was he looked most un-coordinated. As good a keeper as Howard mostly is, he does seem to have these moments of madness in him.

1-0 down and stalemate on the bench until some five minutes had passed when a flurry of activity took place, the upshot being that on 80mins Big Vic replaced Hibbert with Neville going to right-back. If he wasn?t considered good enough to start there why not just swap him with Vic? However the sub was fruitful for the manager as with just a couple of minutes of coming on Big Vic was in the right place after an initial corner from the right taken by Baines was not the best but it was returned to him and his second effort was much better and on the money to be headed majestically home by our super-sub.

The half came to an end and even with 5mins of injury time neither side could capitalise on breaks.

MotM --- Fellaini.

Overall a wet and cold day out and nowhere near as enjoyable as last Tuesday but a chance to see our new recruits. It is far too early to judge any of them but my take today was that Gibson has a lot of sharpening up to do, Jelavic was as you would expect in his first game a bit lost and bemused and Pienaar was as he left us, full of enterprise and a keen eye for link up play yet as I remember him last time never the type to burst into the box and be right involved at the sharp end. Still Baines seemed pleased to have him back as he had quite a few gallops to the by-line. Was it just me or where we too preoccupied that now we have options within the squad we started the tippy tappy stuff with no cutting edge in favour of the get up and go of our previous two games? I am sure there is a very good team waiting to click but on today?s evidence they must incorporate a much greater tempo to the play.

Chelsea next and despite their wealth I believe we have a team to tame them at a noisy Goodison. I just hope for a team that believes that, and gives it a right go at the right tempo. Wouldn?t it be great to beat the two teams bankrolled by bottomless money pit benefactors in consecutive home games. I will see you there to find out.
UP THE BLUES

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