BOLTON WANDERERS v WIGAN ATHLETIC PREVIEW

FA Barclays Premier League

Wednesday 5 January 2011

Kick Off:  2000

Not the game Roberto Martinez would have picked to try and get Wigan’s season back on track.

After Sunday’s deflating home loss to Newcastle the Spaniard knew tonight’s tough trip to the Reebok was crucial to try and get back to winning ways.

Owen Coyle has turned Bolton into European contenders since his arrival from Burnley last season and, with Latics’ inconsistency leaving them periously close to the drop zone,  tonight’s derby assumed more importance than normal.

The home side are without Lee, Gardner and Samuel while Latic’s are still without the injured Victor Moses and Franco Di Santo, and the suspended Charles N’Zogbia. They will also miss the services of on-loan Ali Al Habsi who is ineligible to play against his parent club.

Referee: Phil Dowd

 Latics: Kirkland; Gohouri, Alcaraz, Caldwell G, Thomas, Watson, Cleverley, McArthur, Rodallega, Stam, Figueroa

Subs: Pollitt; Gomez, Caldwell S, Diame, López, McManaman, Robinson

Bolton: Jaaskelainen; Robinson, Cahill, Muamba, Taylor, Elmander, Knight, Davies K, Davies M, Ricketts, Rodrigo

Subs: Bogdan; Petrov, Blake, Alonso

WIGAN ATHLETIC 0 - 1 NEWCASTLE UNITED - REPORT

WIGAN ATHLETIC 0 – 1  NEWCASTLE UNITED

                                                         Ameobi 19

Would the real Newcastle United please stand-up? Four defeats in four previous visits to the DW Stadium and five defeats in eight games did not bode well for Alan Pardew’s men as they travelled down to Lancashire.

Yet when Howard Webb blew the final whistle Newcastle had beaten their hosts and moved themselves into the heady heights of mid-table security.

Both teams were desperate for victory to get some much needed breathing space from the relegation zone and Wigan, who were coming off an impressive draw against Arsenal on Wednesday night, knew victory would move them above their visitors in the table.

The home side were without the suspended Charles N’Zogbia after his petulant dismissal against Arsenal while Alan Pardew was without the services of top scorer Andy Carroll who damaged a thigh in the game against Tottenham.

Kevin Nolan returned for the visitors after serving a one match ban while Wigan welcomed new signing Adrián López into their squad.

The game started in blistering fashion and many supporters were still taking their seats when Shola Ameobi wasted a glorious opportunity to open the scoring after heading an inch perfect cross from Danny Simpson well wide.

Moments later it was the home side’s turn to threaten when Tom Cleverley had Steve Harper scrambling across his goal to palm his 25 yard effort just wide of the far post.

Any worries there may have been of a cautious game were soon forgotten as both sides pushed forward looking to break the deadlock which made for an entertaining start to the contest.

Cleverley again came close to scoring in the 15^th minute when he volleyed over after some good work by Momo Diame on the left flank for Wigan.

Soon after though the home side found themselves behind after Latics right back Steve Gohouri was dispossessed by Joey Barton who then burst into the area to strike a low shot past Ali Al Habsi. The ball cannoned off the post straight into the path of an unmarked Ameobi who stroked it past the keeper.

Wigan were stunned to conceed and Newcastle began to take control of the game, with the excellent Joey Barton and Cheik Tiote running riot in the centre of the park, Barton again going close on the half hour only for Ben Watson to clear for Wigan.

The creativity and speed of the suspended Charles N’Zogbia was sorely missed by the home team as Hugo Rodellega cut an isolated figure trying to lead the Wigan front line.

Rodellega and Gohouri were both guilty of wasting a great opportunity to level when they failed to capitalize on a loose ball which had been headed off the post by Gary Caldwell.

The home side began to apply more pressure before the break but almost conceded again when Jonas Gutierrez was sent clear only for Al Habsi to produce a great save.

Roberto Martinez looked a frustrated figure as his side’s lacklusture performance led to them going into the break a goal down and desperate for a way back into the contest.

The second half started better for the home side with the introduction of James McArthur adding some much needed spark in a midfield that had been second best for the first 45 minutes.

Tom Cleverley and Hugo Rodellega both started to see more of the ball as Latics surged forward in search of an equalizer, with Ronnie Stam also a threat marauding down the flanks.

As the half wore on Newcastle looked content to sit tight and protect their one goal lead, against the least-potent side in the league, with Pardew’s men looking to hit Wigan on the counter attack.

Wigan huffed and puffed but in truth failed to create any clear opportunites in the final third of the Newcastle half.  It was the visitors who almost doubled their lead when Steven Taylor headed a Barton free kick onto Latics’ crossbar in the 67^th minute.

Joey Barton incensed the home support in the closing minutes of the game after his strong challenge left McArthur in a crumpled heap on the ground. The crowd bayed for a red card but Howard Webb let Barton off with a caution.

The manner of Wigan’s defeat will give Roberto Martinez cause for concern as his team rarely looked like getting back on equal terms with the visitors and now face a tough battle for survival starting with the derby against Bolton on Wednesday night.

Newcastle on the other hand move up to tenth place and, more importantly give themselves a six point cushion from the relegation places.

Referee: Howard Webb

Attendance: 15,277

Teams:

Wigan:Al Habsi, Gohouri, Alcaraz, Caldwell (Capt), Thomas (McArthur 45), Watson, Gomez (Boselli 59), Cleverley, Rodallega, Diame, Stam (McManaman 83).
Subs: Pollitt, Boselli, S. Caldwell, McArthur, Lopez, Gigueroa, McManaman.

Newcastle: Harper, Coloccini, Enrique, Nolan (Capt) (Smith 85), Barton, Lovenkrands (Routledge 69), Simpson, Gutierrez, Ameobi (Best 76), Tiote, Taylor.
Subs: Krul, Williamson, Routledge, Perch, Smith, Best, Ranger.

WIGAN ATHLETIC V NEWCASTLE UNITED PREVIEW

Barclays Premier League

Sunday 2 January 2011

WIGAN ATHLETIC   V    NEWCASTLE UNITED

DW Stadium

Kick Off: 1600

Wigan go into today’s game against Newcastle knowing a victory would move them above the visitors and give them some breathing space from the drop zone.

Roberto Martinez’ men hope to build on the impressive mid-week display against Arsenal but will be without influential forward Charles N’Zogbia who starts a three-game ban following his red card against the Gunners.

Paraguayan defender Antolin Alcaraz will also face a late fitness test and is rated as doubtful but Latics could include new signing Adrián López in their squad.

The visitors look certain to be without star striker Andy Carroll who suffered a thigh strain in Tuesday’s defeat at Tottenham.

Carroll has scored six goals in his last nine games for the magpies and his absence will be a major blow as Alan Pardew’s men look to gain their first away points since the start of November.

On a brighter note for Pardew, influential captain Kevein Nolan is back for Newcastle after serving a one-match suspension.


The magpies will look to end a four-match losing streak at the DW Stadium but Wigan are in impressive form of late and are unbeaten in six on their home patch.

Referee: Howard Webb

Last League Starting Line-Ups:

Wigan (D 2-2 v Arsenal, h): Al Habsi, Stam (Figueroa 85), Gary Caldwell, Alcaraz, Gohouri, Thomas, Diame (McArthur 72), Cleverley, Watson, N'Zogbia, Rodallega. Subs not used: Pollitt, Boselli, Steven Caldwell, Gomez, McManaman.

Newcastle (L 0-2 v Tottenham, a): Krul, Coloccini, Steven Taylor, Perch, Tiote (Lovenkrands 79), Barton, Routledge, Simpson, Smith, Gutierrez (Ranger 67), Carroll. Subs not used: Harper, Williamson, Xisco, Best, Kadar.

CITY BATTLE TO WIN

MANCHESTER CITY 1 - 0 BLACKPOOL
A Johnson 34

City went into today’s game knowing a win would keep pressure on table toppers United and be a perfect start to the a year that promises so much.

2011 could be an historic season for Roberto Mancini's men as they look to end the club's 34 year hunt for silverware but Blackpool would provide a much sterner test than that of  pitiful Aston Villa who were humiliated here at Eastlands on Boxing Day.

The Italian was without the injured Mario Balotelli but top scorer and captain Carlos Tevez came back into the City starting line-up after sitting out the Villa game.

After demolishing the Midlands side  4-0 on Tuesday the home side started this game with the same intensity and Tevez almost broke the deadlock in the first minute when the normally reliable Charlie Adam passed the ball straight to the Argentine's feet..

Tevez controlled the ball with glee and burst into the area only to see his jinking run end with a shot that whistled just past Richard Kingston's far post.

City continued to apply pressure with a verve that will have pleased the manager after criticism of his defensive home tactics, the excellent David Silva was majestic playing the supporting role to Tevez and his pin-point passing and movement left Blackpool on the back foot - reduced to playing on the break.

Despite their slow start to the game, the visitors almost silenced the home support when a magnificent long range pass from Adam found Gary Taylor-Fletcher in acres of space on the right. He managed to cut into the area but ran into a mass of blue shirts with Vincent Kompany clearing the danger for the home side.


Soon after Taylor-Fletcher again caused panic among the blue faithful when a powerful strike forced Joe Hart into a spectacular save.

City soon regained the initiative though as Adam Johnson  terrorized the Blackpool defenders with a number of jinking runs down both fkanks as he looked to justify his starting place in Mancini’s star-studded line-up.

Ian Holloways men were struggling to cope with the blues’ movement and the home side eventually broke their resolve in the 33^rd minute when the seasiders failed to clear a City corner and Johnson rasped a 35 yard strike past the hapless Kingston.


The ball looked to take a slight deflection off Stephen Crainey which wrong footed the keeper but the City winger will surely be claiming it for himself.

Blackpool had little time to regain their composure when ref Mark Clattenberg pointed to the spot after Yaya Toure was bundled down in the area by Luke Varney in what can only be described as a ‘forwards challenge’.

A two goal lead would surely have ended the contest but Carlos Tevez stepped up to blast his spot-kick wide of the post and let the visitors off the hook.

Despite the disappointment, the home side continued to pile on the pressure but Blackpool managed to hold on until the break.

City continued their dominance in the second half with both Nigel de Jong and David Silva both going close but the visitors hung in and looked to hit the home side on the break.

Roberto Mancini was given an injury concern in the 63^rd minute when the Silva hobbled off to be replaced by James Milner and the Italian will hope his midfield maestro will be fit for the trip to Arsenal on Wednesday night.

Despite their continued pressure the home side still found the second goal hard to come by as Ian Holloway’s men dug in and defended well, frustrating the home support and giving the seasiders continued hope that they could get something from the game.

The introduction of Matty Phillips by Holloway brought some success for the visitors and he became a thorn in the side of first Kolarov and then substitute Pablo Zabaleta.

In the 70^th minute Tevez again broke clear of the Blackpool defence and rounded the keeper only to lose his footing and waste another opportunity.

Roberto Mancini was becoming increasingly animated on the touchline as he saw chance after chance go begging, including another golden opportunity for Carlos Tevez who blasted a shot wide of Kingston’s goal after good work on the left by Milner.

Anxiety began to spread around the home support as Blackpool sensed they might be able to snatch an unlikely point from a game in which they had battled bravely in but had been largely outplayed by their hosts.

The visitors began to push forward in search of an equalizer but left themselves exposed at the back in a game that was becoming increasingly open.

Carlos Tevez cut a frustrated figure as he battled and schemed but just couldn’t get the elusive second goal for the blues.

The game finally finished with City taking all three points but Roberto Mancini will be frustrated at the number of chances that his side wasted – misses which kept Blackpool still in a game that should have been over as a contest by half-time.

Teams

       

Manchester City:

Hart, Boateng, Kolarov (Zabaleta 60), Kompany, Lescott, de Jong, Barry, Yaya Toure (Vieira 85), A Johnson, Silva (Milner 64), Tevez.

Unused subs:
Given, Richards, Wright-Phillips, Jo.

Blackpool:

Kingson, Crainey, Eardley, Evatt, Cathcart, Vaughan, Sylvestre (Phillips h-t), Adam, Taylor-Fletcher (Ormerod 64), Varney (Carney 83), Campbell.

Unused subs:
Halstead, Baptiste, Edwards, Southern, Ormerod.

Referee: Mark Clattenburg


Attendance: 47,296

LOPEZ FINALLY SIGNS FOR LATICS

Wigan Athletic have finally completed the signing of Spanish under-21 international Adrián López from Deportivo La Coruña.

The move comes after FIFA clearance was granted for the 23-year-old defender to play in England, almost six months after his contract expired at the La Liga club.

Latics’ boss Roberto Martinez had tracked the player for a number of months and is delighted the situation has finally been resolved saying: “We've been waiting a while for the FIFA resolution," before adding, "and it's great to see Adrián's desire to play for Wigan Athletic can finally be fulfilled." 

López played 23 league and 16 cup games for the Spanish side after coming through the ranks and has also represented his country at both under-21 and under-19 levels.

Martinez says the player has had an excellent football education in his homeland and has great potential, something which he hopes can bolster Latics’ fight against relegation:  "He is a defender who is very calm under pressure, and is a great reader of the game,” says Martinez, “I am confident he will be able to fulfill his potential at Wigan. He is desperate to help the squad to win games for Wigan Athletic."