Burnley vs. Wigan Athletic - The Match Report

Burnley vs. Wigan Athletic

Date: Monday 21st April 2014

Venue: Turf Moor

Referee: Keith Stroud

Score: 2-0

A day to remember for Burnley as they were promoted to the premier league for the first time since 2010. But a day to forget for Wigan Athletic as they failed to follow up their emphatic win against Reading on Good Friday.

It was only a matter of time before the dominant Clarets scored in this encounter and it was Ashley Barnes who put the ball in the net after twenty-two minutes.

Wigan did see a Marc-Antoine Fortune header hit the crossbar but they were nowhere near Burnley in the Easter Monday fixture.

Michael Kightly more or less sealed victory and promotion for Burnley as he smashed in a free-kick from a tight angle just before half time.

From the moment the team sheet was revealed, it was clear to see that it was going to be a long day for Wigan. All the players who caused problems for Reading (Roger Espinoza, Martyn Waghorn, Callum McManaman, and Shaun Maloney) were either left in Wigan or on the bench. A questionable decision from Uwe Rosler.

Burnley started strongly and the Latics had to deal with wave after wave of attack. Eventually the Clarets were going to break the deadlock.

Dean Marney’s cross was touched into the net from five yards by Barnes after he shook off veteran Latics man, Emmerson Boyce, too easily.

Wigan did have once chance to equalise as Fortune headed against the bar after a sumptuous delivery from Jordi Gomez.

However, after this, Wigan were very weak on the attack in the first half and with three minutes to go in the half, Perch conceded a free-kick on the dead ball line.

Burnley brought the ball ten yards further onto the pitch which then gave Kightly a great angle for a shot. And shoot he did. His hard hit shot sailed into the far corner of the net with a little help from Stephen Crainey’s head.

2-0 and no way back for Wigan.

At half time, Rosler stayed in the dugout and did not go the give the team a talking to. Another questionable decision. Rob Kiernan and Callum McManaman came on and made a slight difference to the way the Latics played.

The second half needn’t have been played. The game continued in the same vain and when the full time whistle was blown there was a customary pitch invasion from the Burnley fans. Rosler did not shake Sean Dyche’s hand much to the disappointment of the Burnley manager.

After such a brilliant win of Good Friday, Wigan and Rosler let the fans down in this game. A game in which the Latics could have won to spoil Burnley’s promotion party.

Wigan need one more win to secure a play-off place and Blackpool await on Saturday.