Match Review - Wigan (h)

[Jourdan]

Wigan 2-0 Derby
By Jourdan Rhule

Second half goals from Paul Scharner and Antonio Valencia sealed a vital win for Wigan, which helped them crawl further away from the relegation zone.

Despite being dominated for large periods of the game, it was Derby who came closest to breaking the deadlock early on with two good chances. The returning Hossam Ghaly engineered space in midfield before playing in Stephen Pearson who found room on the left and carried the ball into the area before scuffing his shot into the grateful arms of Kirkland who had rushed off his line to close down the Scotsman. Around ten minutes had elapsed since Pearson’s opportunity when fellow Scot Kenny Miller raced onto Roy Carroll’s goal kick before looping an ambitious long-range shot agonisingly over the bar.

But as the half wore on, Wigan snatched the initiative but wasted numerous chances. Darren Moore wrestled Emile Heskey to the ground as they challenged for a header and from the resulting free kick Kevin Kilbane fired wide. Giles Barnes came to the rescue moments later as after Derby failed to clear Kilbane’s corner, Mario Melchiot attempted a cheeky back-heel from close range only to see it hacked off the line by the youngster. Dean Leacock diverted Valencia’s danger right wing cross away from danger as Wigan continued to pursue an opener. Kilbane burst from midfield and steered a left wing cross into the feet of Heskey just a few yards from goal and Wigan taking the lead seemed a foregone conclusion. Yet the England international only managed to side-foot a limp shot straight at Carroll with the half time whistle on the horizon.

Derby manager Paul Jewell shuffled his pack inside the first 15 minutes of the second half, with the injured Dean Leacock being replaced at half time by Andy Todd and Tito Villa switching with Pearson as the hour mark loomed. It was hoped the tinkering would breathe life into weary Derby, but they had little time to take effect as the Rams soon fell behind. Heskey was twice denied by Rams keeper Carroll from Kilbane’s left wing corner, but the Northern Ireland star could only parry the former Leicester striker’s second effort into the path of Austrian powerhouse Scharner who was free to sweep the ball home from close range.

Rams boss Jewell responded instantly by giving Mile Sterjovski his second substitute appearance for the club in place of Ghaly. And Derby almost claimed an equaliser as fellow substitute Villa struck an extravagant overhead kick towards goal, but Latics keeper Kirkland was quick to sense the danger and smother the ball before it snuck into the right hand corner of his net.

But for all Jewell’s chopping and changing, Wigan still remained in the driving seat and put the game to bed with 7 minutes remaining as Valencia brought Palacios’ cross-field ball under control before shrugging off Jay McEveley and hammering a left foot shot into the roof of the net. Despite this, the Rams persisted in their search of a goal to give the travelling Derby supporters a rare away goal to savour. However neither Barnes nor Sterjovski could make the most of their late opportunities as Wigan negotiated the remainder of the game with confidence.

Player Ratings

Carroll – 7 – Solid when called upon, but could do nothing about either goal.

McEveley – 5 – Nightmare return to action for Jay, who was tormented by the classy Valencia.

Stubbs – 8 – MOTM – Seemed like the only defender with his brain switched on.

Moore – 5 – Expected more from such an experienced defender.

Leacock – 6 – Did ok until the injury left him struggling.

Fagan – 5 – New game, same old story. Still lacks the quality to trouble Premier League defences.

Ghaly – 5 – Showed flashes of quality, but was largely anonymous.

Savage – 5 – Never looked close to holding his own in midfield.

Pearson – 6 – Threatened with his pace but needs more composure in front of goal.

Barnes – 5 – Never really offered Miller enough support up front.

Miller – 6 – Ran himself into the ground, but was left isolated by a lack of support from midfield and Derby’s “route one” style.

Subs.:

Todd – 6 – Looked composed playing out of position.

Villa – 6 – Lively cameo in which he almost scored and created a goal.

Sterjovski – 5 – Displayed glimpses of quality but didn’t see enough of the ball.

[GresleyRam]

Total & utter **** performance!

[MossytheRam]

And i was there to see it Makes it worse that they couldnt even score past us until the 68th minute.... so that shows how poor we were that we got turned over by them when they are sh*t!! Although they looked like Brazil against us!!