Wrong of course to suggest that nothing was riding on tonight’s game, but there wasn’t much. Another victory and if followed by Port Vale losing we would be mathematically safe, keep the unbeaten run going, finish as high as possible, help May stay top of the goalscoring chart. All worthy objectives but in the greater scheme of things the pressure was off. And in that context coming away with a point was not unacceptable, especially given that we were ahead curtesy of a joke goal, one that quite obviously should not have been awarded, and after conceding two rather sloppy goals had to come from behind to share the spoils. On chances we finished well ahead, Wigan scoring twice from three attempts on target, but you don’t get points for that.
With Jones (the player) and Wickham apparently available for selection, there was interest in whether Jones (the manager) would indulge in a little tinkering or try to keep the pressure on to secure as high a finish in the league as possible. In the event there was only one change to the starting line-up, with Watson returning and Ramsay moving to the bench. Wickham joined him there, with Edmunds-Green and Ladapo left out of the squad. As on Saturday, this left us looking light on defensive cover (we finished the Barnsley game with Anderson filling in at wing-back), with two replacement forwards (Wickham and Aneke) and two wingers (Campbell and LuaLua) for a team employing wing-backs. I can’t pretend to understand it but presumably there was a plan.
The easing of pressure seemed to be reflected in a drab first half, one in which neither side registered an attempt on target (we did score of course). Jones after the match seemed to be pleased with the effort put in, but beyond the hustle and bustle nothing much was created at either end. Early on May was unable to collect a Watson header back across goal and Kanu saw his effort blocked, although straight from that Wigan had their most dangerous moment as their tricky wide guy Godo, on loan from Fulham, surprised the much bigger Small by getting around him and almost coverting.
Our ‘goal’ came on 18 minutes, A bit of ping-pong saw Gillsephey send it back long. Their defender seemed to have it covered but was backpeddling. May was never going to get there and as their guy shaped to hook clear pulled him over. Off balance his slice sent the ball looping over the keeper’s head and into the net on the bounce. The club website talked of May putting their guy ‘under pressure’. OK, we are pleased, we take the break, reminded me of Washington, who often used to challenge on the edge for balls he had no chance of winning, leaving it up to the ref to decide. But quite frankly it was ridiculous how the officials did not award Wigan a free-kick.
After that May played in Dobson, who shot into the side-netting from the left side, Hector picked up a yellow for protesting too much, Watson pulled up injured and was replaced by Ramsay, Dobson late on found Anderson but he couldn’t get his shot away, and right at the end Wigan gave the ball away only for May’s shot to be diverted and Small not able to convert.
So at the break we were ahead on points and ahead in reality thanks to the officials. Early in the second half we had the chances to make the game probably safe but Small’s shot was saved and Dobson’s was deflected onto the post. Instead we went on to concede two goals in four minutes to find ourselves behind. Their guy’s shot was saved by Isted, the follow-up blocked, but the ball then running for another to slot home; and not long after one of theirs was played through the middle and Gillesphey arriving late was only able to deflect his shot past Isted.
That prompted a triple substitution, with Aneke, Campbell and LuaLua introduced for Gillesphey, May and Kanu, thereby making a nonsense of my pre-match thought that there was no point having both Campbell and LuaLua on the bench as there was no way both would be used. Seems we reverted to a kind of 4-3-3. And the remainder of the game was largely about whether we could equalise and even go on and win. We did manage the first, with Aneke heading home from close range, and had chances after that, after another switch as Wickham came on for Anderson. But seven minutes of stoppage time failed to deliver a decider and both teams left the pitch if not over the moon then at least not in despair.
It means mathematically we need another five points to be certain of staying up, although that would drop to three or two if Port Vale fail to win at Peterborough tonight. And in reality we are safe. Three more unbeaten, taking that run to 15 games, would be a nice way to finish the season. The season itself will go down as a poor failure overall, but one which fell into three stages: the first, through to end-November, when we were in sight of the play-off places but with injuries taking a heavy toll needed more bodies if we were to challenge; the second saw us slump through December and January and into February, with the extensive changes in the transfer window intensifying the chaos as we slid towards the relegation spots, culminating in the defeat at Reading; and the third as Jones took charge and imposed a new style of play, one which has kept us up. For him the season is mission accomplished; but next season’s mission will be very different.
Well known playwright Samuel Beckett wrote "Waiting for Godot" which the main characters "punch in time" waiting in vain for this person to appear. If he had seen the game last night it would have been highly appropriate in one way and not in another.
ReplyDeleteWe are waiting for the release/relief of the end of the season, the last few month have been devoid of anything to celebrate- except perhaps survival.Waiting and in some ways suffering.
Secondly if he had seen Wigan no.17 Godo play he would have have to rename his play- as "Godo" was here there and everywhere with fast flowing movement, only stopped when brought down by scything tackle from Dobbo- a matter of necessity- cruel treatment for a talented artist. Needs must.
So instead of finishing strongly to the end of the season it's all abit mixed. We're doing better than limping over the finish line, but only just.
For myself I quite enjoyed the early days of drama compared to the recent stuff, and certainly the swashbuckling CBT charges and high scoring games (generally ending in anguish) were entertaining. Then the dross of the 2nd half of Appletons reign and the loss of direction and morale (with no available big striker). Finally it's been some surprising results against better teams, still poor results against the weaker ones and generally a poor standard of football that has got us out of danger thanks to the sharpness of Alfie May, and generally a more combative approach.
A few more games to go. Only questions are can Alfie grab the L1 golden boot? and will we see the enigmatic Lyle Taylor panto villain appear for Cambridge?