Latics just not at the races in Cheltenham
Last updated : 15 April 2003 By The Dukinfield Dazzler
Last Saturday, the Latics beat Barnsley on one of the biggest gambling days seen for years. The Grand National heralded more bets than any other year, prompted by horses names like "You'll Never Walk Alone" and "Red Striker" which appropriately fell in line with the Scum vs Scousers match. It's ironic really then that such a Grand National took place this year, as the Latics seem to be in their own little Aintree world whereby not only are the hurdles massive, but so are the stakes.
The Latics season has been similar to a gruelling slog over tiresome fences. Only the Latics have had 46 fences to jump rather than Aintree's 32. However, 2002/3 will be remembered for a season where as the finishing line got nearer, the higher the stakes began to rise by every hurdle. Earlier on in the race, the Latics had cantered with ease through the first few furlongs and headed the pack but now, the fences are being hit hard and the steam is running out.
This race constantly seen the Latics jostle places, with 2nd place the main focus after Wigan left the pack behind. But although the Latics have dug deep to push on for automatic promotion (shown by an average of 20 shots per game in recent weeks) the fledglings now sit at the back of the chasing pack and are outside favourites to succeed. But can the Latics by a dark horse for the each-way bet?
It's games like the Cheltenham match which highlight the Latics major weakness. Be it Colin Wanker (Warnock to those unfamiliar with the anagram), Ritchie, Wadsworth or even Dowie, the Latics seem to have the same problem, year in and year out. I remember teams like Colchester being routed to the bottom of the division a few years back, but still coming to Boundary Park to turn us over. That wasn't the first and it certainly isn't the last. So why do the Latics struggle against the minor teams yet they put up a great fight when the underdog and often triumph? It's a mystery.
Some though would say it's a cop-out. They would say it's too easy to claim we raise our game for the big boys. They would add that it isn't good to see us creating 20 shots per game when we aren't winning them. And to a point they would be right. So where will this divine spirit come from once the play-off lottery begins?
Several weeks ago, many thought (or hoped) the divine spirit would come through Clyde Wijnhard's return. On leaving Whaddon Road, many may have thought Wiggy had, had a few spirits before kick-off. One things for sure - Latics fans certainly needed a few afterwards! Such missed chances by the Latics striker really are crucial to the campaign and should the same gift-horse be looked in the mouth again, it won't be a narrow win against Cheltenham minnows that goes amiss, but disaster on a grand scale in the play-offs. Dowie hopes we're saving the goals for the play-offs. I hope his optimism pays off.
Regardless of missed chances though, an even bigger worry was unearthed within seconds of this game beginning. Thankfully, such defensive calamities were remedied soon after The Robins sneaked an early sucker punch. But to see such a soft goal conceded sends alarm bells ringing. Hopefully we'll be ok to put it down to just one of those things.
With 2 minutes gone, Allsopp's long throw was flicked into the area. Miskelly punched clear but Yates was left unmarked from 10 yards to power home through a crowd. Simple and effective, all of which set the Latics chasing straight away. 0-1.
The Latics slowly emerged from their uninspiring start and began to work the ball around. Cheltenham only know how to play one way, so when the Latics started getting the ball down and passing it around, The Robins wings were in a flap. However, the chances took a while to come and only Andrews' neat one-two with mini-Shez saw the Latics only effort in the first 20 minutes. The move sent Andrews into the box with space to pick his target but he swung his effort narrowly over the bar.
As Cheltenham shoved, pulled and played relegation fodder tactics, their most despicable moment of the match came on 25 as Hall superbly executed a tackle just inside the box to stop Brough, but the cheat fell theatrically and screamed for a penalty. Amazingly, the referee failed to deem such a cheating effort as a bookable offence. However on 31, Andrews almost rammed such behaviour down the hosts throats as he wrestled clear of his marker, but sent in a weak snapshot which Higgs easily claimed.
With the visitors growing in confidence, the equaliser was on the cards and eventually on 33, Eyres headed home a carbon copy corner to that against Port Vale. Ironically, we drew that game one apiece as well. 1-1.
As the Latics dominated now, 2 great chances came within a minute. First, Wiggy held the ball up with his back to goal and a defender for comfort, but his lay-off to Murray on the edge of the box offered a clear sight of goal. Murray delayed slightly causing his eventual effort to deflect off a defender sending it wide of the far post. Seconds later, Andrews crossed from left to right for Low. He nodded down for in-running Murray & his scuffed effort ran straight into Wiggy's path. With only Higgs to beat, the Latics striker could only toe-poke the effort close to the keeper allowing a superb reaction save to be made slightly easier. Wiggy agonised over the miss but worse was to come.
The Latics returned to the pitch in a similar vein to how they left it. And on 49, Wiggy was clean through again after Eyres' superb long diagonal ball down the right channel sent the striker in behind (3rd time this ball has been played in 2 games.) With a touch, Wiggy set himself but then from 8 yards inexplicably ballooned the ball over the bar.
Hoping to attack at any opportunity, Cheltenham constantly threw long balls up for strikers Brough and Allsopp, but rarely kept hold of possession through this tactic. However, on 55 Miskelly gathered a long punt and threw the ball straight out to calling Sheridan. The ball ran short and unknowingly for mini-Shez, Allsopp was on top of him to steal the ball. Running into the box but away from goal, Miskelly quickly ran after Allsopp to close the angle and the youngster was rewarded with a neat block.
The visitors returned fire on 64. Andrews outpaced his marker to go clear in the box, but Higgs was equal to a near post strike as he beat the ball to safety. Then on 66, the hosts replied and almost took advantage of another lapse in defensive concentration. This time a long ball left the Latics back line stretched and forced Miskelly to race Brough to the ball. The NI-U21 keeper was 2nd to it allowing Brough to lob the strandard keeper. Fortunately for the hosts, the ball drifted wide of the near post but another alarm bell was now ringing.
As the Latics pushed forward, gaps were opening up at the back more often now and on 71, Armstrong needed to be perfectly placed to head a mis-cued cross from under the bar. It was a vital stop for the Latics. Then minutes later, Eyres needlessly gave the ball away on the edge of the Latics box, all of which led to a Robins corner. Haining headed clear but Yates was allowed space to volley from the edge of the box. Fortunately, it deflected wide again.
Having ridden their luck for a spell, the Latics encountered their best chance of the match on 87 and it really should have been the winner. Substitute Corazzin nodded a ball through for Wiggy to run onto. Higgs came storming out to the edge of the box and as Wiggy delayed, the keeper got close enough to block the initial shot. The ball flipped over Higgs though and Wiggy chased it to slot into an empty net. Taking a touch to stop the ball, Wiggy unwittingly allowed Jamie Victory enough time to race onto the goalline and hack the follow-up shot clear. It was a crucial miss and one which would all-but-end the Latics automatic promotion dreams.
With the Latics so close to a winner, things almost turned immediately the opposite way. On 88, Miskelly was forced into a superb fingertip save to send Brown's drive over the bar. And in injury time, Brown almost burst past the defence again but Hall got in a saving tackle to stop the games last attack.
In the end, it was all huff and puff for the Latics but with no end product. Yes, the chances are coming but so are the defensive mistakes. And if you don't take those chances, it is very easy to lose games. As Cheltenham nearly showed in the 88th minute, after such a big miss by Wiggy seconds earlier, it can give the opposition a boost which can totally change a game. A miss can sometimes be more than just a miss - how many times have we seen a one-on-one missed only for it to be a massive turning point in a game. It simply cannot happen against a Bristol City or a Crewe.
Latics fans might subscribe to the fact that we will be tighter against play-off opposition and that we will raise our game. But the fact remains that glaring misses are unacceptable and we have 4 big games to get it right before the final furlong begins. Otherwise, the Latics will do it again - they'll fall at that final hurdle and this time, this horse might finally be put to rest!!!
