Blackpool F.C. Vs Wigan Athletic F.C.: The Match Report

Blackpool F.C. Vs Wigan Athletic F.C.

Date: Saturday 19^th October 2013

Venue: Bloomfield Road

Referee: Mark Haywood

Score: 1-0

Wigan Athletic were beaten, and James McClean was sent off, as the Latics continued their less than impressive start to the season.

The first chance of the game fell to Nick Powell (on loan from Manchester United) who should have scored as he headed the ball just wide from five yards. Just wide. This was to be a continuing theme throughout the match for Wigan who were unlucky to leave Bloomfield Road with nothing.

In the 24^th minute, after 23 minutes of terrible football from both sides (long balls, bad passes), Scott Carson in the Wigan net slid through Dan Gosling to concede a penalty which Tom Ince, son of manager Paul, smashed into the centre of the goal sending Carson to his left.

Efforts on goal were few and far between after the goal although there may have been a chance for a couple of Shaun Maloney specials had he been fit and on the pitch of course. Unfortunately for Wigan, their free-kick man on the day was FA Cup hero, Ben Watson, who should stick to what he’s good at!

The second period was largely the same as the first until Owen Coyle, Wigan manager, brought Grant Holt, Marc-Antoine Fortune, and Jean Beausejour onto the field. All three substitutes made some form of impact and in a short time Holt and Thomas Rogne had hit the bar while Emmerson Boyce had had a shot cleared off the line.  Then, Fortune showed the fans some of his premier league class as he powerfully shot on the turn straight into Matt Gilks’s arms. In the dying minutes, Leon Barnett had a shot saved off the line by the legs of Gilks.

However, the last five minutes of the game typified Wigan’s day as Carson had to make four top class saves to keep the score at 1-0; two shots from Ince, one from Steve Davies, and a point-blank Kirk Broadfoot header. Finally, McClean was sent off in the last minute after retaliating due to being stamped on by tangerines’ defender Gary Mackenzie.

Things do not seem to be clicking for Coyle’s side as they make it four away games without a point or even a goal. There are so many aspects of their game that need improving if they are to make it back to the promised land and big name players such as Callum McManaman, McClean, and Fortune need to start showing their worth soon.