12th Man – Caldwell’s men need to show mental strength

Posted on March 18, 2016 by ianhaspinall
Gary Caldwell

Gary Caldwell is channeling the anger

Latics had a frustrating afternoon in Essex last Saturday when they were held by bottom of the league Colchester United. For most of the game they were the dominant team but two exceptional long distance strikes and a dubious penalty enabled the U’s to claim an unlikely draw.

Latics have now gone three games without a win and Gary Caldwell will be concerned that his team has been unable to kill off their opponents when they are on top, in particular against Peterborough and Colchester.

They managed a good point at Millwall after playing most of the game with ten men, but they failed to capitalise on their numerous goalscoring opportunities against Peterborough and Colchester.

Caldwell showed his anger and disappointment in the post-match interviews at Colchester.

“It was a game we totally controlled and we should have been more goals up at half-time than we were.

We created lots of chances first-half and didn’t put them away, something we should have done, and then second-half we paid the price.

We can’t really take a positive from getting a point; we came here to win the game and that’s what you have to do if you want to be successful and we didn’t do it.

We’ve got to work hard now; we have got to find players that don’t have that complacency and don’t take their foot off the pedal and then punish teams when we are on top.”

Caldwell had just come from reading the riot act to his players in the dressing room and it could be just the thing to get a big response from his team in the next game against Bradford City.

The manager was equally critical when Latics surrendered a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 at home to Sheffield United. They then went on to beat Chesterfield in their next game 3-1 and they are, of course, still unbeaten in 15 games.

Bradford are the form team in League One having recently broken into the play-off zone and only losing one of their last eight games. They are a big physically strong team who are dangerous at set pieces and Latics will have to be back to their best if they are to get the three points.

They could be boosted by the return of defender Jason Pearce and forward Conor McAleny and creative midfielder Michael Jacobs may not be too far off returning to the squad.

Caldwell will be expecting a big reaction from his players after the three recent draws. They now need to show their mental as well as their physical strength if they are to achieve promotion.

This article was first published in the 12th Man column for the Wigan Evening Post on Friday 18th March 2016.

Posted in Bradford City, Gary Caldwell, League One, Wigan Athletic | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Grigg rescues a point as Latics stumble – Colchester United 3 Wigan Athletic 3

Posted on March 13, 2016 by ianhaspinall
Colchester United's Community Stadium

Colchester United’s Community Stadium

Striker Will Grigg saved Wigan’s blushes with a 90th minute equaliser against bottom of the league Colchester in a high scoring draw.

Second placed Latics dominated the early play and went ahead through Yanic Wildschut but the U’s equalised through Alex Gilbey’s 25 yard strike.

Ryan Colclough restored Wigan’s advantage before half time but just after the restart another excellent shot from distance by Elliot Lee drew the U’s level.

Colchester were then awarded a controversial penalty when Reece Wabara appeared to win the ball from George Moncur, but referee Kevin Johnson awarded a spot kick and Moncur converted.

With time running out substitute Craig Davies’ deflected shot found Grigg who scored his 10th goal in eleven outings and his 18th in all competitions.

Wigan made two changes from the team which drew with Peterborough with new signing Stephen Warnock making his debut and Sam Morsy returning from suspension. Jason Pearce and Conor McAleny missed out due to injury.

Latics dominated the opening half, controlling possession and it only looked a matter of time before they would take the lead.

Yanic Wildschut created the first two chances when he found Grigg on the penalty spot, but the forward was twice denied by good saves from Elliot Parish.

Max Power was then denied by Parish’s boot after a low shot from inside the area.

Colchester hit back when Moncur twice tested Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Latics deservedly went ahead when Grigg dispossessed Tom Eastman. The striker stole the ball before passing to Wildschut and the Dutchman finished expertly in the bottom right corner.

But Colchester were level five minutes later. Referee Johnson allowed the home team to take a free kick five yards ahead of where the foul was committed.

The ball was quickly played to Gilbey 25 yards out and the midfielder hit an unstoppable drive into the top right hand corner of Jaaskelainen’s goal.

It was not long before Latics were back in front.

Wildschut drove powerfully into the area before setting up Colclough, who finished low into into the bottom right hand corner.

Latics deservedly went into the interval ahead but the U’s struck early in the second half with another wonder strike.

Elliot Lee created space on the edge of the area before firing his blistering shot past Jaaskelainen, this time from 20 yards out.

With 60 minutes played Colchester were controversially awarded a penalty.

Moncur cut into the area and was tackled by Reece Wabara who put the ball out for a corner, but referee Johnson pointed to the spot and Moncur got up to convert the kick.

Latics were stunned to be behind after dominating for such long periods.

But this team is nothing if not resilient and they quickly set about pressing for the equaliser.

Wildschut went close to levelling when he evaded several defenders before firing across the face of goal.

Donervon Daniels had a header just over and substitute Andy Kellett grazed the crossbar with another effort.

Haris Vuckic replaced Daniels as Latics went for all out attack.

With 90 minutes on the clock substitute Craig Davies’ deflected shot fell to Grigg and the prolific marksman made no mistake to draw Latics level.

Vuckic nearly won it in added time but his left footed effort flew just wide of the left hand post.

Latics have now gone three games without a win and Gary Caldwell will be concerned that his team have been unable to kill off their opponents when they are in the ascendancy, in particular as against Peterborough and Colchester.

It is not a time to panic, as they still lead Gillingham and Walsall by three points, but they will want to get back to winning ways starting against Bradford City next Saturday.

Posted in Alex Gilbey, Colchester United, Elliot Lee, George Moncur, League One, Ryan Colclough, Wigan Athletic, Will Grigg, Yanic Wildschut | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

12th Man – Where there’s a Will there’s a way

Posted on March 11, 2016 by ianhaspinall
Will Grigg Wigan Athletic

Will Grigg in fine form. Photograph courtesy of Wigan Athletic

Latics will be hoping to close the four-point gap on league leaders Burton Albion when they travel to bottom of the table club Colchester United on Saturday.

They are certainly capable of going on to claim the League One title as they now have the strongest squad in the division and in Will Grigg they have probably the best striker.

Nicky Ajose at Swindon and Adam Armstrong at Coventry currently lead the Scorers Table with 19 goals, but Grigg, with 17 goals, is now hitting top form despite his early season being disrupted by injury and International call-ups.

Grigg looks like eclipsing the 22 goals he scored in all competitions for MK Dons last season. He has scored 9 goals in his last 10 games and is improving just at the right time for Wigan’s promotion surge.

He is reaching peak form and should add plenty to his tally in the remaining games of the campaign.

When Gary Caldwell signed the 24-year-old Grigg at the beginning of the season, the striker was under tremendous pressure to deliver the goals for Latics promotion campaign. He has delivered so far, and he his surely capable of doing it in the Championship as well.

Grigg is not only driven by his desire for success with Wigan, but also by securing a place in Northern Ireland’s squad for the European Championships in France.

The Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill must have been very impressed when he watched him complete a hat-trick against Port Vale recently.

Grigg has the ability to make a big impact in the Euros especially if he can help Northern Ireland pull off some shock results in a difficult group with Germany, Ukraine and Poland.

Not only is Grigg a top goalscorer but he has many other good qualities as well. His desire to succeed and his work rate are excellent and his link-up play has been central to Latics’ best attacking play.

He is adept with both feet and he gets his fair share of headers and his movement off the ball means that he is always a problem for defenders.

He is usually in the right place at the right time and he will continue to score goals as long he gets good service.

Caldwell must be delighted with the acquisition of Grigg, who is likely to be the first Wigan Athletic striker to score more than 20 goals in a season since Nathan ‘Duke’ Ellington in 2004/05.

Grigg is now on the verge of a remarkable treble by making it three promotions in the last three seasons to the Championship. He was promoted with Brentford in 2014, then with MK Dons in 2015 and hopefully he will do it again with Latics in 2016.

This article was first published in the 12th Man column for the Wigan Evening Post on Friday 11th March 2016.

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Latics held but position strengthened – Wigan Athletic 1 Peterborough United 1

Posted on March 6, 2016 by ianhaspinall
WillGrigg2

Will Grigg took his tally to 16 goals in all competitions

Second placed Wigan were held 1-1 at home by Peterborough but still increased the gap to five points over third place.

It was a frustrating afternoon for Latics as they suffered three injury setbacks to Jussi Jaaskelainen, Conor McAleny and Jason Pearce. They still managed to dominate possession and create plenty of chances but generally lacked the killer touch.

When top scorer Will Grigg gave the home side the lead on 71 minutes it looked as though they would go on to win it, but a superb 35 yard free-kick from Marcus Maddison beat keeper Lee Nicholls on 80 minutes.

Latics managed to create several good opportunities before the final whistle but a combination of poor finishing and good defending ensured the Posh came away with a point.

Gary Caldwell made two changes from the 0-0 draw against Millwall with Donervon Daniels replacing the suspended Sam Morsy and Yanic Wildschut replacing Chris McCann.

Latics started tentatively and the Posh pushed forward in numbers. In fact, the away team nearly went ahead early on when former Latics loanee Shaq Coulthirst had a goal disallowed for offside.

But Wigan grew into the game and both Max Power and Craig Morgan tested Posh keeper Stuart Moore from distance.

Latics lost keeper Jaaskelainen following a head injury on 17 minutes and substitute keeper Lee Nicholls came on for his first appearance of the season.

The home team were now controlling the game and they went close on 26 minutes when Power’s curling shot went narrowly wide of Moore’s post.

McAleny tried his luck with a low drive, but the ball was deflected wide. Centre back Jason Pearce then headed just wide from a corner.

Wildschut was causing plenty of problems for the Posh defence. On 38 minutes he broke free and put in a dangerous cross only for Moore to clear the danger.

Moore then had to save McAleny’s drive before Wildschut fired wide of the target.

Wildschut was again in the action just before half time when he cut inside, but he blazed his shot wide of the Posh goal.

Wigan had to deal with a double injury blow either side of half-time when McAleny had to be replaced by McCann and Pearce was replaced by Leon Barnett.

The Posh had an early opportunity at the beginning of the second half when Nicholls did well to keep out Maddison’s low shot.

But Latics continued to have the better of it and Colclough should have put Wigan ahead after being played through one-on-one with Moore.

Reece Wabara, Chris McCann and David Perkins had attempts blocked as Wigan went in search of the elusive goal. Wildschut once again broke free down the left but put his side-footed effort agonisingly wide.

But on 71 minutes Latics finally got the breakthrough with a clinical finish by top scorer Will Grigg.

Daniels played the ball to Grigg on the edge of the area, who found space before slipping the ball past Moore into the bottom corner of the net.

It looked as though Latics would now go on to seal the points, but out of the blue Maddison produced an exceptional 35 yard free-kick which swerved past Nicholls and went in off the post.

Despite the setback Latics still managed to create some great opportunities before the final whistle.

Wildschut found space on the left to cross but Colclough’s shot was somehow blocked.

A goalmouth scramble on 85 minutes resulted in the ball falling to David Perkins on the edge of the area but the Man of the Match blasted his shot just over the crossbar.

Then Moore pulled off another great save to frustrate Grigg at close range.

A point at home was a disappointment, but with many of the other results in League One going their way, Latics couldn’t be too downhearted.

Latics unbeaten run has now been extended to 14 games, they are now five points clear of third place Gillingham and are still only four points behind leaders Burton with 11 games remaining.

Posted in League One, Marcus Maddison, Peterborough United, Wigan Athletic, Will Grigg | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

12th Man – Caldwell is learning from the best

Posted on March 4, 2016 by ianhaspinall
Wigan manager Gary Caldwell

Gary Caldwell is learning from the best

It is now 12 months since David Sharpe took over the reins as chairman of Wigan Athletic and what an incredible transformation has taken place during that period.

The young chairman has had to make some big decisions during his early tenure but appointing Gary Caldwell as manager is surely his best.

Caldwell was always a good organiser on the pitch and was captain of Scotland, Celtic and Wigan, but it was a risky strategy to give the untried Caldwell the job after the disastrous appointment of Malky Mackay.

But Caldwell has learned well from his previous managers, which include Bobby Robson, Gordon Strachan and Roberto Martinez.

Caldwell had a spell as a teenage player under Bobby Robson at Newcastle. The young Scot was impetuous and demanded to get a game in the first team but Robson believed he wasn’t ready and when Caldwell asked the question too often he was sold to Hibernian.

But it was a formative experience for the young defender and he has subsequently admitted he learned much from Robson’s advice.

Gordon Strachan was Caldwell’s manager at Celtic and he won two Scottish titles with him in charge. Strachan gave him the confidence to accept his weaknesses and to build on his strengths.

His experiences at Celtic have helped instil a winning mentality and he is now passing this onto his own players at Wigan. Strachan was renowned for his fiery temper and Caldwell has also learned to read the riot act when necessary.

But Martinez is his biggest influence and Caldwell has adapted the Spaniard’s style of play to League One. Caldwell speaks regularly to Martinez if he needs advice. Both managers believe in possession, building from the back and trying to play football on the ground.

Caldwell has a good team of coaches around him with ex-Latics’ players Graham Barrow, Joe Parkinson, Peter Atherton and Mike Pollitt all involved in the decision-making process.

Latics progress has been founded on a scientific approach to recruitment with every player targeted, thoroughly researched and watched in different conditions before signing.

The club has targeted mainly young, up and coming players who are comfortable on the ball and capable of playing at a higher level.

Ironically Caldwell’s oldest signing has proved to be a masterstroke.

40-year-old goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen was out of contract at West Ham United and the manager was looking for cover for Richard O’Donnell, but the big Finn has become first choice and been a revelation. Latics have only lost 2 in 27 games with Jussi between the sticks.

Latics have recruited constantly since the summer with 29 players joining. The new players inevitably took time to gel but they have improved week by week.

The January transfer window provided a huge bonus as Caldwell was able to add strength in depth with the signings of winger Yanic Wildschut, midfielder Sam Morsy, defender Reece Wabara and forwards Ryan Colclough and Conor McAleny.

Tactics, man management, motivational skills and bringing in the right type of players have all been crucial to Caldwell’s success, but it may be his ability to make use of the best advice from his past managers which could prove to be his greatest asset.

This article was first published in the 12th Man column for the Wigan Evening Post on Friday 4th March 2016.

Posted in Bobby Robson, Gary Caldwell, Gordon Strachan, League One, Roberto Martinez, Wigan Athletic | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Jussi enough for Latics – Millwall 0 Wigan Athletic 0

Posted on March 1, 2016 by ianhaspinall
Jussi2

Jussi Jaaskelainen helped Latics to an important point at the Den

Goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen was the hero as Wigan maintained their promotion push with a hard fought 0-0 draw at Millwall.

Latics had to play 60 minutes without midfielder Sam Morsy after he was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

Millwall were wasteful in front of goal, but the veteran keeper Jaaskelainen is having a superb swan song to his career and made important saves to deny Jed Wallace, Byron Webster, Lee Gregory and Steve Morison.

Wigan remain in second spot, as both Gillingham and Coventry lost and Walsall drew, although they now sit four points behind leaders Burton, while Millwall stay in fifth spot.

Gary Caldwell made one change to the team which defeated Bury on Saturday with Conor McAleny replacing Yanic Wildschut in the starting eleven.

Latics started nervously and the Lions physical presence was causing plenty of problems in the early stages.

Jed Wallace forced Jaaskelainen into a full stretch save before Byron Webster headed over from a Wallace free-kick.

Latics had a free-kick in a dangerous position on the edge of the box but McCann was not able to capitalise, hitting it straight into the wall.

Just as Latics were starting to settle Sam Morsy was dismissed for a second yellow card in the 33rd minute. The sending off seemed somewhat harsh, but Morsy should have known better than to commit a second offence so soon after the first.

Despite the numerical disadvantage Latics finished the first half strongly, with shots from Colclough and McAleny just missing the target.

Gary Caldwell decided to replace Ryan Colclough with Leon Barnett at the interval as the manager looked to strengthen his defence and secure at least a point.

The second half was a generally one sided affair as Millwall pressed for the breakthrough and Latics defended  resolutely with Jaaskelainen outstanding.

Morison blasted over from Shane Ferguson’s cross after 52 minutes. Jaaskelainen had to push away a Wallace free-kick, then an effort from Gregory on the follow up and then Wallace shot wide from a good position.

Caldwell replaced McAleny with Craig Davies after 65 minutes.

Millwall then wasted a glorious opportunity when Jaaskelainen saved from Gregory and with the keeper still on the ground, Wallace blasted over with the goal at his mercy.

The 40-year-old keeper then showed his quality to deny a superb effort from Jimmy Abdou. The Lions came close again when Joe Martin headed just wide from Ferguson’s cross in the 79th minute.

Caldwell replaced Will Grigg with Yanic Wildschut as Latics looked for a breakaway to stem the tide of pressure.

Millwall continued to dominate however and Wallace fired over the crossbar from 25 yards out.

Wallace then produced a free-kick from the right and Morrison missed yet another opportunity as the ball landed at his feet from the initial clearance.

Despite five minutes added time Latics held on for an important point and extended their unbeaten run to thirteen games.

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Latics in hot pursuit of top spot – Wigan Athletic 3 Bury 0

Posted on February 27, 2016 by ianhaspinall
Will Grigg Wigan Athletic

Will Grigg grabbed a brace and increased his total to 16 goals for the season

Wigan Athletic extended their unbeaten run to twelve games and increased the pressure on league leaders Burton Albion as they eased past Bury 3-0 at the DW Stadium.

Latics quickly sealed the three points with a scintillating opening 21 minutes.

First Will Grigg headed home on seven minutes after great work by Yanic Wildschut, and Ryan Colclough scored his first goal for Wigan after 10 minutes with a superb drive from the edge of the area.

Grigg then added a third from the penalty spot, after being brought down in the box by Bury keeper Ian Lawlor.

Wigan continue to get stronger and they are now only two points behind Burton who were held 0-0 at home by Walsall.

Latics made two changes from the team which won at Walsall with Yanic Wildschut and Reece Wabara replacing Conor McAleny and Donervon Daniels.

Latics might have gone ahead as early as the third minute when Will Grigg met Wildschut’s low cross at the near post but a combination of a Bury defender and keeper Lawlor somehow denied the striker.

Wildschut was proving to be massive threat and Latics went ahead when the Flying Dutchman out paced his markers and put in a perfect cross for Grigg who headed home at the near post.

Two minutes later Latics doubled their lead when Ryan Colclough produced a fine individual goal cutting in from the right hand side and driving the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the Bury net.

Wigan were unstoppable and they added a third from the penalty spot on 21 minutes.

Grigg broke free in the box and was rather unnecessarily brought down by the keeper Lawlor. The Irishman finished coolly into the top right hand corner despite having the pressure of missing his last penalty at Sheffield United.

Bury tried to respond and produced a half chance on 25 minutes when Tom Pope had a header just wide of the target.

In the 27th minute Latics fans rose to applaud James France, a life-long fan who passed away last week at the age of 93.

On 42 minutes Chris McCann nearly added to the lead when he broke through the Bury defence and fired a low drive inches wide of the far post.

Just before the interval Jussi Jaaskelainen produced a breathtaking double save. First the 40-year-old keeper denied Danny Mayor from 7 yards, before he got back up to deny Tom Pope’s shot from even closer range.

But Latics still had time to create more chances. Max Power curled a free kick from 25 yards out which was well saved by Lawlor.

Then from the resulting corner a goalmouth scramble ensued with Grigg and then Wildschut somehow unable to find the net from close range.

Bury tried to get back into the game at the beginning of the second half and Jaaskelainen pulled off an excellent save to deny Lowe at the near post.

Latics had a great chance soon afterwards when Grigg broke free down the left hand side, and then cut into the area but his rising drive crashed against the crossbar and away to safety.

Bury were working hard to keep the score down, but Latics hit the woodwork once again on 70 minutes when Colclough cut the ball back to Max Power and the young midfielder smashed the ball against crossbar.

Power had another effort well saved by Lawlor’s feet as Latics somehow failed to increase their lead in the second half.

As the game moved into added time a mass brawl broke out after a bad challenge on Max Power. Four players were subsequently booked, with three for Bury (Andrew Tutte, Danny Mayor and Craig Jones) and one for Latics (Craig Davies).

Latics continue to build momentum at the top of the table, they are closing the gap on Burton and they are now four points clear of Gillingham and Walsall. On this form automatic promotion is surely within their grasp.

Posted in Bury, League One, Ryan Colclough, Wigan Athletic, Will Grigg | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

12th Man – No slip-ups allowed

Posted on February 26, 2016 by ianhaspinall
Gary Caldwell

Gary Caldwell focused on promotion

Latics produced another breathtaking away victory at Walsall and sent a strong message to their promotion rivals that they are gunning for the League One title.

After Burton Albion’s midweek defeat to Southend United, Latics are now only four points behind the league leaders with 14 games and 42 points still to play for.

Gary Caldwell’s team has made a remarkable surge up the table following an inconsistent start to the season. The manager and his recruitment team have made some excellent signings during the campaign and the squad now has greater quality in depth.

But tomorrow’s opponents Bury provide a stark reminder of how quickly things can go wrong, if the mindset is not right.

Latics were thrashed 4-0 in the FA Cup first round tie at Gigg Lane. Caldwell told the media at the time that it was the lowest point he’d had as a manager. He said:

“I’m embarrassed and I apologise to the fans. I’d have made 11 changes at HT and 3 more in the second half if I could.”

Latics had started well, but after a mistake by keeper Richard O’Donnell gifted the Shakers the lead, the performance went rapidly downhill and they were 3-0 down by half time.

Former Latics loanee Leon Clarke rubbed salt in the wound by adding a fourth in the second half.

Latics will be seeking revenge for that drubbing in the FA Cup and Caldwell and his coaching staff will be ramming home the message to the players that they must maintain their high standards if they are to achieve top spot.

Following the Bury game, Latics will have one of their most difficult fixtures of the season when they face fifth placed Millwall at the New Den on Tuesday night.

It is a notoriously difficult place to play with an intimidating crowd so Latics will have to be at their best to get a good result.

Last season both clubs were relegated from the Championship and the equivalent fixture was a bad-tempered encounter.

Millwall set out with a game plan to intimidate Latics with some tough tackling and off the ball aggravation and the strategy paid dividends in the second half as Martyn Waghorn was sent off for retaliation and then Jason Pearce and Ed Upson were both dismissed for an altercation as the game descended into chaos.

Caldwell will want to ensure there are no slip-ups this time around and the team’s focus must not waiver, whatever the intimidation, if they are to get the results required.

This article was first published in the 12th Man column for the Wigan Evening Post on Friday 26th February 2016.

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Wigan move on up – Walsall 1 Wigan Athletic 2

Posted on February 21, 2016 by ianhaspinall
Yanic Wildschut Wigan Athletic

Yanic Wildschut scored a 91st minute winner. Photograph courtesy of Wigan Athletic

Latics moved into second spot in the table with Yanic Wildschut’s 91st minute winner at Walsall and leapfrogged Walsall and Gillingham in the race for promotion.

Wigan took the lead in the first half with a 30 yard screamer by Everton loanee Conor McAleny, but they were pegged back by Sam Mantom’s long range strike on 68 minutes.

With both sides going for the winner it was substitute Wildschut who scored a stunning individual goal to give Wigan a massively important three points.

Gary Caldwell made two changes to the team which drew with Oldham Athletic with Sam Morsy returning in place of Reece Wabara and Ryan Colclough making his full debut in place of Wildschut.

In a fiercely competitive opening both teams battled to take control of the game, but it was Latics who created the better chances in the first half.

David Perkins produced a teasing cross from the left hand side but former Walsall striker Will Grigg was unable to make the vital connection.

Ryan Colclough then showed a good turn of pace and and went past two defenders before hitting a low drive which beat Neil Etheridge but ended in the side netting.

In the 39th minute Latics were ahead. McAleny picked up a pass from Morsy and unleashed an unstoppable effort from 30 yards which flew straight past Etheridge and into the Walsall net.

Latics might have increased their lead before the interval when Donervon Daniels’s excellent low cross evaded everyone including Grigg and Chris McCann. Grigg produced a shot from 25 yards which Etheridge did well to push away to safety.

Colclough was then brought down on the edge of the box, and McAleny’s dipping free-kick went just inches over the crossbar.

Latics had deserved their lead and probably should have been further ahead at the interval.

The home side responded at the beginning of the second half with Jason Demetriou’s shot from inside the box well blocked by Morsy, then Milan Lalkovic blasted over.

But Latics should have gone further ahead when they created a series of chances. In the 53rd minute Grigg hit the side netting from close range after good work by Colclough.

McAleny shot over the crossbar from a great position after Grigg had set him up on the edge of the box. Then Grigg once again hit the side netting after looking odds on to finish when Daniels found him free in the box.

But against the run of play Walsall equalised in the 68th minute. Demetriou’s free-kick rebounded off the Wigan defensive wall to Sam Mantom, and the midfielder volleyed the ball into the top corner of the Wigan net from 30 yards out.

Walsall were boosted by the unexpected equaliser and they would have gone ahead if it was not for some top class saves from Jussi Jaaskelainenen.

Milan Lalkovic broke free and hit a low effort which the Latics keeper pushed away with his legs, but Lalkovic retrieved the rebound and fired a stinging effort from close range which Jaaskelainenen did extremely well to push into the air and eventually over the crossbar.

Latics needed to find a response and Gary Caldwell made attacking substitutions first with Wildschut replacing Colclough and then later with Craig Davies replacing Conor McAleny.

Grigg might have made the breakthrough on 75 minutes when he evaded the challenges of two Walsall defenders but he scuffed his shot and the ball went wide of the far post.

It was end to end stuff now and Jaaskelainen tipped Anthony Forde’s shot over the bar just as it was heading for the top corner.

With 91 minutes on the clock Wildschut produced a stunning winner as he cut in from the left hand side and unleashed a powerful low drive past Etheridge to send the 1800 Latics fans into delirium.

Latics surge up the table has been remarkable as they are now unbeaten in 11 games and have only lost 2 in the last 25 games. Gary Caldwell has made some astute signings and the squad now has greater quality in depth. Mix quality with a relentless never-say-die attitude and Latics have the resources to go onto win promotion.

Posted in Conor McAleny, Gary Caldwell, League One, Walsall, Wigan Athletic, Yanic Wildschut | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

12th Man – Playing for high-stakes

Posted on February 19, 2016 by ianhaspinall
Sam Morsy

Sam Morsy may come into the team at Walsall

Latics will have to be at their best tomorrow if they are to overcome promotion rivals Walsall at the Banks’s Stadium. The Saddlers sit in third place in the table, and lead Latics by one point as well as having a game in hand, so it would be the perfect time to get a victory.

Latics are on a great run and are undefeated in 10 games, and have only lost 2 in 24 games. But Walsall are also in a good vein of form and have only lost two in the last 14 League games and have responded very well to losing manager Dean Smith to Brentford in December.

New manager Sean O’Driscoll has managed to maintain the momentum near the top of the table and despite much speculation about departures during the transfer window, they have managed to hold onto highly rated players Romaine Sawyers, Rico Henry and top scorer Tom Bradshaw.

Walsall have won many plaudits for their attractive style of football including from former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho who came up against them in the League Cup and commented:

“I have years of cups in this country and I haven’t found a team in League One playing the quality of football that Walsall tried to play.”

Latics will certainly have to up their game after a toothless 0-0 draw with Oldham Athletic. Gary Caldwell will be looking for a big reaction from his players who never really got going against Oldham.

The manager suggested that there could be one or two changes after the below par performance at the DW Stadium. I expect Sam Morsy to come into the team and there could also be a start for Haris Vuckic, who was unlucky to miss out last week.

I am expecting an open game with two teams who like to play football in the right way. Walsall do have home advantage, but on paper Latics look to have the stronger squad, especially since the new additions in the transfer window.

That extra quality could be the difference in a closely fought game. The new players Yanic Wildschut, Sam Morsy, Ryan Colclough, Conor McAleny and Reece Wabara have already made a good impression, but they are capable of having an even bigger impact as the season moves towards its climax.

Latics will be roared on by a big away following at the Banks’s Stadium. It is a high stakes game and everyone will be acutely aware that the winners will move one step closer to an automatic promotion spot.

This article was first published in the 12th Man column for the Wigan Evening Post on Friday 19th February 2016.

 

 

Posted in Gary Caldwell, League One, Sam Morsy, Walsall, Wigan Athletic | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment