Central Wigan Football Blog
The Pirates cruise to victory as they sink the Latics // Bristol Rover...
Episode Description
Some you win, some you lose, and some you can’t help but think “what on earth did we just watch?”.
I am extremely disappointed in the way that Latics played throughout the 90, but I certainly can’t argue against the defeat. We deserved that, and I hope that the game is reviewed time and time again over the next week in training, to iron out the many mistakes that we made.
Let’s look at what happened, and try to make some sense of it.
Pre Game
Shaun Maloney announced just the one change from our 2-1 victory over Cambridge United last time out, with Callum Lang getting the start over Stephen Humphrys.
The switch did surprise me, as I felt Humphrys’ physicality was going to be a huge advantage in our front line against a Rovers defence that hasn’t been so good at home this season. Lang scored midweek from a yard out, but I find it hard to believe that was the reason for the switch. Maloney stated it was not a tactical, or physical, reason for the switch.
During his post-match interview, Maloney told of how Humphrys was late to a team meeting in the week, prompting the omission from the starting lineup.
I was also surprised with the fact Liam Shaw, James Balagizi, and Jonny Smith, were not named on the bench. Shaw played the full 90 midweek, so unless there was an illness issue or a fatigue issue, I would have expected him involved. Maloney has confirmed that Jonny Smith is most likely going to get minutes for our U21s on Monday, as they face Burnley in the Development League, in order to build up match sharpness for league fixtures.
Tom Pearce did return to the bench, following his game out due to illness.
The 90 Minutes
Bristol Rovers certainly started the more energetic of the two sides, with their aim being to get the ball as high as possible to put our back line under pressure immediately. As well as driving forward centrally, they were very quick at getting the ball wide into the open spaces and stretching our defensive cover.
The first major chance of the afternoon came in the 10th minute, after Sean Clare won the ball on the halfway line, dispossessing Aaron Collins. The right back found Wyke in the central zone, who turned and started a 2v2 attack with Aasgaard to his left. The Norwegian received the ball to feet, ran it into the area, but dragged his left footed effort wide of the far post. If there was a sign of things to come, you could say that was a clear reflection of it.
Following a promising chance at one end for the Latics, we took our first hit of the afternoon just three minutes later. Rovers drove forward with waves of attacks and direct balls into the box, with Antony Evans eventually finding Luke Thomas to the right of our area, who brushed off Omar Rekik to slot the ball past Tickle with his left foot. It was a well taken effort, and the lead didn’t come as a shock.
Wigan needed a response, and it was Charlie Wyke who levelled the scoreboard after 21 minutes. The move started with Martial Godo on the left side, as he provided a cross into the area which Joshua Grant was unable to fully clear. Lang’s header back across forced Cox and Wyke to fight for the ball, which I was surprised the referee didn’t blow a foul for, and eventually Clare was able to drill the ball to Wyke for him to tap it home. 1-1, and a good time for Latics to settle into the game, it seemed.
The goal was Wyke’s 7th of his career against Bristol Rovers, his most against any other side in the Football League. Accrington Stanley, Doncaster Rovers, and Rochdale, have all had 6 Wyke goals scored against them.
As Latics tried to now find their feet in the game, Rovers went in search of another. Barton’s side continued their relentless press, which simply was focused on targeting the jugular of our defence, through quick passing play and the occasional long shot to test Tickle.
Our Number 1 made a couple of strong parries, which I would have liked to see him try and catch, yet the ball fell to the back post for Rover right back, Jack Hunt, tapping it goalbound. Tickle tried to clear off the line, however, the referee blew for the goal as it had infact crossed the line. 26 minutes played, 2-1 to the home side.
On the run in to halftime, three players were booked with Luke Thomas (argument), John Marquis (foul), and Omar Rekik (foul), getting in trouble with the referee. Aasgaard came closest to a Latics equaliser, minutes before the break, with an effort from 25 yards forcing Cox into a save.
Shaun Maloney made the first change of the game, with Omar Rekik being replaced by Tom Pearce at left back. The substitution was necessary as Rekik had been booked, and we needed a route back into this game. Pearce has three assists to him name this season, with two of those from corners and one from left wing.
53 minutes gone, and Rovers added a third goal. Aaron Collins, who was our top “Who to Watch” player in the Match Preview, shrugged off our defence and fired past Tickle from the centre of our box. Latics had allowed far too much space to be found in central areas all game, and against a player who got double digits for goals and assists last season, you cannot allow that sort of space there for Collins.
Over the next 10 minutes, Maloney made three more substitutions as Aasgaard, Clare, and Lang, made way for Humphrys, Scott Smith, and Magennis. The armband going to the midweek hattrick man for the remainder of the 90, with Smith slotting in at right back, and Humphrys taking the right wing.
The game, however, got worse for Wigan as just moments later we found ourselves 4-1 down. Rovers moved the ball out to their right, with Jack Hunt being found in an advanced position. He was allowed time and space to deliver a cross into the box, which found the head of John Marquis to be sent past Tickle.
Latics made their final change on 79 minutes, with Martial Godo making way for Callum McManaman. The target at this point was to try and steal a goal or two in order to reduce the goal difference, yet in our pursuit for that, Wyke was booked for persistent fouling. Frustrations were clear throughout the squad.
Joey Barton made his 5 substitutions from the 81st minute onwards, showing just how happy he was to stick with a team for the majority of the game that caused Latics endless problems. Thomas, Evans, Hunt, Finley, and Collins, all made way for Jevani Brown, Luke McCormick, Luca Hoole, Ryan Woods, and Scott Sinclair.
Thankfully, after a long 5 minutes of injury time, the referee called an end to misery.
Full Time Stats
Bristol Rovers 4 - 1 Wigan Athletic
Possession: 50% - 50%
Shots (On Target): 15 (6) - 9 (3)
Corners: 3 - 5
Offsides: 1 - 3
Fouls: 12 - 15
Yellow Cards: 3 (Thomas, Marquis, Hoole) - 2 (Rekik, Wyke)
Passes (Accurate): 85% (345/407) - 85% (341/401)
Possession Lost: 114 - 114
Post-Game Thoughts
That was a tough one to take, but in full honesty, I almost expected a scoreline like that to go against us at some point early on this season. There are plenty of teams in this league that will attack us relentlessly and be clinical whilst doing so. We as supporters would be naïve to think we aren’t susceptible to a scoreline like this during the campaign.
What I did not expect, is just how energetic Rovers would start this game. They didn’t look nervous at all, and it looked as if they almost caught us napping and we got startled into life, but by that time we were rocked a bit too heavy to find out rhythm.
This game is certainly not one to forget though, as we have so many things to learn and improve from this performance. If anything, it’s a good time to have this battering as we are still early in the season and we have plenty of time to iron out the mistakes and strive for better performances. Is that the optimism taking over there? Probably.
We will no doubt be losing many more games this season, but this game was not acceptable. Maloney has plenty to do during training this week to ensure that the current league leaders, Portsmouth - who are unbeaten with 5 wins and 4 draws - do not turn us over at the DW.
Wigan Athletic have now dropped back into the relegation zone, being leapfrogged by Burton Albion following their 1-1 draw with Fleetwood, where we sit above winless Cheltenham, winless Fleetwood, and only bettering Reading on goal difference. Without the minus 8 start, we would be 11th right now, but we are where we are, and we need to find a way of climbing this table much higher before Christmas.
We go again.
Next Up
Wigan Athletic host Portsmouth at the DW Stadium on Saturday 30th September, in a 3pm kickoff for Gameweek 9 of our 23/24 League One campaign.
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Up the Tics 🔵⚪️
Thank you for reading!
Charlie Keegan / Central Wigan
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