Wigan Athletic vs. Sheffield Wednesday - The Match Report

Wigan Athletic vs. Sheffield Wednesday

Date: Tuesday 11^th March 2014

Venue: The DW Stadium

Referee: Andy Haines

Score: 1-0

In one of the worst games seen at the DW Stadium this season, Wigan Athletic overcame Sheffield Wednesday by a goal to nil in a game of two penalties on Tuesday night.

Leon Best’s spot-kick was saved by the in-form Latics’ keeper Ali Al-Habsi before, with just two minutes to go, Jordi Gomez converted his penalty to put Wigan level on points with sixth placed Reading.

The early stages of the game were very open with neither side taking any sort of control.

The 2014 F.A. Cup semi-finalists’ best chance of the first half came when James McClean smashed a cross-cum-shot across goal which Nicky Maynard could not get a foot to at the back post.

Wednesday seemed danger when attacking the Wigan box but lacked a decent final ball. Every attack was easily defended against.

Then, after thirty-six minutes, Al-Habsi clumsily brought down Jaques Maghoma in the box and probably should have been sent off as a result.

The Omani international made amends for his mistake as he dived to his right and got a hand to Best’s penalty to keep the scores at 0-0.

It was clear to see that, based on the first half performance, Wigan needed to tighten up at the back as they looked sluggish and rather tired.

Maybe we can forgive them for appearing tired after their F.A. Cup heroics against Manchester City just three days before this game.

The second half started as the first had ended: Wigan looking tired with James McArthur and Jordi Gomez not making their mark on the game.

As three Wigan substitutions were made halfway through the second period, Wigan looked more dangerous on the attack and appeared the more likely of the two sides to score.

A well-taken corner by Gomez, was headed towards goal and ended up being cleared off the line by Best.

This was to be the best chance for either side, until James Perch, who was played through by Callum McManaman, was taken down in the Wednesday box and was awarded a penalty.

Up stepped Gomez, who scored a penalty against City in the F.A. Cup quarter final, to score the winner from the penalty spot.

Wigan definitely looked tired in this game. However, they gained the three points and kept in touch with the top six whilst they also have two games in hand over their opponents.