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Town 0-0 Wigan - Match Report
Saturday, 31st Jan 2015 17:20


Town and Wigan played out a disappointing 0-0 draw at a snowy Portman Road. Jay Tabb had the best chance for the Blues in the first half, while David McGoldrick and sub Freddie Sears had opportunities after the break, but overall a goalless draw was a fair reflection of a drab game.

McGoldrick’s return from his knee injury in place of Daryl Murphy, who has a calf strain, was Town’s only change from the team which lost 3-2 at Brighton 10 days ago.

The Town number 10 who had missed the previous two games, was partnered by Noel Hunt with recent signing on the bench.

The visitors carved out the game’s first chance in the fifth minute when Don Cowie sent James Perch away on the right and the ex-Newcastle man whipped over a cross which Marc-Antoine Fortune headed high and wide at the near post when he ought to have done better.

Town created their first opening a minute later, McGoldrick, skipper Luke Chambers and Paul Anderson exchanging passes on the right before the winger sent in a cross which Tabb was unable to head towards goal.

After Tommy Smith had eventually dealt with a difficult bouncing ball ahead of James McClean, Kevin Bru just overhit what would have been a superb pass into the path of McGoldrick.

On 14 Tyrone Mings fed in Tabb on the left of the area but the midfielder hit powerfully over when he should have played the ball across the six-yard box to the waiting Hunt, McGoldrick and Anderson.

The game developed into a scruffy affair on a pitch which was cutting up with neither side able to create much but with Wigan having the upper hand. Town were very much missing Murphy’s aerial presence up front with high balls regularly punted forward but defended comfortably by the Latics’ backline.

As the match moved towards the half hour mark snow began to fall steadily and the Blues managed a couple of shots. First McGoldrick hit a deflected effort through to Ali Al Habsi in goal for the Latics, then Hunt’s strike flew high and wide from distance.

Moments later, Smith was yellow-carded for a foul on Martyn Waghorn, then Wigan’s William Kvist joined him in the book for a challenge on Bru. Five minutes before the break McClean picked up a caution for tripping the breaking Bru.


Tabb headed Hunt’s right-wing cross to Al Habsi in the 43rd minute but neither side looked like breaking the deadlock as a dull half came to a close with the snow by now falling more heavily.

Under par Town, who were clearly missing Murphy, had been unable to create anything of note, Tabb’s opportunity just before the quarter hour when he should have passed rather than shot perhaps the best of them.

Wigan had similarly failed to significantly test Bartosz Bialkowski - Fortune’s early header was their best chance - in a forgettable first period in which there had been little between the teams, despite the Blues’ presence in the top four and Wigan’s current position second-bottom.

The Blues switched Anderson for Teddy Bishop at the start of the second half with the snow having momentarily subsided.

Nine minutes after the restart, Bishop, who had made an immediate impact going forward on the right, found Cole Skuse to his left, the central midfielder playing a ball in behind Perch to Mings, but the left-back’s cross was blocked.

Tabb felt he had been impeded as he broke into the area but referee Charles Breakspear, who had frustrated the home fans and players with a few decisions before the break, waved away his protests.

The game continued in the same less than inspiring manner of the first half with the snow having resumed. Just after the hour, Fortune cut in from the right but scraped his shot well wide.

The Latics went closer on 62 when Perch flicked Cowie’s left-sided corner from the left beyond the far post when he should have scored.

Three minutes later, with Wigan looking the side most likely to break the deadlock, home debutant Sears took over from Hunt.

Town carved out a rare opportunity on 72 when Mings crossed from the left but McGoldrick headed weakly to Al Habsi.

As the match moved towards its final 15 minutes Tabb flicked a header into McGoldrick’s path on the left and the striker did well to cut it back to Sears, who could only divert straight at Al Habsi at the near post.

The Blues were starting to look a bit more of a threat, but on 79 Berra cut out McClean’s dangerous cross from the left ahead of Fortune.

A minute later, Emyr Huws was booked for blocking off McGoldrick as Town broke. From the freekick deep on the left, McGoldrick headed Tabb’s ball wide. Jonny Parr replaced Tabb at left midfield for the final six minutes.

Two minutes before the end Sears had the ball in the net but having been flagged offside, although with the Town players complaining that the ball had been played into his path by a Wigan player.

After three minutes of uneventful injury time referee Breakspear confirmed Town’s first home 0-0 draw since the Blackpool game last February with frustrated boos greeting the whistle.

In truth the game didn’t really deserve a goal with both sides as poor as one another. Neither keeper was forced to make a serious save in either half.

After the break, Wigan probably should have scored through Perch’s header, while Town, who never put the struggling visitors under any real pressure, came closest via McGoldrick’s header straight at Al Habsi and Sears’s effort which the former Colchester man couldn’t divert away from the keeper.

Overall, a disappointing result for the Blues against struggling opposition, who battled gamely but showed little quality. Town remain fourth but are now three points behind leaders Bournemouth and Derby and two behind third-placed Middlesbrough with all three having a better goal difference.

After one win in six games in all competitions, the Blues need to get their stalling promotion challenge back on track with a win away against Rotherham, another of the teams at the wrong end of the table, next Saturday.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Mings, Berra, Smith, Skuse, Bru, Anderson (Bishop 46), Tabb (Parr 84), McGoldrick, N Hunt (Sears 65). Unused: Kenny, S Hunt, Clarke, Ambrose.

Wigan: Al Habsi, Taylor, Perch, Barnett, Ridgewell,Huws, Kvist, McClean, Cowie, Fortune, Waghorn (McKay 78). Unused: Carson, Boyce, Pearce, Kiernan, Cosgrove, Flores. Referee: Charles Breakspear (Surrey). Att: 19,155 (Wigan: 225).


Photo: Action Images



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TractorCam added 17:24 - Jan 31
Terrible game all round, we were terrible and Wigan were terrible. We need to be putting teams like Wigan to bed if we want serious ambitions of top 2. Another winnable game next at Rotherham, must win!
8

Gilesy added 17:25 - Jan 31
We were always going to have a dodgy patch; this looks like it. The trouble is I think Derby and Boro have had theirs. Perhaps Bournemouth are due one.
0

RedDust added 17:25 - Jan 31
Rigid tactics from McCarthy today cost us, I think we say goodbye to automatic now, needed to change our 442 to 352, bishop right wing? Parr left wing? Were are the pacey wingers like Stewart & Henshall? I said sears should start over S Hunt!
1

bluefeast added 17:26 - Jan 31
we haven't scored at home the last 3 matches , surely time to address certain matters , ie the obvious ones. Todays starting 11 just did not inspire ,for me that means we need to freshen things up a little. Also if it is at all possible get some players in who have the ability to frighten the opposition. We capable of retaing top 6 ,but not if things continue like January. Other sides look to have more freshness and pace about them ,carve out chances etc ,we have lacked these qualities for circa 5 weeks.
6

TimmyH added 17:27 - Jan 31
Well arguably that's 3 poor home games running without a goal and once Murphy was out injured wondered who would score. Disappointing that we're just about to enter the crucial part of the season and not playing particularly well, Bournemouth, Boro and Derby have all kicked on.
Really need to freshen up that midfield as I have doubts that the likes of Anderson, Hunt and Tabb have enough in their 'locker' to see us pushing for an automatic spot come May and relying on the likes of Bishop at such an early stage in his career is asking too much. So please Mr Evans Creative midfielder and some spark on either wing will do!
That's if you do want us promoted...
13

clint_eastwood added 17:27 - Jan 31
Midfield non-existence. Time to drop Anderson.
2

mikeybloo88 added 17:29 - Jan 31
No Murph, no goals...said a few weeks ago that Murphs goals were hiding the lack of creativity in this team and so it proves
6

irishtim added 17:31 - Jan 31
Poor Performance & Result. All is not lost though. We will bounce back.
1

jeddy added 17:32 - Jan 31
Very poor today, worst game in my opinion this season. Come on McCarthy you can do better than that team selection. Result was predictable. Hoof ball, no creativity and generally inept.
11

TimmyH added 17:35 - Jan 31
@irishtim - true, but not inspirational football of recent times and shall be very interesting how the team plays at the CRUCIAL time of the season.
1

del45 added 17:35 - Jan 31
Very poor team selection why play this midfield far better players sitting on the bench should have changed after 30 mins could see this selection not working. Should have been all out attack on a team sitting second bottom from the start.
10

kuyski added 17:35 - Jan 31
Bring back parr to RB , put chamber to CB and give sears to start and and anderson on the bench and X 3 murphy's back for injuried then ................we still have a chance for playoffs.

0-0 result must so disappointed but actually disappointed is the performance after the team have 10 days rest .
7

runaround added 17:41 - Jan 31
What an absolutely awful match & a truly abject gutless performance from Town. Deserved to lose but Wigan were only interested in a point & have, In my opinion missed a chance of a rare win, by just breaking up the game & rather obvious time wasting, obvious to everyone except the officials it seems!
Our only attacking option seemed to be kicking the ball up in the air with no-one capable of playing a forward pass or running with the ball. Worryingly we actually seemed to have a lack desire today which is not something I expected from a McCarthy side.
Promotion is still achievable but we have to improve now.
16

oddball added 17:41 - Jan 31
Maybe time for 433 again for abit, but still a point, were having our bad patch at the mo, hope we shake it off soon. Mcgoldrick having an average season by his standards. Coyb
2

bellazzurri79 added 17:45 - Jan 31
If I hear anymore of the rubbish I keep hearing when we perform like we did today

'But we would have taken our league position at the start of the season' - what a load of old s***!!!!! I'm sure Bournemouth, Derby and Boro would have taken their position too, but they still keep winning!!!!

We have not scored in 3 home games
We have got 1pt from 6 off teams in the bottom 5
Mcgoldrick looked un interested
Skuse didn't get a touch
Anderson is absolute awful- no end product
Chambers, smith and berra have more touches of the ball than any of our players and yet they have no passing ability
Mccarthy I'm afraid is getting found out - mclaren, hughton and McKay have all done s number on him
Bournemouth last night looked incredible
Middlesbro today were solid
We looked like a bottom 5 team and nothing more
9 days to prepare for that match.... What the hell happened???!
18

BlueMachines added 17:45 - Jan 31
1 dimensional crap. Terrible decision to take off Hunt before McGoldrick. DMcG looked so far off the pace. When Parr came on I thought brilliant. Mings can get forward now and cause a threat. No Parr plays left midfield. Agree with above where is the option of Stewart and co. I don't mind the not getting beaten attitude against decent sides but Wigan were atrocious so we should be going for the jugular. If this had been a one off fair enough but the signs have been there for a few games. We must improve to keep competing at the top. And fast.
17

Jimmy86 added 17:47 - Jan 31
Hard to really come up with any positives out of that game today and we were pretty poor. We need to halt this mini slump ASAP as we don't want to lose too much ground on the automatic places. Play offs would still be good, but having been 1st and 2nd we really should be targeting top 2. Wigan looked poor, but we didn't look much better today. We missed Murphy today, but I can't for the life of me understand why we kept pumping long balls up to our front 2 who weren't even 6 ft, looking for flick ons. We could play till midnight and didn't look like scoring. Need some new faces and it's worrying how mick doesn't seem too fussed in bringing anyone in. It's only 1 game and we got a point, but we need to get back to winning ways soon.
9

blueboy1981 added 17:50 - Jan 31
....... no comment. There for all to see over the past few games / weeks. Fortress Portman Road ???
5

REIDIE4 added 17:51 - Jan 31
truly atrocious game! Players simply looked like they couldn't be bothered and showed no passion whatsoever. Awful game, really need to sort it out!
5

Surco72 added 17:51 - Jan 31
MM got his selection wrong again ,back to the same dire midfield that started the season swapping Bru for Hyam . How many games do Ando , Tabb , Skuse get without being dropped ? What must Parr do to get in above a centre back playing out of position ? And Ambrose ?
If as stated on Friday MM cannot find any players better than what we have in our midfield then we will be fighting for a playoff place at best , all other serious promotion teams are spending to push on , this is our best chance in years and Evans needs to back his manager as our huff and puff football has been found out and we need more
9

Steggles added 17:52 - Jan 31
Same old people desperate to post essay length comments as soon as we lose...sorry we got a point. Perspective people please!
-11

NoelTheDub added 17:55 - Jan 31
We are as flat as a pancake over the last few weeks and still Mick wont change and its going to hurt us IMO.Ambrose,Bishop,and Sears can not be left on the bench anymore and theses guys are a threat and whats on the field is not.Yes before I get my minuses its our best season in years and overall Im happy but Mick is clearly choosing his hard workers over our talented ones even when its obvious to all their burnt out.We need to start playing football the way it should as a plan B its worth a go.
12

bluesince84 added 17:59 - Jan 31
so the "we look tired and needed that rest" theory is out the window!I get a lot of stick for saying Mcgoaldraught is not the player he once was, 4 or 5 clever little passes a game a striker does not make. he looks bored, never ever ever ever ever sprints for a ball. How the hell he starts every game is a travesty. without murphy we have no plan B at all. its now after Jan and all around us are winning their games. sorry but we have been well and truly found out. their center back multiple times , when we were in possession , just stood their not moving a yard either way as he KNEW the hoof ball would end up down his throat each and every time.......very very worrying........
11

StochesStotasBlewe added 18:01 - Jan 31
With Murphy missing, there was no point in hoofing the ball up to McGoldrick & Hunt. The lack of creative midfielder was very evident today, Skuse breaks up the play but we then have no outlet to create many if any meaningful chances. This game reminded me of 2 seasons ago, ball up in the air for large parts, no player able to stamp any authority in midfield, strikers isolated, basic errors all over the pitch.
Awful game, 2 teams both as bad as each other. I,m afraid "Boro, Derby & Bournemouth are going to pull away now leaving us & 5 or 6 others to scrap it out for the play off places unless we can address the creative side of our team. Hard work alone won,t be quite enough.
13

Michael11 added 18:06 - Jan 31
As soon as I saw the uninspiring team sheet I had a feeling we'd struggle. I can't comment too much as I wasn't there but it sounded like one of our worst performances of the season. If you want to even think of being in the top 2 then we should smash teams like this. We're very reliant on Murphy and not sure what the hell has got into McGoldrick lately! I just hope it's more a lack of confidence than being too big for his boots. I'd really like to see us add some much needed creativity before the window closes.
6


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