Latics stunned by County goal blitz – Wigan Athletic 0 Stockport County 4

Posted on September 6, 2026 by ianhaspinall
Gary Caldwell reflected on a disappointing performance
  • Wigan Athletic were stunned by a Stockport County goal blitz in the first 21 minutes and ultimately lost 4-0 at the Brick Community Stadium.
  • Latics went behind after only 10 minutes when a mistake by Max Power led to Kyle Wootton volleying the ball into the net from 25-yards.
  • The visitors doubled their lead in the 19th minute when Harry Wood broke clear and lifted the ball over the advancing Joe Whitworth.
  • Things got worse two minutes later as Jack Diamond was played through the centre of the Latics defence and he finished past Whitworth for the third goal.
  • In the second half Latics hit the post through Archie Harris and Sze forced a brilliant save from goalkeeper Oliver Whatmuff.
  • County added a fourth goal from Ryan Glover in the 90th minute to heap further misery on Latics.
  • Latics are bottom of the League One Table after five games and County are in third place.

Caldwell made a tactical shift in his formation with three changes from the team that had defeated MK Dons with Archie Harris, Connor Barrett, and Reggie Walsh replacing Fraser Murray, Luke Harris, and Sonny Perkins. 

It didn’t take long for the visitors to go ahead. 

A pass in behind Latics’ defence saw Power trying to clear but he only managed to play the ball into the path of Wootton, who expertly volleyed into the top corner from distance. 

Latics soon found themselves two down  when Wood was allowed the space in behind to lift the ball over the on-rushing Whitworth and into the net.

Things got worse two minutes later as Diamond was played through the centre of the Latics defence and he finished past Whitworth for the third.

Latics couldn’t contain the visitors and they continued to create chances. On one occasion Diamond found Wootton, who took one touch and fired over the crossbar.

3-0 to County at the interval and Caldwell decided to change formation and personnel with Murray, Sze, and Burrowes replacing Connor Barrett, Charlie Gray and Reggie Walsh in the second half.

Latics first real chance of the game came on 70 minutes when Murray went down the right and managed to cross to Harris at the back post, but he could only hit the post with his effort before Dara Costelloe couldn’t convert on the follow-up.

Substitute Burrowes was at least causing problems for the County defence down the left, and he produced an inviting cross towards the back post but Murray could only head wide from 10 yards out. 

On 76 minutes Latics had another opportunity when Sze’s right-footed strike from the right side of the box was superbly saved by Whatmuff.

Latics bad day was compounded in the 90th minute as Stockport grabbed a fourth goal. Jason Adigun broke into the area and his shot was blocked by Whitworth but Glover was there to finish from close range.

Overview

Latics were blown away by a powerful Stockport in the first 21 minutes and they were lucky not to concede more in the opening half.

County looked like an accomplished outfit who will be challenging for promotion this season but Latics made mistakes and were far too soft centred to cope with the visitors attacks.

Caldwell had got his tactics wrong. He had tried to nullify the Stockport attacking threat but he had only succeeded in confusing his own players.

The young Latics midfielders along with Power and Weir were unable to stem the tide of the County attacks and the defence was left exposed.

It was a harsh lesson for Caldwell and his new team but they will have to learn quickly if they are to avoid similar drubbings in League One.

It is a transitional period for the club with 14 new signings and the manager trying to establish a playing style. The Latics fans’ will need to be patient during this period, but the transitional period cannot last too long or they will find themselves cut adrift at the bottom of the table.

Latics catalogue of injured players is not helping matters and they will need to offload some players before they can dip into the free agent market, and a proven goalscorer continues to be a priority.

Post-match comments

Speaking afterwards to the media Caldwell said:

“A massively disappointing game. A massively disappointing afternoon following Wednesday’s high and the night, trying to build consistency.

“Credit to Stockport; they’ve been a play-off team for two years now, investing for a number of years, and they’re building a strong team, which they proved today.

“We couldn’t get to grips with the game early. We didn’t press with enough intensity in a 4-2-3-1, and then we changed shape to a 5-4-1, where it’s a bit more man-to-man, and we couldn’t get to grips with that as well.

“I said to the players that I’ll accept responsibility for that, that’s my job. I have to make that better and get the players in better positions for them to show their quality.

“In the second half, I thought the players gave everything. We tried, we created chances again, but just couldn’t get that goal. As we kept pushing, you always look vulnerable to a counter-attack.

“It’s a hugely disappointing day but a day we will take a lot from and look back on later in the season as a day we can learn from.”

Player ratings

Player ratings courtesy of WhoScored.com
Posted in Gary Caldwell, Harry Wood, Jack Diamond, Kyle Wooton, Kyle Wootton, League One, Ryan Glover | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Latics get points on the board – Wigan Athletic 3 MK Dons 1

Posted on September 3, 2026 by ianhaspinall
Jensen Weir produced two super strikes
  • Wigan Athletic captain Max Power and vice captain Jensen Weir delivered three superb goals as they defeated MK Dons 3-1 at the Brick Community Stadium.
  • In a dominant first half Latics deservedly went ahead on 36 minutes when Power fed Weir 25-yards out and the midfielder produced a powerful strike into the roof of the net.
  • Latics should’ve had a penalty moments later when Fraser Murray was pushed in the back when through on goal but referee Paul Howard inexplicably waved play on before booking an incandescent Gary Caldwell.
  • MK Dons went close just before half-time but debutant goalkeeper Joe Whitworth made an important save from point-blank range.
  • Latics doubled their lead just after half-time when Power superbly volleyed home from outside the box.
  • Weir made it 3-0 on 74 minutes when he scored his second goal with a super strike from 20-yards out.
  • MK Dons pulled a consolation goal back on 81 minutes through Aaron Collins but Latics comfortably saw out the remaining minutes.

Caldwell made five changes to the side that was defeated at AFC Wimbledon, with Whitworth coming in for his debut, Morgan Fox, Charlie Gray, Luke Harris & Fraser Murray all starting.

Latics started confidently with Gray showing some good touches in midfield.

Unfortunately the hosts suffered an early blow when Luke Harris had to be withdrawn with an injury.

His replacement Reggie Walsh soon made an impact driving forward into the area and testing Craig MacGillivray with a shot to his right.

Latics were creating plenty of chances and they should’ve been ahead when Murray hit the post, Dara Costelloe nearly made contact with the rebound before Murray had a second attempt but saw his effort cleared off the line. 

But Latics deservedly did go ahead soon afterwards when Weir hit an unstoppable drive high into the net past MacGillivray from 25-yards.

The hosts should’ve had a penalty moments later when Murray was pushed in the back when through on goal but referee Howard inexplicably waved play on before booking Caldwell.

The visitors went close just before half-time but new signing Whitworth made a superb save from point-blank range.

Just three minutes into the second half Latics consolidated their lead. It was skipper Power who unleashed a fine volley into the net from 25-yards after the Dons tried to clear a corner.

Latics added a third on 74 minutes and it was that man Weir again with another fine goal. Substitute Brad Burrowes, with his first touch, laid the ball to Weir whose first-time strike went in off the post.

The visitors pulled a consolation goal back on 81 minutes through Collins but Latics saw out the remaining minutes to record their first three points of the season.

Overview

This was a much needed but also impressive display by Caldwell’s new team. Latics had struggled to score in their previous games but stalwarts Weir and Power came up with the goods when it mattered.

The changes that Caldwell had made to the team from the defeat at AFC Wimbledon made a big difference against the Dons.

Goalkeeper Whitworth steadied the defence on his debut, Fox showed his experience, while Gray looked very comfortable in a central midfield role, and Murray was a big threat going forward.

This had been a hardworking and energetic performance and the young Premier League loanees had helped Latics to perform to a high standard.

Questions still remain about the lack of a recognised goalscorer but Sonny Perkins had his best game for the club so far.

Referee Howard had produced some bizarre decisions throughout the game, yellow carding Caldwell and later red carding his assistant David Perkins. It’s fair to say the standard of refereeing in League One is poor and referee Howard is a fairly typical example.

Post-match comments

Speaking to media afterwards Caldwell said:

“We got our rewards for a good performance, and we’ve not had that for the first three games. The longer that goes on, obviously the pressure builds, but from start to finish, I thought we were outstanding tonight.

“We dominated the game in the first-half, and we should have been out of sight at half-time, but we weren’t. Then we got the goal early in the second half, and then I thought we were very good in periods before tiring a little bit and sitting in.

“However, the pressure of getting the win is there, which is understandable, but you could see how much the players wanted it. We’ve now got to be better in the closing periods, but some of our play in the first 60 minutes was sensational.”

Player ratings

Player ratings courtesy of WhoScored.com
Posted in Aaron Collins, Gary Caldwell, Jensen Weir, League One, Max Power, Milton Keynes Dons | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Latics fall to late gut punch – AFC Wimbledon 1 Wigan Athletic 0

Posted on August 31, 2026 by ianhaspinall
Gary Caldwell with plenty to ponder
  • Wigan Athletic lost their third consecutive League One game following a late AFC Wimbledon goal by Myles Hippolyte at the Cherry Records Stadium.
  • Latics had created enough chances to win the game comfortably but poor finishing had once again let them down.
  • Sonny Perkins, Dara Costelloe and Connor Barrett all missed good opportunities in the first half and in the second half further chances were created with Perkins missing an absolute sitter.
  • Wimbledon did go close following a goalmouth scramble with Jensen Weir hitting his own post in the melee.
  • In a tense final period substitute K’Marni Miller and Costelloe were denied by Joe McDonnell before a defensive mix up on 88 minutes allowed Hippolyte to poke the ball past Joe Walsh and gift Wimbledon the three points.

Gary Caldwell made one change from the defeat by Leyton Orient with Connor Barrett replacing the injured Fraser Murray.

In an eventful opening period both sides created chances. 

After only three minutes Walsh nearly had a calamity when he came out of his area to head away but he headed the ball against Jayden Stockley, fortunately the Latics keeper recovered well to clear the ball away.

On six minutes Jensen Weir’s cross cum shot nearly deceived McDonnell but the ball was tipped onto the crossbar and over.

A minute later and McDonnell spilled a deep cross and Costelloe’s strike was deflected narrowly wide.

On 15 minutes Perkins took a bouncing ball under control inside the area but his effort was inches wide of the target.

The visitors were on top but couldn’t make their chances count.

Archie Harris, who was an early substitute for the injured Akeel Higgins, managed to get on the end of Barrett’s low cross on 32 minutes but he blazed his effort from 20 yards well over the bar. 

Barrett’s dangerous cross from the right was headed over by Perkins before Reggie Walsh drove at the Wimbledon defence and then laid the ball off Harris, who took one touch but blazed over. 

Wimbledon then had an opportunity when Ryan Johnson whipped a dangerous ball across the face of goal and nearly found Stockley, but Harris was able to divert behind. 

Overall Latics had created enough chances to be ahead and they created another opportunity just before half-time when Barrett drove forward at Johnson before striking at goal and forcing McDonnell into a good diving save to his right. 

Walsh suffered a head injury early in the second half and the game had to be stopped while he received attention by the medical team.

The game descended into a scrappy period until on 64 minutes Latics broke and had two clear-cut chances. First, Harris crossed towards Barrett at the back post, who took one touch, shot at goal and was denied by McDonnell from close range.

Next Latics had their best chance of the game as James Carragher volleyed across the face of goal, where Perkins was waiting for a tap in, but he somehow managed to poke the ball over the crossbar from practically on the goal-line.

Soon afterwards the hosts went close after a goalmouth scramble as Weir diverted a Wimbledon effort onto his own post and away.

In a tense final period substitute K’Marni Miller and Costelloe were both denied by McDonnell.

With two minutes remaining Latics suffered a sickening gut punch as Jon Mellish headed the ball backwards, substitute Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen and Carragher went for the same ball and Donnell McNeilly poked the ball through to Hippolyte who finished low past Walsh.

Overview

This was a match that Latics should’ve won comfortably, but if you don’t take your chances you can’t expect to win football games.

Latics had created numerous opportunities but they had been profligate in front of goal.

Perkins in particular was especially guilty of wasting good opportunities. Caldwell has put faith in the former Leyton Orient striker but his three league appearances this season have been hugely disappointing.

If it wasn’t obvious beforehand that Latics desperately need a proven goalscorer it should now be crystal clear to everyone.

The late forced defensive withdrawal of Fin Burns didn’t help Latics’ cause either as this contributed to the mistake that led to the Wimbledon goal.

Mellish’s backwards header and Chilokoa-Mullen and Carragher going for the same ball allowed McNeilly to poke the ball through to Hippolyte to finish.

Goalkeeper Walsh didn’t inspire confidence throughout and he was lucky to get away with a few mishaps and now surely Caldwell must secure the services of Joe Whitworth from Crystal Palace before the transfer deadline.

Post-match comments

Afterwards Caldwell spoke to the media,

“I don’t know how we’ve lost it, to be perfectly honest. But, yes, we have to get better in certain actions. It’s clear we created so many good moments, so many chances, no goals again.

“You cannot come out and play like that and not win. That’s three games; I’ll include the Barnsley game, so four, where I think we should have won every game and we’ve not, so we have to look at that.

“We will get better, because there are so many good things that I’m seeing from a group that is newly formed and needs time to really build and come together to win games consistently.

“Whilst you don’t score, you definitely don’t concede. […] The old saying goes, if you can’t win, don’t lose. And we shot ourselves in the foot by losing a game we should never have lost.

“We’re three games into the season. This is not a sprint; it’s a marathon. We know we want to win more games. We know we want to give our supporters more, but we also know that it is a new group and certain things are going against us. The chances we’re creating, we can’t keep missing.”

Player ratings

Player ratings courtesy of WhoScored.com
Posted in Wigan Athletic, Gary Caldwell, League One, AFC Wimbledon, Myles Hippolyte | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Latics promise turns to disappointment – Wigan Athletic 0 Leyton Orient 2

Posted on August 24, 2026 by ianhaspinall
Chelsea loanee Reggie Walsh made his debut
  • Wigan Athletic suffered consecutive League One defeats when Leyton Orient won 2-0 at the Brick Community Stadium.
  • The visitors took the lead after 15 minutes when Latics failed to clear their lines and Tony Springett finished from close range.
  • Latics went close to a leveller when Dara Costelloe lifted the ball over goalkeeper Nathan Baxter but just over the crossbar.
  • Loan signing Reggie Walsh thought he had equalised on his debut with a volley from 15 yards, but he was flagged for offside.
  • Orient doubled their lead after 58 minutes when a mistake by Jon Mellish was punished by Yusuf Akhamrich from 10 yards.
  • Gary Caldwell made five changes to try and get back into the game with substitute Chris Sze having a golden opportunity with his first touch, but he was denied by Orient’s replacement goalkeeper Noah Phillips.

Caldwell made four changes from the opening day League One defeat at Cambridge with James Carragher returning and Reggie Walsh and Fin Burns making their league debuts as well as start for Akeel Higgins.

Latics started brightly with Chelsea loanee Walsh making a good impression on his debut.

His through ball found Costelloe, but Baxter was out quickly to deny him. 

Despite a good opening, Latics were behind on 15 minutes when they failed to clear their lines following a corner and Springett was able to beat Joe Walsh from close range.

Latics tried to respond and created a number of chances.

Costelloe did well to break clear from Jensen Weir’s ball over the top, but his lifted effort just cleared the crossbar.

A Fraser Murray cross caused all sorts of problems for the Orient keeper as he fumbled the ball backwards and almost into his own goal but it went just wide for a corner. 

Latics thought they had their equaliser as Walsh, struck a left-footed volley sweetly into the back of the net from a half-cleared corner, but the celebrations were short-lived as the flag had gone up for offside.

Walsh went close again minutes later with a strike that looked destined for the top corner but the ball went over Baxter’s crossbar.

After the break and Latics went close once more as Higgins picked out the forward run of Costelloe. But the striker’s effort was wide of the right-hand post. 

As against Cambridge last week, Latics were punished for their lack of clinical finishing as Akhamrich pounced on a defensive mistake by Mellish to double Orient’s lead.

Caldwell tried to freshen things up – and made five changes including the debut of Luke Harris and the return of Ryan Trevitt – but they continued to struggle to create any real opportunities.

Sze was brought on with 15 minutes to go, and he had the best chance for Latics as a first-time Murray cross was perfect for him to score but he tamely poked the ball at the Orient keeper who pushed the effort away from goal.

The visitors held on for their first three points and Latics will hope they can ignite their own season at AFC Wimbledon next Sunday.

Overview

It is very early days in the season and Caldwell is assembling a promising new team, but Latics currently have problems at both ends of the pitch. 

Caldwell has expressed faith in new signing Sonny Perkins as a goalscorer but his track record is not a good one. Similarly Dara Costelloe, Chris Sze and Christian Saydee rarely get on the scoresheet. The transfer deadline is looming and if Latics want to be serious contenders this season a reliable goalscorer like Joe Taylor (who scored for Huddersfield on Saturday) is a must.

Defensively the departures of Jason Kerr and Will Aimson have not helped Latics’ cause and the defence have started poorly. It will take time for the new backline and goalkeeper to settle but they cannot continue to make so many mistakes and expect to win games.

Post-match comments

Afterwards Caldwell spoke to the media,

“I was delighted with the performance, and disappointed with the result,” he said.

“You always want to get off to a good start in the league, and win your home games, but when I look back on the game, I’m very confident I’ll see a lot of very positive things.

“I think we’re doing a lot of very positive things at the moment, but we’re gifting the opposition goals, and we’re gifting the opposition games.”

“We’re playing into their hands in terms of what they want. What is that, seven goals in the last three games now? That tells the story of what we need to get better at.”

“The first goal is another second-phase from a corner, which we work on, and it can’t happen.”

“The second goal is an individual error, after we spoke at half-time about staying in the game, and not allowing them to get a second, like we did last weekend and in midweek.”

“We’re a team that hasn’t played together a lot, we’ve got a lot of new players, and there will be teething problems within that.”

“I can see progression, though, while knowing there are certain areas we need to get better at. A lot of our game was good today, and we can’t ignore that because we’ve lost the game.”

“There are a lot of positives, and we need to keep building on those.”

Player ratings

Player ratings courtesy of WhoScored.com
Posted in Gary Caldwell, League One, Leyton Orient, Tony Springett, Yusuf Akhamrich | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Review – The Changing Game: The past, present and future of football by Martin O’Neill

Posted on August 19, 2026 by ianhaspinall

At the age of 74, Martin O’Neill has successfully revived his management career with Celtic.

Last October O’Neill was asked to join the Scottish giants as interim manager and, over two stints at the helm, went on to win the Scottish Premiership and Cup double.

In his new book, which is now out in paperback, O’Neill reviews the changes that have taken place in the footballing world during his long career.

It is a book about the development of football in the last half century. From aspects like how we deal with injuries, foreign influences on the British game, the changing roles of managers and coaches, players and agents. The effect of social media, wage structures, and a few rule conversions adding to the mix.

O’Neill weighs up the pros and cons about whether the game has changed for the better or the worse. He rightly identifies improvements such as the pitches, the fitness of the players, the removal of hooliganism and racism.

But he also identifies plenty of negatives. For example, he comments, “Football stadiums are increasingly becoming a place for wealthy people, rather than the working-class environments they were in my day.

It is good that people are getting into football who weren’t before, but this can dilute the atmosphere and culture when fans are priced out. Football has become a big-money industry.” This was so evident during the recent World Cup when England fans were having to pay £1000-plus for a ticket.

As far as punditry is concerned, he is critical of some of the language that has become common. He says, “The modern media is obsessed with assists. That wasn’t a common concept in my days as a player. An ‘assist’ is just the last player to touch the ball before the goalscorer. Of course, sometimes a goal is the result of a brilliant cross or pass, but I think we put far too much emphasis on assists nowadays, adding them together with goals to accrue ‘goal contributions’, which is ridiculous.”

“Along with assists, the other big statistic that comes up a lot in punditry these days is ‘expected goals’. I think this is total nonsense. You’ve got to remember what the game is about: winning football matches, and that means scoring goals, not recording the expectation of them.”

O’Neill has successfully identified how the game has changed during his lifetime, but he says the essence of the game remains the same – the importance of team spirit, the way that winning or losing a game changes your entire mood for a week, and the basics of attacking and defending.

He has had one of the most successful managing and playing careers winning ten major honours as a manager and winning the European Cup (now Champions League) twice and the First Division (now Premier League) with Nottingham Forest as a player. Incredibly, he’s still winning trophies in his mid-70s.

Martin O’Neill – The Changing Game: The past, present and future of football. Published by Tallis Street Books. Price £14.99.

This review first appeared in the September/October 2026 edition of Late Tackle magazine.

Posted in Celtic, Nottingham Forest, Late Tackle magazine, Football Book Reviews, Martin O'Neill | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Latics in opening day defeat despite second half rally – Cambridge United 3 Wigan Athletic 2

Posted on August 15, 2026 by ianhaspinall
Akeel Higgins made an impressive League One debut for Latics
  • Wigan Athletic suffered an opening day 3-2 defeat to Cambridge United after an abject first half display.
  • Latics were 1-0 down after only three minutes when following a corner Mamadou Jobe headed the ball into the path of former Latic Kell Watts, who forced the ball past Joe Walsh.
  • The visitors were 2-0 down on 34 minutes after some hapless defending. Isaac Heath led a break from the halfway line before finding Louis Appere who slid the ball past Walsh.
  • The match looked over seven minutes after half time, when Heath added Cambridge’s third finishing from Shane McLoughlin’s shot across goal.
  • But Latics rallied and on 69 minutes substitute Akeel Higgins hit a post from distance and Sonny Perkins followed in the rebound.
  • Four minutes later Latics scored again as a deep cross was nodded back across goal by Dara Costelloe, allowing Higgins to score from close range.
  • Despite some late pressure the visitors were unable to find an equaliser and Cambridge got their season off to a winning start.

Latics got off to a dreadful start when they went one down after only three minutes.

Following a corner Mamadou Jobe headed the ball into the path of former Latic Kell Watts, who forced the ball past Joe Walsh.

The visitors tried to get back into the game with Costelloe heading over but they were 2-0 down on 34 minutes after some hapless defending. Morgan Fox and Jensen Weir both failed to clear the ball and Heath found Appere, who slid the ball past Walsh.

The match looked over seven minutes after half time, when Heath added Cambridge’s third finishing from Shane McLoughlin’s mis hit shot across goal.

Latics made a double substitution on the hour mark, with K’Marni Miller and Akeel Higgins taking over from Connor Barrett and Chris Sze, to join Archie Harris, who replaced Llyton Chapman at the interval.

The visitors now looked more of a threat with Higgins looking particularly lively.

After Miller fired over from a decent shooting position, Latics pulled one back on 69 minutes when Higgins’ superb strike from 25 yards hit the post, before Sonny Perkins followed up to score from close range.

Soon afterwards Fraser Murray’s cross was headed back across goal by Costelloe, and Higgins tapped home from close range to make it 2-3.

Latics exerted late pressure but they were unable to create any clear-cut chances to snatch a point.

Overview

This was a disappointing opening to the season for Gary Caldwell’s fledgling team.

Unfortunately the first half defending was completely unacceptable and there will have to be a big improvement against Leyton Orient at the Brick Community Stadium next week.

Latics had been competitive against Barnsley in the Carabao Cup, but against Cambridge in the first half they just didn’t compete, they were unable to defend long balls and they gave the ball away far too easily.

Latics missed the injured James Carragher but the other defenders did not cover themselves in glory in the first half.

New signing Finley Burns should add some quality to the defence and further recruits are needed before the end of the transfer window.

It will take time for Caldwell’s new team to settle down but they must quickly eradicate the basic mistakes of today.

Post-match comments

Speaking afterwards to the media Gary Caldwell said,

“I’m disappointed with the start. It wasn’t a good performance until we probably brought the substitutions on.

“One thing we spoke about coming here is competing, and we didn’t compete. We didn’t defend long balls well; we didn’t look after the ball well.

“I said competing isn’t just about tackling; it’s about keeping the ball, being brave on the ball, it’s about getting one-v-one and getting at people, and we didn’t do anywhere near enough of that. That’s the harsh reality of League One football, and we have to get up to speed quickly.

“I thought when we made the double change, even the second half in general, but we can’t concede the goals that we did and expect to win.

“We have to be better, we have to improve, and we knew that at the start of the summer. We knew that it was going to be a transitional period, and too many things went wrong today that we have to do better.”

Player ratings

Player ratings courtesy of WhoScored.com
Posted in Gary Caldwell, League One, Cambridge United, Kell Watts, Akeel Higgins, Louis Appere, Isaac Heath | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Review – HH: Helenio Herrara Football’s Original Master of the Dark Arts by Richard Fitzpatrick

Posted on June 10, 2026 by ianhaspinall
Review - HH: Helenio Herrara Football’s Original Master of the Dark Arts by Richard Fitzpatrick cover

Richard Fitzpatrick has produced a fascinating biography of Helenio Herrara, one of the most enigmatic, successful and yet disturbing characters in European football.

Herrara had an almost mythic existence: a poverty-stricken childhood; he nearly died from diphtheria; he may have come from Buenos Aires or Casablanca; he said he was born in 1910 but after his death it was it was revealed he was born in 1916.

HH played for eight or nine clubs in France and fathered multiple children with different partners. As a coach Herrara won La Liga twice with both Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, but it was his move to Inter Milan in 1960 that propelled him to stardom.

Fitzpatrick believes that HH was football’s first celebrity coach. He was the bridge between the days of working-class coaches and the millionaire managers of the modern era. He used every tactic possible to big up his players and boost their confidence.

Many people compare him to José Mourinho as he was known for being a charismatic, yet manipulative, outspoken figure who made managers central to team success for the first time.

Helenio Herrara
Helenio Herrara

HH is regarded as the original master of the dark arts. While not the inventor, Herrera perfected Catenaccio (the “door-bolt” system) at Inter Milan, leading them to two consecutive European Cups (1964, 1965) and three Serie A titles.

Contrary to some views of his tactics being purely defensive, his teams were known for lightning-fast counterattacks and intense fitness, which he demanded from his players.

Herrera ran a “regime of performance-enhancing drugs” (amphetamines) in Spain and Italy, which players sometimes hid under their tongues to avoid detection, according to interviews with former players. 

Nicknamed “Il Mago” (The Wizard), HH was a pioneer in sports psychology, using motivational slogans like “Taca la bala” (attack the ball) and engaging in deep psychological warfare, including “ritiro” (pre-match hotel lock-ups) to maintain strict control.

Fabio Capello, the former England manager, played under HH at AS Roma from 1968 until 1970. Capello was HH’s lieutenant on the pitch. He gave Capello great self-belief, the idea that he should never fear an opponent. Capello commented,

“He changed football in Italy in his era. His teams played with greater speed, with original ideas. He did things differently to any of the other coaches I worked with. He was 10 years ahead of them in his thinking. He was more forward-thinking, an innovator. He got players to interchange positions. He was great at getting the team moving without the ball.”

“His training sessions were very demanding. Everything was done at pace. He had lots of energy. He always held to his belief, his mantra: ‘As we train, so we play’ – if you maintain high standards, things will go well. It stuck with me. With other coaches, training was more relaxed.”

He was a man of contrasts: a devout practitioner of yoga for 50 years, yet a violent man, who allegedly attacked a fan and was a known philanderer. His career was affected by the 1969 death of Roma striker Giuliano Taccola, who died of heart failure after being forced to train despite being ill, leading to a manslaughter trial against Herrera. He was not convicted but his reputation had been damaged.

Herrera is not particularly well known in England but Fitzpatrick’s compelling book about this extraordinary character deserves to be read by a wide audience.

HH: Helenio Herrara Football’s Original Master of the Dark Arts by Richard Fitzpatrick. Published by Bloomsbury Sport. Price £20. 

This review first appeared in the July/August 2026 edition of Late Tackle magazine.

Posted in Football Book Reviews, Helenio Herrara, Late Tackle magazine, Richard Fitzpatrick, Wigan Athletic | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Recommended World Cup Book Reviews

Posted on June 10, 2026 by ianhaspinall

Here’s my personal recommendations of the best football books about the World Cup. Kick off the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the USA with one of these great reads. 

Review – Answered Prayers: England and the 1966 World Cup by Duncan Hamilton

‘Answered Prayers’ is Duncan Hamilton’s personal homage to Alf Ramsay and the England World Cup winners. 1966 is still England’s crowning football achievement and it may never be surpassed, but Ramsay and the players never got the rewards and recognition they deserved and were treated poorly by the Football Association.

The Power and the Gory - A New History of the World Cup cover

Review – The Power and the Glory: A New History of the World Cup by Jonathan Wilson

Jonathan Wilson’s comprehensive history of the World Cup is not just about football. During the five hundred plus pages he makes a strong case that the story of the World Cup is also the story of the world.

Last Boy of 66 Cover

Review – Last Boy of ’66: My Story of England’s World Cup Winning Team by Sir Geoff Hurst

Hat-trick hero Sir Geoff Hurst is the last surviving member of England’s 1966 World Cup winning team and his latest book delves deepest into his life and the key characters of the final. Hurst has had a bittersweet life with some unbelievable highs and distressing lows. The deaths of his younger brother Robert and his eldest daughter Claire are darknesses that he has taken decades to process.

O Jogo Bonito cover

Review – O Jogo Bonito! Brazil’s 1970 World Cup Samba Party by Gary Thacker

Gary Thacker’s book is the story of probably the greatest football team in the history of the World Cup. ‘O Jogo Bonito’ is Portuguese for ‘the beautiful game’ and the Brazilian World Cup winning team of 1970 truly defined the phrase.

Review – Gary Lineker: A Portrait of a Football Icon by Chris Evans

Chris Evans’s biography of Gary Lineker provides a fascinating insight into one of football’s most popular characters. Lineker led the itinerant life of a footballer with Leicester City, Everton, Barcelona, Spurs, Grampus Eight and England before becoming the accomplished presenter of Match of the Day and other sports broadcasts, a successful entrepreneur and owner of sports podcasts.

Review: Beautiful Bridesmaids Dressed in Oranje – The Unfulfilled Glory of Dutch Football by Gary Thacker

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After Extra Time and Penalties

Review: After Extra Time and Penalties – Memories of a BBC Football Correspondent by Mike Ingham

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What You Think You Know About Footballi is Wrong

Review: What You Think You Know About Football is Wrong – The Game’s Greatest Myths and Untruths by Kevin Moore

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Book Review: World in Motion – The Inside Story of Italia ’90 by Simon Hart

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Luka Modric My Autobiography cover

Review: Luka Modric My Autobiography

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Posted in 1966, 1970s, 1980s', Brazil, Croatia, England, Football Book Reviews, Germany, Holland, Italia '90, Wigan Athletic, World Cup | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Latics edged out in controversial fashion as Stevenage make the playoffs – Stevenage 1 Wigan Athletic 0

Posted on May 3, 2026 by ianhaspinall
Stevenage defend a Latics attack
  • Wigan Athletic suffered a controversial 1-0 defeat to playoff-chasing Stevenage at the Lamex Stadium.
  • As the game moved into injury time, Stevenage were seventh and behind Plymouth in the table.
  • But in the 92nd minute the hosts were awarded a goal by Dan Sweeney following a goalmouth scramble. The ball did not appear to cross the line but the linesman awarded the goal.
  • Latics will have been frustrated that they did not capitalise on their chances and by some erratic refereeing from Matthew Russell. 
  • Joe Taylor was brought down in the penalty area by goalkeeper Filip Marschall but the referee waved away the striker’s appeals.
  • Sam Tickle made some important saves to deny the hosts but Taylor had an effort cleared off the line and substitute Harrison Bettoni went close for the visitors when his 81st minute strike crashed against the crossbar.
  • Latics finish the season in 16th place and Stevenage in sixth in the League One table.

Gary Caldwell made one change from the defeat against AFC Wimbledon with Christian Saydee replacing Harrison Bettoni in the starting line-up.

Chances were limited in the opening period but the hosts first chance came after 17 minutes when Jordan Roberts cross to the back post found former Latic Charlie Goode, who headed over the bar from close range.

Latics first opportunity came when Raphael found space down the right and cut inside but his deflected effort found the side netting. 

Latics were frustrated when Taylor was brought down in the penalty area by goalkeeper Marschall but the referee Russell waved away the striker’s appeals.

At the other end Dan Kemp’s deflected half chance from the edge of the area was comfortably saved by Tickle. 

Later Matt Phillips’ strike from the edge of the area just cleared the crossbar.

In the second half Latics had an early chance when Raphael broke free down the right and tried to pull the back to the edge of the six-yard box but the Stevenage keeper did well to block the cross.

Louis Thompson threatened for the hosts when he volleyed towards the top corner but Tickle saved. 

Taylor then nearly broke the deadlock when his clever flick beat the Stevenage keeper but it was cleared off the line by Goode.

Goode then popped up at the other end forcing Tickle into a superb save plucking the ball out of the top corner. 

It was end-to-end now and Bettoni picked up the ball and let fly from the edge of the area, Marschall was beaten but the ball crashed against the crossbar.

News that Stevenage could miss out on the playoffs was spreading around the ground.

The hosts pressed for the breakthrough and in added time they were awarded a goal by Sweeney following a goalmouth scramble. The ball did not appear to cross the line but the linesman awarded the goal.

It was an unsatisfactory finish to the game for Latics but Stevenage advanced to the playoffs.

Overview

Latics will be disappointed to have lost the game when they had matched their playoff chasing hosts.

They had been denied a point at the death by a hugely controversial decision by the referee and linesman. Replays suggest that the ball didn’t cross the line and the score should have remained level.

They had been equal to the home side throughout and on another day might’ve come away with all three points.

They had created enough chances to win the game with Taylor having a good shout for a penalty denied and having an effort cleared off the line. Bettoni went close twice and crashed a dipping strike against the crossbar.

The hosts had also created good chances themselves but Tickle had been in excellent form to deny them.

It looked as though the game would finish in a stalemate until the late controversial decision.

Post-match comments

Afterwards Caldwell spoke the media. He said,

“It’s never nice to lose.”

“I thought we played well in moments of the game, but we weren’t ruthless enough with the opportunities we created, which probably sums up our season.

“When I came in February, this Club was in a dangerous position. We picked up 25 points from 16 games, and the players deserve a lot of credit for that.

“I think we’ve seen again today at this level – the fine margins – and we need to have a big summer ahead of us, and we need to be much, much better overall as a Football Club.

“I was really pleased with the players’ effort and attitude. We have kept going right until the very end – they couldn’t have given much more – but all the little things that ultimately win you football matches and get you to the places you want to be.

“We can’t stand still, and we can’t accept that. We have to keep pushing, keep driving to be better, and we’ll do that over the summer. We will make sure that when we come back in pre-season, we will work extremely hard to give our supporters a team they can be really proud of.”

Player ratings

Player ratings courtesy of WhoScored.com

Posted in Dan Sweeney, Gary Caldwell, League One | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Wigan slip up as Wimbledon stay up – Wigan Athletic 0 AFC Wimbledon 1

Posted on April 26, 2026 by ianhaspinall
Gary Caldwell was disappointed with the performance
  • Wigan Athletic slipped to their first defeat in six games as Wimbledon got a last gasp winner to retain their League One status.
  • Latics enjoyed the greater possession and had more shots but the visitors battled hard to stay in the game.
  • The Dons best chance of the first half fell to Layton Stewart but Sam Tickle did superbly to come off his line quickly to block the strike.
  • Latics huffed and puffed but struggled to create any clear cut chances.
  • Just when it looked like the match would end in a stalemate the Dons struck in the 90th minute when substitute Antwoine Hackford converted fellow substitute Zack Nelson’s cross to secure safety for Wimbledon.
  • Latics are now in 16th place and Wimbledon are in 18th place in the League One table with one game of the season remaining.

Caldwell made two changes to the starting lineup following the 0-0 draw with Port Vale, with Captain Jason Kerr replacing Morgan Fox, and Harrison Bettoni replacing Dara Costelloe.

Latics started confidently and controlled possession but without really threatening the Dons goal.

Joe Taylor did well by the touchline to evade a Dons defender but he was unceremoniously brought down when he looked to have broken free.

The hosts approach play was good but when they got to the final third they were unable to penetrate a resolute Dons defence.

In fact the best chance of the half fell to the visitors Stewart but Tickle did superbly to come off his line quickly to block the strike.

Latics continued to dominate possession in the second half but they were once again frustrated by the Dons dogged defence.

Wimbledon did threaten on the counterattack and Stewart appeared to be pulled down by James Carragher on the edge of the box but despite appeals from the visitors, referee Matt Corlett waved away appeals.

Latics continued to press for the breakthrough and Fraser Murray came close when he cut inside and produced a powerful strike towards the top corner but the ball just cleared the crossbar.

Soon afterwards Latics went even closer when the ball bounced around the box following numerous blocked efforts before Taylor’s final effort was blocked on the line.

Just when it looked like the match would end in a stalemate the Dons struck in the 90th minute when substitute Hackford converted fellow substitute Nelson’s cross to secure safety for Wimbledon.

The defeat put a bit of a damper on Latics’ post match celebrations and they will be hoping for an improved performance in their final league one fixture at Stevenage next Saturday.

Overview

This wasn’t how the last home game was supposed to end. 

Latics had been hoping that they would sign off their last home game with a celebratory victory to finish the campaign.

But relegation threatened Wimbledon had other ideas and spoiled the party. The visitors had been defensively solid and tenacious in their desire not to lose the game.

Ultimately they had scored a late winner with a rare attack in a game that Latics had dominated.

The Dons hard work and commitment had shown they just wanted the victory more than Latics.

Latics had lacked a cutting edge and this game demonstrated that if Taylor isn’t firing then goals are hard to come by.

This performance will have given Caldwell plenty of food for thought. It will have given the manager more insights into the type of player that will be needed for next season if Latics are to be successful.

It’s clear that goalscoring has been a problem for most of the season and if it wasn’t for the loan of Taylor Latics might now be contemplating life in League Two.

A goalscoring striker who can lead the line must surely be the priority for next season.

League One Table

Post-match comments 

Afterwards Gary Caldwell spoke to the media.

“It was really disappointing in terms of the result.” He said.

“It was a frustrating game overall – we dominated possession. They came with a clear game plan and carried it out perfectly.

“We didn’t do enough – we didn’t play quickly enough, and didn’t hit the target enough. We had 16 shots, 10 corners and didn’t utilise them well enough to create problems.

“Ultimately, the longer the game went on, I could feel what was coming. We should’ve seen the game out for a 0-0 because when we can’t win like that, we cannot lose the game. 

“It was a big disappointment, but I am learning again about players and what we need to do as a team next season.

“Since we’ve been safe, part one is done, but there’s a big job to do in the summer to make sure that we have a much better team next season.

“The fans have been amazing. They have had a year which they do not want, and I have to make sure that next year they see a team they can be proud of, and hopefully when we play our last game here next season, there’s a much different feeling.”

Player ratings

Player ratings courtesy of WhoScored.com

Posted in AFC Wimbledon, Antwoine Hackford, Gary Caldwell, League One | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment