Wigan refund fans who witnessed Spurs massacre

November 24, 2009

Wigan’s shell-shocked players on Monday offered to refund supporters who travelled to London to watch their side being thrashed 9-1 by Tottenham.

The Latics crashed to the second worst defeat in Premier League history as they conceded eight second-half goals at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

Defender Mario Melchiot admitted the result was embarrassing and, along with the rest of his team-mates, will pay away fans the cost of their tickets.

Melchiot told the club’s website, www.wiganlatics.co.uk: “We feel that as a group of players we badly let down our supporters yesterday, and this is a gesture we have to make and pay them back for their tremendous loyalty.

“There is not a lot else to say, just that as a group of professionals we were embarrassed by the way we performed, we feel it was below our standards and this is something we feel we owe to the fans.

“Now we have to draw a line under the game, focus completely on training this week and bounce back on Saturday.

“We are professionals, we will take it on the chin and move on but it’s important that we do not take our supporters for granted.”

Wigan return to action when they host Sunderland this weekend and the club’s owner, Dave Whelan, has insisted that manager Roberto Martinez’s job is safe, despite the humiliation at Spurs.

“9-1 is a serious, serious defeat and we have got to get our heads up and I am sure Roberto will be working on the lads now to get them going again and get their heads back in the air and get some pride back in Wigan Athletic,” Whelan said.

“He is Wigan’s manager and I have complete faith in him and I know the supporters have.

“I am absolutely 100 percent behind Roberto, he’s a great manager and he will pull this team around.”

WIGAN (AFP)

Tags: dave whelan, faith, gesture, humiliation, lads, latics, loyalty, Mario Melchiot, premier league history, pride, roberto martinez, shell, spurs, tottenham, website www, white hart lane, wigan athletic, wiganlatics

Baines penalty gets Everton off the mark at last

August 31, 2009

Everton climbed off the bottom of the Premier League as Leighton Baines’s late penalty snatched a 2-1 win against Wigan on Sunday.

David Moyes’ side had lost their first two league games this season and they were heading for another defeat when Paul Scharner gave Wigan a second-half lead at Goodison Park.

But Louis Saha equalised and, in stoppage time, Emmerson Boyce hauled down Jo and Baines stepped up to crash home the spot-kick.

Victory was much-needed for Moyes, who had moved quickly to spend some of the 24 million pounds received from Manchester City for Joleon Lescott.

The Toffees boss handed a debut to French defender Sylvain Distin, while another new signing, Russia winger Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, got his debut as a late substitute.

Moyes hopes to make more signings before the transfer window closes on Tuesday and he said: “We’ve got one or two things going on and I’ll be disappointed if we don’t have at least one or two new faces in here by Tuesday evening.”

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez added: “The character in the squad has never been in doubt.

“We’re growing in every game and the results are not reflecting the good work of the players in the league. I don’t think we’re getting what we deserve.”

Moyes must have hoped the end of the Lescott saga and new faces putting pressure on his established stars would give Everton the lift they needed to get their campaign up and running.

They started brightly enough as Tim Cahill directed a diving header just wide from Baines’s corner.

A fine move almost broke the deadlock afer half an hour. Jack Rodwell’s turn and pass found Leon Osman, who instantly sent Cahill racing away down the left.

The Australian’s cross found Saha powering into the six-yard box, but Mike Pollitt managed to get his body in the way of the striker’s shot.

After being thrashed by Manchester United and knocked out of the League Cup by Championship club Blackpool, Wigan had a point to prove and shuddering tackles were the order of the day for Martinez’s team.

Even Moyes felt the strength of Wigan’s tackling. He bent down to collect the ball as it crossed the touchline in front of him, and he was sent spinning by Hendry Thomas, who was sliding in trying to keep it in play.

Saha fired a cross-shot narrowly past the far post after bursting onto Tony Hibbert’s pass.

Wigan broke the deadlock in the 57th minutes when Charles N’Zogbia crossed and Scharner arrived unmarked to arrow a diving header past Tim Howard.

Jordi Gomez was unlucky not to increase Wigan’s lead as he side-footed a Mario Melchiot cross against a post.

But Everton’s fightback started in the 62nd minute when Saha headed home Baines’s corner.

Everton defender Joseph Yobo’s header was cleared off the line before Cahill nodded wide.

Wigan substitute Scott Sinclair, on loan from Chelsea, should have won it when he sprinted clear, only to have his shot blocked by Howard.

But, three minutes into injury time, Boyce brought down Jo, and Baines smashed home the penalty.

LIVERPOOL (AFP)

Tags: Boyce, David Moyes, deadlock, emmerson boyce, Goodison Park, Howard, joleon lescott, league games, leighton baines, leon osman, manchester city, manchester united, Mario Melchiot, mike pollitt, new faces, Paul Scharner, roberto martinez, rodwell, scott sinclair, Thomas, tim cahill, Tony Hibbert, Wigan

Martinez makes history as Wigan win at Villa

August 15, 2009

Martin O’Neill suffered another Wigan nightmare at Villa Park after Roberto Martinez took just one game to etch his name into the Latics’ record books here on Saturday.

Hugo Rodallega and Jason Koumas both struck to gift new boss Martinez a dream start and secured Wigan’s first opening day win in the Premier League.

Martinez was laughed at when he promised to bring his style of sexy football from former club Swansea but his classy side made Champions League hopefuls Villa look total chumps.

Villa have never beaten Wigan at home in five meetings and O’Neill will surely be pleading with the club’s American owner, Randy Lerner, for more funds to boost his tiny squad.

Former Celtic manager O’Neill’s squad is still so small his players struggle to fill the team coach, despite three pre-season signings.

There were debuts here for six million pounds wonder-kid Fabian Delph and ex-Newcastle star Habib Beye – but both suffered horror shows.

If points were handed out in the style stakes Martinez would coast it over most bosses and his team also looked accomplished in the Spaniard’s first outing in the Premier League.

Martinez was nearly celebrating in the 16th minute as Villa’s defence appeared to be having a siesta, with Charles N’Zogbia striking the upright with a low drive.

Incredibly, Wigan came even closer four minutes later when Villa winger James Milner performed heroics to hack Rodallega’s header off the line – with the visitors convinced it had crossed over for a goal.

But the Latics finally made their pressure count on the half hour in spectacular style.

Paul Scharner’s hopeful pass was inadvertently headed backwards by Nicky Shorey and Rodallega took the ball over his shoulder and arrowed an excellent shot over Brad Friedel into the top corner.

Villa’s most threatening moments came from the forward surges of Ashley Young, who tormented Mario Melchiot throughout the first half.

England winger Young nearly drew Villa level towards the end of the half but his free-kick was superbly saved by Chris Kirkland.

But the boos that rang in Villa’s ears as they trudged off at half-time grew even louder in the 56th minute.

Wales international Koumas capitalised on hesitant defending from Beye to break into the area and squeeze a shot under Friedel.

Villa hardly mounted a late fightback and their best chance saw Young’s close-range effort brilliantly deflected over the bar by Titus Bramble.

BIRMINGHAM, England (AFP)

Tags: Birmingham, brad friedel, chris kirkland, delph, England, Fabian Delph, habib beye, heroics, hopefuls, hugo rodallega, James Milner, jason koumas, Mario Melchiot, martin o neill, Martin O'Neill, new boss, NEWCASTLE, Paul Scharner, premier league, randy lerner, record books, roberto martinez, sexy football, Swansea, team coach, villa park, Wales, winger

Bolton make it a near perfect 50th for Megson

May 2, 2009

WIGAN, England (AFP) – Bolton grabbed a valuable point in a scoreless draw at Wigan Saturday, giving manager Gary Megson almost the perfect 50th birthday present as they continue to stave off the threat of relegation.

With three games remaining Bolton now have 39 points and are ninth from bottom. It would effectively take some stunning results from teams below them to see them relegated.

Bolton had the best opportunity of the first-half as Gary Cahill’s thunderous effort from 20 metres out looked sure to go in but fortunately for the hosts the ball hit a Wigan player and went out for a corner.

Wigan rarely threatened the Bolton goal save two efforts from Hugo Rodallega which Finnish goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen saved.

Wigan had to readjust their defence at half-time as former Dutch international defender and club skipper Mario Melchiot could not return for the second-half as he had an unspecified injury and was replaced by Emmerson Boyce.

The home side were further debilitated early in the second-half when Austrian international defender Pasul Scharner appeared to suffer a knee injury and had to go off.

The only consolation for Wigan, who are 11th in the table, was that they ended a three-match losing run.

Tags: 50th birthday, Bolton, Boyce, consolation, emmerson boyce, England, English Premier League, Gary Cahill, gary megson, Goalkeeper, hosts, hugo rodallega, knee injury, Mario Melchiot, match, relegation, second half, skipper, stunning results, three games, wigan england

Arshavin inspires Gunners fightback

April 12, 2009

WIGAN, England (AFP) – Andriy Arshavin inspired Arsenal to a late fightback at Wigan on Saturday, but a 4-1 victory for Arsene Wenger’s men was marred by another injury to their already-depleted defence.

Second-half goals from Theo Walcott and Mikael Silvestre — both created by Russian star Arshavin — overturned Mido’s first-half opener and secured victory for the Gunners before Arshavin and Alex Song completed the scoring with two goals in the final minute.

But an injury to Swiss defender Johan Djorou now leaves Arsenal running out of options ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final second-leg against Villarreal at the Emirates.

Arsenal arrived at the JJB in search of a fifth successive league victory as they attempted to put further distance between themselves and Aston Villa in the race for the fourth and final Champions League spot.

But with the Champions League quarter-final against Villarreal well poised at 1-1 ahead of next Wednesday’s second-leg at the Emirates, Wenger chose to start with the attacking threat of Samir Nasri, Robin van Persie and Emmanuel Adebayor on the bench.

It was risky tactic by the Frenchman. Wigan have proved themselves to be a tough team to beat at the JJB this season and Steve Bruce’s team remain in contention for surprise qualification for next term’s Europe Cup.

And despite a bright start by the visitors, with Cesc Fabregas and Arshavin linking well behind lone striker Nicklas Bendtner, it was Wigan that carried the greater threat.

That threat was rewarded on eighteen minutes when Egyptian striker Mido put the home side ahead after the Arsenal defence had failed to deal with Ben Watson’s corner.

Titus Bramble’s far-post header met an Arsenal head in the six yard box, but the ball dropped to Mido and the former Tottenham man beat goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski with a left-foot volley from close range.

Having been taunted by the visiting fans as a result of his Tottenham past, Mido clearly enjoyed celebrating his second Wigan goal in front of the 6,000 travelling Arsenal supporters.

Fabianski, in for the injured Manuel Almunia, could have done better with the goal and the Pole was exposed again moments later when he nervously dealt with a Hugo Rodallega cross that nearly resulted in a Paul Scharner goal.

But for two poor attempts by Nicklas Bendtner, Arsenal were struggling to threaten the Wigan goal and things got worse on 35 minutes when Djorou was carried off with a leg injury.

With William Gallas out for the season with damaged knee ligaments, Arsenal now have growing injury problems as they prepare to face Villarreal and then Chelsea in next Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final.

It could have become much worse for Arsenal on the stroke of half-time had referee Alan Wiley sent off full-back Kieran Gibbs for a foul on Antonio Valencia.

As the last man, Gibbs should have been red carded, but Wiley showed only a yellow. And from the free-kick that followed, Wigan midfielder Watson rattled the foot of the post.

Wigan continued to dominate early in the second-half and Mido had a header cleared off the line by Gibbs after Fabianski had raced off his line in a vain attempt to clear a long ball.

Mido came off worst in the challenge with Fabianski and was replaced by Olivier Kapo. The change unsettled Wigan and Arsenal took advantage on the hour when Walcott equalised with their first effort on target.

Mario Melchiot’s failure to clear allowed Arshavin to thread the ball to Walcott and the England striker scored from 12 yards to claim his first goal since October.

And Silvestre settled the game for Arsenal when he side-footed past Chris Kirkland from six yards on 71 minutes after Fabregas had teed him up from Arshavin’s free-kick.

Arshavin and Song merely rubbed salt into Wigan’s wounds with their last minute strikes.