Wigan boost survival hopes – Norwich City 0 Wigan Athletic 1

Posted on March 4, 2015 by ianhaspinall
Norwich City, Carrow Road

Norwich City, Carrow Road

Latics strengthened their hopes of a great escape from relegation with a hard-fought 1-0 victory at promotion chasing Norwich City.

An eighth minute volley from Kim BO-kyung was enough for Latics to secure a surprise three points and prevent the Canaries from moving into the automatic promotion places.

Norwich dominated possession but were unable to overcome a well-drilled and determined Latics defence.

Malky Mackay made one change from the team which won away at Blackpool at the weekend with Leon Clarke replacing Sheyi Ojo.

The Latics lined up with a 442 formation with James McClean and Jermaine Pennant offering plenty of width to get forward and support the central strikers Marc-Antoine Fortune and Leon Clarke.

Graham Dorrans fired the first shot for Norwich on six minutes when he fired wide after Wigan had been pushed back into their own penalty area.

But Wigan were ahead on eight minutes when Kim volleyed into the roof of Ruddy’s net from the edge of the six-yard box, following good work between Clarke and McClean at a throw-in.

Norwich surged forward in an attempt to grab a quick reply but they rarely managed to trouble Latics keeper Scott Carson.

The Canaries finally created a chance in stoppage time at the end of the first period, but the unmarked Cameron Jerome miscued his attempted header from 12 yards out.

The home team started the second half on the front foot and pressing Latics in the final third, but they were still unable to test Carson.

Latics always looked dangerous on the break and on 70 minutes they nearly doubled their lead when a poor back pass to Ruddy was chased down by Fortune but the striker was unable to get a toe to the ball.

Norwich continued to dominate possession but Latics maintained a resolute rearguard action.

The Wigan players were showing tremendous spirit and determination, with Kim and Emmerson Boyce probably the stand out performances, in what was an excellent team effort.

When Jerome finally turned the Latics defence in the 90th minute, the travelling fans hearts were in their mouths, but fortunately the striker blazed high and wide and Latics held on for what could prove to be a crucial victory.

The result means that Wigan have clawed back the points deficit to fourth bottom Rotherham to six points. A win on Saturday at home to Leeds United would set up what may prove to be a relegation decider at Rotherham on 14th March.

Posted in Championship, Emmerson Boyce, Kim Bo-Kyung, Norwich City, Wigan Athletic | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Great Wigan Athletic escapes

Posted on March 3, 2015 by ianhaspinall
Hugo Rodallega cebrates the winner

Hugo Rodallega celebrates the winner at Stoke City on the last day of the 2010/11 season

Last Saturday’s 3-1 victory at Blackpool has revived hopes that Wigan can avoid the drop to League One. Latics are in deep trouble, nine points from safety with only twelve games remaining, but over the years they have managed some great escapes from the relegation zone.

In the 1988/89 season Latics were in the Third Division (now League One) and for most of the season they looked like serious relegation candidates. They remained close to the bottom four for much of the season.

But when the manager Ray Mathias was sacked in early March he was replaced by Chief Executive and former manager Brian Hamilton with Tommy Cavanagh appointed as his assistant.

Hamilton was responsible for a major upturn in form and he helped to secure Wigan’s place in the division. He managed to convince key players Joe Parkinson and Alan Johnson to sign new contracts at a time when if they had left, Latics would probably have been relegated.

Wigan were one of six teams embroiled in the scrap to avoid the four relegation places, but they lost only one of their last 12 League games winning six and drawing five and finished in 17th place.

In more recent times Latics have fought some amazing battles against relegation from the Premier League.

Paul Jewell’s team went into the final game of the 2006/07 season without a win in eleven games and looking likely to be relegated from the top division. Latics knew that only victory at relegation rivals Sheffield United would be enough to keep them up.

It was a relentless battle with both teams desperate for the victory. Latics took the lead through a well taken Paul Scharner low drive but United equalised through a John Stead header.

Latics lost captain Arjan de Zeeuw through injury and later striker Lee McCulloch to a red card, but they won a penalty that was converted by former Blade David Unsworth to lead 2-1.

The tide of United pressure after McCulloch’s sending off was seemingly endless, with one effort by Danny Webber hitting the post and rolling agonisingly along the Wigan goal line.

Centre forward Emile Heskey was driven further and further back into defence and was to play a major role in Wigan’s successful rearguard action.

Latics had survived but it was a hard result to take for Sheffield United, as West Ham, who had fielded an ineligible player Carlos Tevez, won at Manchester United and the Blades were relegated to the Championship.

It was real Roy of the Rovers stuff at the end of the 2010/11 season as Latics had to win their final two games of the season to survive. It was all going wrong when they were 2-0 down at half time to relegation rivals West Ham in their penultimate game.

The roller coaster encounter saw Latics come back and win 3-2 in the 94th minute with a modern-day Roy Race that was Charles N’Zogbia getting the last gasp winner.

Wigan went to Stoke City on the last day of the season knowing that they would need to win and other results to go their way if they were to stay up.

With 13 minutes remaining they were in the relegation zone, but a Manchester United goal against Blackpool and then Hugo Rodallega’s 78th minute headed goal made them safe.

Cue wild celebrations with Roberto Martinez being bounced in the air by the players and then throwing his lucky jacket to the fans, wallet included! Dave Whelan showered in champagne by Hugo and then warmly embraced by Roberto.

The 2011/12 season ended in rather bizarre circumstances as Wigan secured an eighth season in the Premier League with a 1-0 victory and in the process relegated Blackburn Rovers. When Rovers’ controversial Indian owners Venkys took over in 2010 they did not appreciate that the club could be relegated.

In the strange surroundings of a hostile home crowd chanting for the removal of the owner’s and manager Steve Kean, Wigan had to maintain their concentration and focus on the crucial task in hand.

The prospect of a mass pitch invasion from the protesters was always a possibility and one Rovers fan did get on the pitch and in a rather futile gesture throw his season ticket towards the beleaguered Kean, but the ticket only ended up near Roberto Martinez.

Even the bizarre sight of a chicken dressed in Rovers’ colours entering the pitch in Ali Al-Habsi’s goalmouth could not distract Wigan from achieving an historic result.

Wigan had completed the season winning six of their last eight matches, beating Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Newcastle in the process. Some of Wigan’s play during this run was a joy to watch and more in keeping with a top four club than a team fighting against relegation.

Latics will have to pull out all the stops if they are survive this season, but they’ve done it before and they could do it again.

Posted in Brian Hamilton, Charles N'Zogbia, David Unsworth, Hugo Rodallega, Paul Jewell, Paul Scharner, Ray Mathias, Roberto Martinez, Wigan Athletic | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Latics win battle of the basement – Blackpool 1 Wigan Athletic 3

Posted on March 1, 2015 by ianhaspinall
Blackpool FC, Bloomfield Road by Footyawaydays

Aerial view of Bloomfield Road, Blackpool FC by Footyawaydays

Wigan deservedly won the battle of the Championship’s basement clubs with a 3-1 victory at Bloomfield Road.

The three points maintained Latics’ slim hopes of survival but virtually condemned the Seasiders to relegation to League One.

South Korean midfielder Kim Bo-Kyung gave Wigan the lead on the stroke of half time. On loan defender Harry Maguire headed a second on 67 minutes following Jermaine Pennant’s corner.

James McClean sealed the points for Latics on 79 minutes before Gary Madine got a consolation goal for the Seasiders in the closing stages.

Malky Mackay surprisingly made only one change to the team beaten 1-0 by Cardiff City with Scott Carson coming in to replace Ali Al-Habsi in goal.

Cheered on by over 2,000 travelling fans, Latics were on top from the start on a very difficult playing surface.

They might have gone ahead on 13 minutes as Jason Pearce got his head to Jermaine Pennant’s corner, but James Perch was just unable to get the final touch at the far post.

Kim Bo-Kyung was proving to be Latics most creative player and his promptings nearly created a goal for Pearce. The South Korean’s cross found the former Leeds defender but he couldn’t get quite enough power on his header to trouble Blackpool keeper Joe Lewis.

The conditions were making passing difficult and it was looking as though the teams would go into the interval level, but Latics took an important step towards victory on the the stroke of half time.

James McClean drove past two defenders before shooting low towards goal. Keeper Lewis, parried the shot and Pennant pulled the ball back to Kim to tap into the empty net.

Wigan had a scare early in the second half when Tony McMahon went down in the box as Carson came to claim Perkins’ through ball, but fortunately the referee Keith Stroud gave a yellow card for simulation.

Wigan’s back line was proving resolute with all four defenders on fine form. It was club captain Emmerson Boyce who came to the rescue on 62 minutes. A free-kick from Jamie O’Hara led to a scramble in front of goal before Tom Aldred’s effort from close range was superbly cleared off the line by Boyce.

Kim then set up Marc Antoine-Fortune with a great chance to double Latics’ lead, but the striker curled his effort wide from the edge of the area.

Latics were more successful a couple of minutes later when Pennant’s corner to the back post was headed back across goal by Harry Maguire and although it got a touch by Aldred, the ball hit the back of the net.

The game was sealed on 79 minutes when Kim broke quickly to the half-way line and played in three Latics’ players clear on goal. McClean was determined to have it and commanded the ball from Clarke and Fortune before rifling it past Lewis to secure the vital three points.

Blackpool managed a consolation goal on 85 minutes when Madine turned home McMahon’s cross but it was all too late for the Seasiders as Latics ran out comfortable winners.

Blackpool now look odds on for relegation and are 15 points adrift of safety. Latics sit 9 points behind Rotherham and Brighton and have revived their slim hopes of survival.

Posted in Blackpool, Championship, Gary Madine, Harry Maguire, James McClean, Kim Bo-Kyung, Wigan Athletic | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

12th Man: It’s time to make a decisive move

Posted on February 27, 2015 by ianhaspinall
Nigel Adkins

‘Steady Nigel’ – Nigel Adkins

Another home game and another defeat and Malky Mackay’s days as Wigan Athletic manager are surely numbered. Latics might have been unlucky with the two offside decisions but overall they lacked any great conviction and rarely looked capable of overcoming a fairly average Cardiff team.

The desperately poor run of form continues and manager Mackay and his assistant David Kerslake look lost for ideas and unable to have any positive impact on results. Mackay has overseen a massive turnover in playing staff but results have only deteriorated since he took over.

Wigan have only won 2 of his 16 league games in charge and they are now 9 points from safety with 13 games remaining. It was a high-risk strategy to appoint Mackay given his controversial background but the risk has not worked out.

Not only has the team failed on the pitch, but also his appointment has been a PR disaster and has damaged the reputation of the club. Wigan’s relegation to League One looks imminent and now is the right moment for the club and Mackay to part company.

Dave Whelan has not spoken publicly since his FA ban for supporting Mackay but now is the time for a change in direction. If Whelan still has the best interests of the club at heart it is time to bite the bullet and make the change now in preparation for next season.

The club needs to appoint a manager who can change the ethos at the club and re-instill the team spirit that was evident under Roberto Martinez. We need a manager who will not only rebuild the squad but also improve the image of the club and create a new bond with the supporters.

My candidate for the role would be former Latics keeper Nigel Adkins who has been very successful as manager of Scunthorpe United and Southamption. ‘Steady Nigel’ played 155 games for Latics in the 1980’s and early 90’s and has an affinity for the club.

Latics fans named him ‘Steady Nigel’ as they used to shout it when he came for crosses. He knows League One very well and managed to get both the Iron and the Saints promoted from League One to the Championship.

At Southampton he took the club from League One to the Premier League and was very unfortunate to lose his job when the club were in a position above the relegation zone. Adkins went onto manage Reading, but despite finishing seventh in the Championship in his first full season in charge he was sacked after a 6-1 defeat at Birmingham City in December 2014.

Adkins is currently being linked with the vacancies at Coventry City and Peterborough United but Dave Whelan would be wise to act quickly, make the change in manager and interview ‘Steady Nigel’.

This article was first published in the 12th Man column for the Wigan Evening Post on 27th February 2015.

Posted in Championship, Dave Whelan, Malky Mackay, Nigel Adkins, Wigan Athletic | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Out of ideas and out of luck – Wigan Athletic 0 Cardiff City 1

Posted on February 25, 2015 by ianhaspinall
Malky Mackay and David Kerslake

Lost for ideas: Malky Mackay and 1st team coach David Kerslake

Wigan Athletic slumped to another disappointing home defeat when they lost 1-0 to Cardiff City and moved closer to the trap door to League One.

Aron Gunnarsson slotted home the game’s only goal after 20 minutes, although Latics had two goals disallowed for offside which on another day might have stood.

For a team supposedly fighting for survival Latics were toothless in attack and had fewer efforts on goal than the visitors.

Mackay made three changes to the side which was beaten by Charlton Athletic, with both Jermaine Pennant and Gaetan Bong making their first team debuts in place of the injured duo of Leon Clarke and William Kvist. Club captain Emmerson Boyce was recalled in place of Andrew Taylor.

Latics created an early opportunity on 14 minutes when Pennant headed Bong’s cross from the left wide of the far post.

But despite enjoying plenty of possession Latics went behind on 20 minutes. Kenwyne Jones headed the ball into the path of Aron Gunnarsson who easily avoided some half-hearted challenges by Wigan defenders before calmly slotting the ball past Ali Al-Habsi.

Wigan continued to enjoy plenty of possession but rarely threatened the Cardiff goal. It was not until defender Emmerson Boyce broke forward, making his 250th appearance for the club, that Latics created an opportunity, but Marc-Antoine Fortune was unable to get onto Boyce’s through ball.

Latics should have been level seven minutes from half time when Bong flicked on Fortune’s cross in the direction of James McClean, who finished comfortably into the bottom corner. The linesman ruled that McClean was offside, but subsequent replays indicated otherwise.

Wigan continued their dominance of possession after half time but struggled to create clear chances. Marc-Antoine Fortune did have an opportunity in the 54th minute but he fired over the crossbar from a tight angle.

With fifteen minutes remaining on loan defender Harry Maguire almost got onto the score sheet when his low drive from the edge of the area was tipped around the post by Cardiff keeper Marshall.

Soon afterwards Latics looked to have got the vital equaliser when Boyce crossed for substitute Martyn Waghorn to finish with aplomb, but the linesman once again controversially flagged for offside.

Cardiff might have doubled their lead with two minutes of normal time remaining when Sean Morrison headed narrowly over the crossbar from a Peter Whittingham cross.

Latics were unable to muster a grandstand finish and the three points went relatively tamely to Cardiff.

Wigan had been unlucky with the two offside decisions but overall they lacked any great conviction and had fewer shots than the visitors.

The desperately poor run of form continues and manager Mackay and his assistant David Kerslake look lost for ideas and unable to have any positive impact on results.

Despite overseeing a massive turnover in playing staff results have not improved under Mackay. Wigan have only won 2 of his 16 League games in charge and they are now 9 points from safety with 13 games remaining.

Posted in Aron Gunnarsson, Cardiff City, Championship, David Kerslake, Malky Mackay, Wigan Athletic | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Latics nightmare continues – Wigan Athletic 0 Charlton Athletic 3

Posted on February 21, 2015 by ianhaspinall
Leon Clarke

On loan striker Leon Clarke was carried off wearing a neck brace

Wigan’s nightmare season took another turn for the worse with an emphatic 3-0 home defeat to Charlton.

A clinical finish by Frederic Bulot and a header by Igor Ventekele gave the Addicks a 2-0 half-time lead before substitute Chris Eagles added a third late on.

The result which dumps Latics deeper into relegation trouble was compounded by a serious head injury to striker Leon Clarke and a hamstring injury for midfielder William Kvist.

Malky Mackay made one change to the team which won at Reading on Tuesday night, with the injured Chris Herd replaced by Kim Bo-Kyung in central midfield.

Latics started brightly and dominated proceedings in the opening fifteen minutes, creating a series of chances.

In the sixth minute Marc-Antoine Fortune broke away from several challenges before forcing a low save from Addicks keeper Stephen Henderson.

Henderson was then forced to tip over Leon Clarke’s header from the resulting corner.

Soon afterwards Fortune was desperately unlucky not to put Latics ahead, when he headed narrowly wide from Sheyi Ojo’s cross to the back post.

Latics were well on top, and it seemed only a matter of time before they would take the lead. But the game turned in the Addicks favour in the 18th minute when William Kvist was injured in a fifty fifty challenge and the ball broke to Frederic Bulot on the left hand side of the penalty area and he smashed the ball past Ali Al-Habsi.

Wigan were in shock that they had conceded after dominating and matters got worse about 15 minutes later when on loan striker Leon Clarke went down with a neck injury and had to be carried from the field wearing a neck brace.

The Latics players heads went down as both Kvist and Clarke had both been forced to leave the field through injury.

Charlton went further ahead in first half stoppage time when Igor Vetokele was allowed far too much room in the centre of the penalty box and he headed comfortably past Al-Habsi to double the lead.

Given the scoreline and the injuries Latics had a mountain to climb in the second half.

Initially they tried to fight back with Sheyi Ojo looking lively but Charlton should’ve been further ahead in the 52nd minute, when Vetokele raced clear of the defence and had the goal at his mercy, only to narrowly miss the target.

Tony Watt had a similar opportunity five minutes later, but he too put his effort wide of Al-Habsi’s goal.

Harry Maguire’s header forced a save from Henderson and James McClean almost pulled a goal back when he cut in from the right and beat two defenders, before firing over the crossbar.

But with two minutes of normal time remaining Charlton added a third when substitute Chris Eagles completed a neat move to score from close range.

It was another desperately disappointing home defeat that leaves Latics second bottom in the table, six points away from safety and having played a game more than their rivals.

Wigan have not won at the DW Stadium since August and unless they can start to put together a sequence of home wins any hopes of avoiding relegation are unrealistic.

The opportunity to build momentum after the away victory at Reading had been lost and the increasing number of injuries to key players has now made the prospect of a great escape look even more unlikely.

Posted in Championship, Charlton Athletic, Chris Eagles, Frederic Bulot, Igor Vetokele, Leon Clarke, Malky Mackay, Wigan Athletic, William Kvist | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

12th Man: Reading between lines we are back!

Posted on February 20, 2015 by ianhaspinall
Harry Maguire

On loan defender Harry Maguire made a promising debut

Tuesday night’s 1-0 win at Reading has given everyone renewed hope that Latics can escape the drop to League One. It was a spirited and hard-working performance which closes the gap between themselves and their rivals.

Wigan are now only six points behind fourth bottom Brighton with fifteen games remaining.

The win at the Madejski Stadium was perhaps surprising after the recent debacle at Nottingham Forest when Latics were thoroughly outclassed by a fairly average team.

Pressure had been mounting on manager Malky Mackay and he was certainly a relieved man after his team secured their first three points of 2015. However, questions will remain about whether he is the right man to lead the club going forward.

Reading put in a poor performance after their FA Cup exertions defeating Derby County at the weekend and if Latics had encountered them on another day the result might have been different.

The large turnover in playing staff under Mackay is a big risk at this stage in the season and with some players such as Harry Maguire coming in on short term loan deals there is bound to be a lack continuity.

Emyr Huws had started to create a partnership with William Kvist in midfield but an ankle injury has ruled him out for the rest of the season. New loan signing Chris Herd has had to be withdrawn through injury in each of his three games and was stretchered off at Reading, so is now likely to miss the rest of the season.

Latics line up continues to be unsettled and it is clear that Mackay doesn’t yet know is best starting eleven.

At Reading Marc-Antoine Fortune started upfront with Leon Clarke and Sheyi Ojo coming into midfield with another new signing Kim Bo-Kyung dropped to the bench. New striker Billy Mckay was once again only allowed a cameo role at the end of the game.

Looking more positively the debuts of Jason Pearce and Harry Maguire as the new centre half pairing offers much promise. Between the sticks Ali Al-Habsi has been in good form since returning to the team and his performances have added much needed stability to an ever changing back four in front of him.

There is no doubt that it was a battling performance at Reading, but Latics will also need to show more quality on the pitch if they are to pull away from the relegation zone.

They have only won two games in 17 fixtures and have not won at the DW Stadium since August. It is too early to tell if they have turned the corner.

If they are to escape the drop they must put together a winning sequence of results starting at home to Charlton on Friday night.

This article was first published in the 12th Man column for the Wigan Evening Post on 20th February 2015.

Posted in Championship, Chris Herd, Harry Maguire, Jason Pearce, Malky Mackay, Wigan Athletic | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Renewed hope or false dawn? Reading 0 Wigan Athletic 1

Posted on February 18, 2015 by ianhaspinall
Reading's Madejski Stadium

Reading’s Madejski Stadium

Latics won their first game in nine Championship matches as they overcame Reading 1-0 at the Madejski Stadium tonight.

A 17th minute right foot finish by debutant defender Jason Pearce was enough to secure the three points for Wigan despite an agonising eleven minutes of added time after Chris Herd was stretchered off.

The result gave Wigan hope that they can still escape relegation as they now sit six points behind fourth bottom Brighton with fifteen games remaining.

Malky Mackay had to make changes to his defence following the departure of Liam Ridgewell and the injury to Leon Barnett, with Jason Pearce and Harry Maguire making their debuts.

There was also a full debut for Liverpool loanee Sheyi Ojo while the other change was a return for Marc-Antoine Fortune to partner Leon Clarke up front. Kim Bo Kyung dropped to the bench, while Don Cowie missed out through injury.

Reading tested Ali Al Habsi early on through Hal Robson-Kanu and then Garath McCleary had an effort cleared off the line by Fortune.

But Latics soon forced two corners and then James McClean fired a free-kick over from an angle after Ojo was brought down near the corner flag.

And Latics’ were ahead on 17 minutes following a corner by Ojo. Clarke’s header on the penalty spot wasn’t cleared by Federici and Pearce was able to steer it in through a sea of legs from inside the six yard box.

Reading responded and Nathaniel Chalobah came closest when he diverted McCleary’s drive just over the bar but Latics were always dangerous on the break.

Ali Al Habsi denied the Royals when he first had to come out of his box to clear a long punt from Federici with Simon Cox closing in on him, then palming away an effort from Robson-Kanu and finally saving Chalobah’s powerful header from eight yards out.

Latics went into the interval relieved to be ahead but Reading started the second half pressing for the equaliser with Cox heading Oliver Norwood’s corner wide.

Following another Reading corner Latics were forced into an early change as Chris Herd was stretchered off with what looked like a leg injury after a collision.

But Wigan started to look dangerous as a good move down the right saw Ojo set up James Perch but he slipped when in a good position. Kim then tried an effort from distance which didn’t trouble Federici.

Substitute Martyn Waghorn fired a 20 yard drive wide of Federici’s upright and fellow substitute Billy Mckay shot narrowly over the crossbar in injury time.

But Latics had to endure eleven agonising minutes of added time due to Herd’s earlier injury, but they held on for a vital win.

Latics had matched the Royals for shots and possession but was this a case of the home team having an off day after their FA Cup exertions or the revival of Wigan’s hopes for Championship survival?

Posted in Jason Pearce, Reading, Wigan Athletic | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

12th Man: Forest loss was a new low for Latics

Posted on February 13, 2015 by ianhaspinall
Malky Mackay

Malky Mackay still struggling for an answer

Wigan plunged to new depths on Wednesday night as Nottingham Forest handed out a humiliating defeat. In a season that goes from bad to worse this was a new low point.

The nature of the 3-0 defeat at the City Ground suggests that Latics relegation to League One is only a matter of time.

Forest are a good mid-table team but Latics were thoroughly outclassed and the score line could easily have been so many more.

The glimmers of hope from the Bournemouth performance were soon extinguished, as Latics looked second best all over the pitch. The players now seem to have lost belief and there was a noticeable lack of organisation and any cohesion had disappeared.

Malky Mackay’s team selection and tactics have got to be called into question. The selection of former Cardiff City players Andrew Taylor and Don Cowie is baffling. Both players have struggled for any kind of form this season but the manager persists with playing them.

New loan signing Chris Herd was thrown into midfield against Forest but looked out of his depth against Championship opposition. Maybe not surprising given his track record of fitness problems and lack of game time.

One of Latics few bright spots on the night at Forest, Kim Bo-Kyung was strangely withdrawn by Mackay early in the second half.

The manager’s cautious approach is not providing any benefits. His tactics of playing a lone striker is clearly not working, and with wins vital for any chance of survival, playing for a draw is not an option.

New striker Billy Mckay is the top scorer in the history of the Scottish Premiership but was only introduced as a substitute at Forest when it was too late the affect the result.

On loan Liverpool winger Sheyi Ojo looks an exciting prospect who is capable of turning a game in his team’s favour, but he was only introduced as a substitute when Latics were already two nil down at Forest.

Mackay has brought eight new players to the club and shipped out 12 players. The quality of those arriving is already being called into question and those on short-term loan deals are most likely to return to their host clubs.

Mackay has a pitiful record of only one win during his 14 games in charge. We are now eight points adrift of safety with only 16 games remaining.

The manager has had little, if any, positive impact since taking over and despite a massive turnover in players during the transfer window the situation is getting worse.

Is it time for drastic action in a last gasp attempt to stave off relegation or should we accept relegation and try to rebuild in the League One with Mackay in charge?

Clubs such as Southampton and Wolves have successfully managed to regroup and make a quick return to the Championship, but others such as Sheffield United have floundered.

Dave Whelan has a big decision to make. Is Malky Mackay the right man to lead the club going forward?

This article was first published in the 12th Man column for the Wigan Evening Post on 13th February 2015.

Posted in Championship, Dave Whelan, Malky Mackay, Nottingham Forest, Wigan Athletic | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Simply not good enough – Nottingham Forest 3 Wigan Athletic 0

Posted on February 12, 2015 by ianhaspinall
City Ground

City Ground Panorama, Nottingham Forest

Wigan Athletic’s nightmare season shows no sign of abating after yet another defeat this time at the hands of Nottingham Forest.

Forest rarely needed to get out of second gear to comfortably win 3-0 against a Latics team which now looks destined for League One.

Striker Britt Assombalonga slotted home Chris Burke’s through-ball to put Forest ahead after 33 minutes.

Forest increased their lead after the interval when Michail Antonio found Burke, who blasted home off the post.

Henri Lansbury then added a third when he curled in from the edge of the box, but in truth it could have been so many more if the home team had pressed home their advantage.

Malky Mackay made one change to his starting line-up from the team defeated by Bournemouth, with James Perch coming in for the injured Chris McCann. Chris Herd, who deputised at right-back for Perch against Bournemouth, came into midfield.

Forest could have been ahead as early as the 4th minute when Assombalonga laid the ball to Chris Burke. His deep cross reached Michail Antonio but the header was fortunately wide of Ali Al-Habsi’s post.

Latics rarely threatened the Forest goal, but Kim did manage to test the home keeper Karl Darlow with a long-range effort on 2o minutes.

But Forest went ahead on 33 minutes when Burke was allowed far too much room by Herd in the centre of midfield and he played in Assombalonga on the right side of the box, and the striker coolly finished low past Al-Habsi.

Latics tried to respond, but with Leon Clarke isolated upfront, none of their attacks came to anything.

The home team went into the interval one nil ahead, and with Latics lacking any real attacking threat, they realised the game was theirs for the taking.

When Andrew Taylor pushed forward down the left and Latics lost possession a quick break meant they were short at the back. Antonio chipped a long ball to the unmarked Burke, who had plenty of time to set himself and fire past a helpless Al-Habsi in off the far post.

Somewhat bizzarely Latics most creative player Kim was then withdrawn by Mackay and replaced by Sheyi Ojo.

Forest went further ahead on 61 minutes. Henri Lansbury was given far too much room on the edge of the area and the former Arsenal midfielder curled the ball past Al-Habsi.

Martyn Waghorn replaced Herd but Latics rarely looked like they had the movement or imagination to create a decent goal scoring opportunity.

Their only real chance came late on when McClean forced a good save from Darlow when Ojo had put him through.

Forest in comparison created plenty of opportunities and really should have had more than the three goals. The only real downside for the home team was a late injury to Assombalonga who was carried off on a stretcher.

It was a dispiriting performance by Latics who had appeared to be showing some signs of promise in the last home game against Bournemouth. The players now seem to have lost belief and there was a noticeable lack of organisation and any cohesion had disappeared.

Mackay’s tactics of playing a lone striker is clearly not working, and with wins vital for any chance of survival, playing for a draw is not an option.

The manager has had little, if any, positive impact since taking over and despite a massive turnover in players during the transfer window the situation is getting worse. The club is now eight points adrift of safety with only 16 games remaining.

Posted in Britt Assombalonga, Championship, Chris Burke, Henri Lansbury, Nottingham Forest, Wigan Athletic | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment