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Watford F.C. Vs Wigan Athletic F.C.
Date: Saturday 28th September 2013
Venue: Vicarage Road
Referee: Andy Madley
Score: 1-0
Wigan Athletic were harshly treated in a game that they probably should have won.
Watford came through a tight contest one nil victors after they both started and ended the game well and scored when they were dominating the play.
Italian under-21 midfielder Cristian Battocchio fired home from the edge of the area in the 82nd minute to extend Watford’s winning streak to three games.
The first half consisted of very few chances but Nick Powell had the ball in the back of the net for the Latics. The goal was, however, controversially ruled offside by referee Madley. This goal would have been no more than Wigan deserved as they had defended brilliantly and had looked dangerous on the attack prior to this decision.
Powell and then James McClean both had chances to put the Latics in front but squandered their respective efforts. After this the first half was played out in a slower tempo.
The hornets came out after half time and tried to pick up the tempo as Fernando Forestieri and Lewis McGugan had shots blocked by Wigan’s capable defence.
Wigan continued to attack the Watford goal, however, and Manuel Almunia made a superb double save first from Powell and then McClean to kep the score at 0-0.
The only goal of the game came when substitute Davide Faraoni’s strike came back to the edge of the area, where Battocchio placed a shot past Scott Carson who was only able to see the ball late on.
Carson was called into action in injury time as Diego Fabbrini hit a shot across goal.
Overall, Wigan were very good both defensively and on the attack but there is a definite need for another striker in the squad with Marc-Antoine Fortune and Grant Holt now being injured. Thomas Rogne and Leon Barnett work well at the back whilst James Mclean and Nick Powell are causing the opposition problems. But, the main problem for Wigan is that they cannot score enough goals.