A night to remember or a night to forget? Probably one to forget, but the repercussions from Tuesday nights Scunthorpe smash-up will no doubt live on for some time.
Despite the Latics fielding a depleted-depleted side (1st depleted by summer antics, then again by a major injury crisis), the team which played actually did well enough. However, playing over half the game with several youngsters and 9 men just doesn't work. It's like trying to build an igloo in Egypt.
The side needed changes from Saturday with Ndawi cup-tied and Killen injured and this produced speculation that Dowie might re-register as a player to help out. That would have been very reminiscent of Ritchie's managerial days after a heavy flu-bug decimated the Latics back in Christmas 2000 and the legend donned his boots against Wigan in the LDV and for the bench against Port Vale. Alas, Dowie claimed I am hardly "the future of the club" and reclined. Ironically though, some might ask where John Sheridan fits in after he started on the bench and played the last 15 minutes?
Speaking of the youngsters then, it was nice to see Roca, Curier and Tierney all gaining their full debuts but the only puzzle had to be the disappearance of trainee Rob Walker. Both Walker and Roca linked up well against Brighton in the 2nd half but his ommission is yet to be explained.
The feeling before the game though was that play-off losers Scunthorpe would be favourites in this tie and with Byrne on loan from Sunderland, McLean on loan from Rangers, ex-Man City Peter Beagrie in for experience and lower-league veteran Steve Torpey upfront, this would be a real test for the Latics. Then it was made worse by the red cards.
Dowie has since rightly reprimanded mini-Sheridan for his actions and blasted Boshell for his contribution. My feelings are that the red cards did spoil the game, but it left the narrow pitch wide open. The 2nd half was end to end stuff and despite Brian Laws scoffing with glee at the number of chances Scunthorpe had - on BBC Humberside he classed the number of embarrassing - it was his sides shooting which was more embarrassing. I just hope the hoardings on the roof at Glanford Park are tightly fastened because they'll be falling off after the number of times his players hit them.
Fortunately for the Latics, they had not only the wayward shooting of main perpurtrator Peter Beagrie to thank, but Pogi too. The Aussie made several fine saves, but don't be disillusioned because the post twice saved Scunny. Yes, the hosts did look to have the edge but with an extra man and space all over the pitch, the Iron should have been the more likely to score. In the end, they had to hang on for the win.
From the off, both sides looked for openings and it was the hosts who initially saw more of goal but proceeded to fire high and wide. Indeed, the more threatening chances were to come the Latics way and on 10, the first opportunity arrived when Eyre's powerful effort was almost parried to Roca but in the chase he was ousted out by a Scunny defender.
A few minutes later, the Irons responded with a worthwhile effort of their own. Hayes, looking menacing throughout, shrugged off inexperienced Tierney to work a clear shot on goal from 8 yards. With his run taking him across the goal, it appeared difficult for the striker to keep balance and put in a powerful shot, but not only did he do both he almost managed to send the Aussie the wrong way. Pogi quickly checked brilliantly to save.
Now it seemed that the hosts had settled and it didn't take long for another couple of long-rangers to be peppered at the visitors goal. However, it was a defender that showed how to hit the target when on-loan defender Chris Byrne superbly chipped for goal from the edge of the box to put Pogi in all sorts of trouble. Somehow, at full stretch the Latics stopper got just enough under the ball to lift it narrowly over the bar.
The Latics responded on 24 as Roca, who didn't look as lively as on Satruday but still appeared a threat, dinked a sweet ball down the left for Curier. Beating his defender, the Frenchman fired a cross into the box and this appeared to have been handled by a Scunny defender. The referee completely refused to acknowledge the incident, let alone wave away appeals.
The game appeared very open but chances were slowly becoming thinner on the ground. Just past the half hour mark, Hayes got the better of Tierney again and this looked a huge problem for the visitors. His dangerous ball into the 6-yard box nearly made it to Torpey at the far post and but instead, in an attempt to clear, Boshell inadvertedly smashed the ball at goal. Luckily, it hit Pogi straight in the chest and bounced away to safety.
With the scores level, and fairly so, the game was about to change. Those flashpoints occurred, starting with Sparrows disgraceful rugby tackle on Sheridan. That deserved at least a yellow but it was the way that an angry Sheridan (and he had good reason to be) got up aggressively to confront Sparrow which escalated things. Immediately it became a free-for-all and spotting much of the antics going on was quite difficult. However, referee Colin Webster felt he had seen enough to justify a red card for both perpetraitors.
Soon after the game re-started, Danny Boshell made a name for himself for all the wrong reasons as he lost the ball, chased it and then wildly hacked at the player in possession. From zero to 44 on the clock, Boshell had put poor passes in, wasted corners, wasted possession and his tackling had been atrocious. And he deserved a straight red, not a 2nd yellow in my view.
To be honest, when it comes to Boshell, it makes me laugh that people say this is his first red card as the player. Yes, at senior level it is but for a player who has not only had enough chances to break into senior level but should now be classed as main player, Boshell has been partial to a few red cards in the reserves before now. His actions are therefore of little surprise to some.
In the 2nd half, the Latics came out sporting a 3-4-1 formation with Carney replacing Roca. And that turned out to be a shrewed move as Carney ran for everything and became a vital outlet on the Latics left. However, another setback was to come. With the half 5 minutes old, Beagrie found some joy in behind on the left and his dangerous ball into the box goaded Pogi into catching it but the ball had to much height and pace. The cross landed to Torpey at the far post and he had the simple task of heading back into the centre for Hayes to nod home. 0-1.
With typical Dowie defiance, the Latics looked to get the defecit back immediately and they almost did when Curier slotted in at the far post. The liner to correctly had him offside though. What a tonic the goal would have been. Instead it inspired the Irons and they attacked with purpose now. With 55 on the clock, a neat passing move allowed Stanton time and space to thread a deadly ball into the Latics goalmouth. Under pressure, Murray just couldn't hold off Hayes and the striker made easy work of tapping home. 0-2.
The Latics had to dig deep now (even deeper than ever before) and that they did. Carney, sporting flair and passion, superbly tricked his man on the left and won a corner. Eyre flighted a dangerous ball through the goalmouth and with a flick on sending the ball to Murray, his inital shot was blocked before it landed to Curier on the goal line to smash home. Funnily enough though, those behind the goals could clearly see that this was actually an own goal by Torpey but I'm sure he's happy for Curier to claim it. 1-2.
Having given themselves a lifeline, Dowie decided to change O'Halloran with a tired Vernon. That proved another good move as he too showed a similar passion to Carney. The hosts meanwhile substituted Hayes and Brian Laws' decision was greeted with boos, after all the striker was chasing a hat-trick.
With the final 20 minutes approaching, Haining saw his great 50-yard dash end when his shot was blocked by a defender and then Scunny had 2 decent chances from the edge of the box which Pogi twice saved well. After that, the rest of the game turned into "The Latics Show."
Pushing forward at every chance, the Latics threw all they had at Scunny to level and on 77, it looked like they had. Carney again fooled his man on the left and that allowed him enough space to pick out Tierney's run into the box. The youngster fired for goal but ended up hitting his ball straight through the box to the far post where John Eyre was powering in. How ironic would it have been to see a former Iron player smash home a Latics equaliser? He didn't though, as the footballing gods sent his strike crashing against the foot of Scunthorpe's post and away.
With that, Dowie threw on Snr Shez and this proved another masterstroke as now, everything went through the midfield maestro. It was therefore no surprise that with only minutes left it was his wonderful ball down the left that would set up the chance of the match. O'Halloran, (a player who reminded me of when Eyres and Carss first came to the club) picked up Sheridan's ball and ran at the Scunny defence. Twisting and turning, the midfielder opened up a clear route to goal and with a deft touch, slotted the ball past keeper Evans. It looked like it was going in all the way, but instead it kept curling away and hit the post. Agonising wasn't the word for it!
In the end, the width of each post helped 10-man Scunthorpe beat 9-man Latics. This tie was always going to be difficult, but the acts of 2 mindless players left the visitors with a mission impossible. As things are, the squad needs boosting not decimating. Hopefully, Carney and O'Halloran can be afforded (despite it looking unlikely) as they appear to be the type we need. For now though, let's just hope that Latics players do stop shooting themselves in the foot though. Otherwise, one day in the not so distant future, Dowie might have to have a re-think about those hanging boots!