Recording from 09:31 Playing time; italics all not spoken, supplementary
spoken by Arne Malsch
but even in such games the Robin Park complex is not sold out, last year the average attendance was 18000 and this year it has gone down a bit. The proximity to Manchester United and Manchester City, the geographical proximity, could be a hindrance, but on the other hand, fans also grow with the teams and in Wigan’s sixth year in the Premier League, the number of fans could also increase.
That was well dealt with and that was one of those unpleasant, bad actions, and Carl Henry gets caught, now I’m surprised myself. Straight red for that foul on Jordy Gomez. Red card to Carl Henry. This game is going along and then there’s this tackle by Carl Henry. Certainly over-motivated and we’re watching it again, of course. Yes, and on re-watch you can understand that decision, from the side with both legs. So Carl Henry clumsy, the rough tackle.
That was a theme before this game, Wolverhampton Wanderers are so suspected of being a bit rough and now there’s the red card for Carl Henry in this game, virtually underlining that thesis.
Jordy Gomez, looks like it’s going to be on for the young Spaniard…. and even Roberto Martinez, the Wigan coach, had said before the game, no, it’s not that bad with the hard actions of Wolverhampton, they get a bit too short with the straddling now and then, and then it looks clumsy, but a general over-harsh way of playing, Martinez didn’t want to accuse his counterpart McCarthy of that. (Game time: 11:58)
Yes, now I’m curious to see whether Wigan, who were primarily concerned with defensive stability in the first few minutes, will find a way to get something going forward.
A correct decision here, Henry, so that was just clumsy, badly done. and because the ball was just so far away, he has to penalise that, correct decision from referee Lee Manson. (the replay of the scene where it was red was on).
And Mick McCarthy should have deeper worry lines on his forehead again.
Di Santo, outside is Thomas, he plays again with N’Zogbia, tries Ward, McCarthy with the long ball, and nice thanks says Markus Hahnemann. Yes, Henry an important man in defensive midfield for Wolves, let’s see how they split that. (Game time 13:25). Figueroa and a hard tackle by Steven Fletcher, who tried to prevent the ball advantage (??? incomprehensible).
What plays into Wolverhampton’s cards is Wigan’s glaring offensive weakness. Before the game against Birmingham, they recognised this tenuous upward trend when they beat Preston North End 2-1 in the F.A. Cup. To put it in perspective, Preston North End led for a long time, until the 87th minute, then they equalised, and in the 90th minute N’Zogbia scored the winning goal, but for now let’s see what happens here, good chance for Figueroa. Yes, he’s more comfortable with his left foot. But here’s the first, let’s call it a scoring chance, in the 15th minute, this shot by Figueroa. (Playing time 14:57)
And when N’Zogbia scored to make it 2-1 in the 90th minute, you thought, now things are going well offensively, at least if you were a Wigan Athletics fan. On a neutral view, the 18th of the Premier League was playing against the 18th of the 2nd division, the Championship,
Rodallega, N’Zogbia, from distance, Fletcher with the ball, unnecessary, McCarthy, that’s Jordy Gomez, have a go. Martinez happy with what he sees. The omens certainly more favourable for Wigan after that sending off.
There’s Alcaraz back, looking good, nicely taped up, the gash over his eye, captain of the Paraguayan national team. A fixture in Wigan’s defence, has been getting better and better at getting in there in tandem with Gohouri.
I don’t know about you, but the impression that Wigan got a positive boost from Henry’s sending off, that’s not necessarily true, on the contrary, it seems as if there are still 11 against 11 playing, and above all there were no chances to score. And no sooner do I say it than this ball goes to Rodallega, and, is that offside? Yes, whistled off, N’Zogbia. I think that decision is correct, well seen there by Andy Halliday, the assistant on the opposite side. (Game time 18:00)
Quick passing, playing wide, that would be a good thing for Wigan to do now, to move Wolverhampton around a lot defensively and then put the necessary pinpricks in, but so far it’s been a lot of long balls and far from safe passing. But there is still a lot of time. Wigan can still solve this differently.
Gohouri here with the foul on Doyle. Jo, the elbow goes out, correctly seen by Lee Mason, and good free kick position. Fletcher standing by, but I’d imagine David Jones will flick the ball over the wall. Al Habsi, top attention. Fletcher does it, Fletcher doesn’t do it badly.
Good chance for Wolves, that was very well kicked, Al Habsi has his eye on it, but decent free-kick from Steven Fletcher. (19:30)
Rodallega. Bad throw-in, gets there somehow though, Rodallega, di Santo, right to settle the game down a bit, Hendry Thomas. And the pass was phoned in again, Mancienne was looking right there. Mancienne, as I said, is back in the starting line-up for now, 22 years young, has been through all the teams basically in the Manchester United youth academy and then at Woverhampton now on his third loan from Chelsea FC. Michael Mancienne has already played one international match, against Germany in November 2008, in a 2-1 victory in Berlin. And he doesn’t quite want to make the breakthrough, which is the reason why Chelsea loan him out and loan him out and loan him out. There is always the famous argument of playing practice, which he has now also got one or two times at Woverhampton, but he has not used his good facilities. (22:06)
Craddock back to Hahnemann (he says Heinemän) or, if you like, Hahnemann (German pronunciation), because Markus Hahnemann (he says Heinemän again), the Wolverhampton goalkeeper, of course has German ancestors. (an incomprehensible word) behind it with the name Stefan, is not quite as ??? as the one in the USA.
It all seems a bit awkward, now back again, then Boyce doesn’t dare to play the ball long, but now well seen, and then the central defence is on the spot. Gomez with a good eye, so he uses the opportunities he has here, no offside, nice to see di Santo, and then he wanted to take McCarthy in the middle, but that didn’t work out well enough. (replay plays)
Rodallega, is stopped. Aah, Rodallega almost got the ball there. Little lapses of concentration now creeping in for the Wolves. Alcaraz, well dealt with, avoids the corner. Hendry Thomas with a good long ball to Boyce, who I don’t like so much yet, because he has a lot of space, left by Matt Jarvis, who is very offensive oriented and doesn’t like to run backwards. But Boyce then more the candidate for the safety pass, to the side or back, than for good playmaking. Jordy Gomez and Boyce again. He’s had a good look at him now, di Santo with the pass into the middle, McCarthy, nothing comes of it.
Foley. Mancienne, Mancienne to Fletcher, now Kevin Foley on the outside, good cross, but then also well cleared by Boyce and Gohouri. Fletcher. I still don’t see the numerical superiority yet, and when it does go forward in the build-up to the game, Wolverhampton Wanderers look better from my point of view. First corner, Gohouri, well cleared, the man you might remember from Borussia Mönchengladbach, where he played until the beginning of 2010, then went to Wigan, convinced, and is now together with Alcaraz the centre-back duo at the Latics. (26:33)
Good foot in between, now maybe it can go via a quick counter-attack, no, not like that of course. Gomez has made a mistake.
Foley, no problem for Al Habsi.
Hendry Thomas, the man from Honduras, played in the World Cup.
Kevin Doyle is stopped by Hendry Thomas. (27:53)
Alcaraz does very well. Figueroa to Rodallega. That’s N’Zogbia, he did well but couldn’t find a taker in the middle.
Charles N’Zogbia, the, in quotes, star player at Wigan. Many people were interested in him, including Birmingham, who were very close to an agreement, and then it didn’t work out and there were rumours after Wigan’s less than successful first games that, well, that could still hang over Charles N’Zogbia, that he wanted to leave but wasn’t allowed to, and the fans at Wigan were seriously wondering whether N’Zogbia could be allowed to play at all. Martinez decided in his favour and said, after the transfer window closed on 31.8., that N’Zogbia is now concentrating fully on the team, is training well and has been accepted in the team again for his training work. We’re curious to see whether this will continue.
Nicely done here, but then a bit wide by Foley, but then he gets the ball again and Mason whistles him off. Alcaraz, who was just praised, fouled him. He’s attacking the right side, very conspicuous. Christoph Berra, sneaking forward, and Craddock, the strong headed 35-year-old, Mick McCarthy’s favourite player, is also there. This free kick is too high, again no chance to score. (30:46) But nothing dramatic happens for Wolverhampton either, who have only been playing with 10 against 11 since the 10th minute.
Steven Ward, last week against Aston Villa, he raised the white flag after 30 minutes and was then redeemed by Mick McCarthy. But today he has his defensive side very well under control, I couldn’t see much danger yet.
And Hahnemann with the long ball forward. Wolverhampton won’t care about that. Even if it doesn’t look so good now. They’re keeping it 0-0 here, and without much effort. A weak game so far. It has to be said in all clarity. Hardly any goal chances, as we have noted the one shot by Figueroa, which then went wide and then on the other side the good free kick by Steven Fletcher. (33:03)
Easy work for Fletcher there with the ball win, and Alcaraz again made a good save. Now maybe, N’Zogbia, McCarthy on di Santo, times out on the wings, and in the middle Berra clears. Hendry Thomas, he prefers to leave the scoring to the others. At least he gets a corner kick. It’s good, but not good enough. Markus Hahnemann grabs the ball.
Almost misunderstanding between Figueroa and Alcaraz, Rodallega, also not quite successful this cooperation between Edwards and Hahnemann. Wolverhampton are very tightly stacked, but Wigan don’t manage to develop pressure through the outsides. And so it remains low on highlights here at the DW Stadium. (35:10)
Foley and then in partnership with Doyle, who is helping out at the back. Mancienne, got himself into trouble there but then just about managed to sort it out. Gohouri, outside Boyce, Matt Jarvis, Thomas, that’s N’Zogbia, well done, Rodallega, yeah. 36th minute, if you like, a goalscoring chance.
He’s got time, so he’s got another look at Edwards, who’s practically acting in a special line in front of the back four, ironing out what Mancienne can’t get away with there. (The replay of the scene)
Up front, you hope for Fletcher, Matt Jarvis and Doyle. Normally, Edwards is more offensive-minded.
Long ball, Rodallega, and a good save by Christoph Berra. Rodagol he is called, loosely after Battigol, but apart from the goal at Tottenham he has yet to score in the Premier League. Last year he scored 10 goals, which were important for Wigan in their fight against relegation. He too was hotly courted, was not allowed to move, and you could tell at the beginning that he too was not very happy.
Di Santo with too hard an effort against Kevin Foley. Mick McCarthy doesn’t look too worried yet, not that much has happened. But now maybe, is that a foul? No, not whistled off by Mason, good style from McCarthy, laid on, good cross, no. Another head in between from the Wolves. (38:31)
Craddock, yes, gets his head in there. (Replay of the scene) You’re grateful for actions like that, where things finally happen on the wings and spaces open up. McCarthy, who tries very hard, bad pass from di Santo.
Quite interesting, Doyle and Fletcher seem to have switched sides now, after Fletcher initially came with his left foot over on the right, he has now switched to the left and Doyle there to support Foley on the right, and that’s working so far, because, yes, you could see it, Wolverhampton’s left side is working well, with Jarvis and Ward against admittedly quite harmless opponents from Wigan. And Fletcher with the over-hard tackle on di Santo. Stretched leg, yes, but that was definitely not intentional on Steven Fletcher’s part, who thought the ball was behind him there and then waits until he gets forward and only then looks forward.
Mick McCarthy, mistake again, this time from James McCarthy, from Wigan. But Fletcher was cautioned, yellow card he got. Referee Mason’s line, which earned him respect in this match between two teams from the bottom of the table, we don’t use the word relegation duel on matchday 7, but it’s also important that the referee follows a clear line and doesn’t allow any harshness to arise.
Figueroa, he doesn’t know what to do with all the space he finds there, deflected, and the question is, at the moment of the pass, whether Rodallega was offside or whether it was the Wolverhampton player who touched the ball? Yes, at the moment of Figueroa’s ball Rodallega was offside. All correctly seen. (41:42)
The score remains 0:0. Di Santo, Mancienne, no difficulties at all in taking the ball away, Hahnemann, Hahnemann (first spoken in German, then in English), I don’t know whether he had already developed sweat in this first part of the game, two three back passes, then the two shots on goal that went over. That was it. Too little for a team aiming for a liberation strike, looking for breathing space in the bottom third of the table. Wigan disappointing against 10 men so far, you don’t notice it at all. Wolverhampton are well in control here, now Di Santo, once in the penalty area, and again a head in between, again it’s Jody Craddock’s head that prevents a good shooting situation there. (43:02)
The captain of Wolverhampton Wanderers. 35 years old, a calming influence.
Good corner, Di Santo can’t get to it, and Edwards, and he’s quite dangerous. Hahnemann. I’ve talked him into a quiet afternoon and now I’ve got two more exciting situations.
Alcaraz just jumps in and Hahnemann misses. (replay)
That was about the most dangerous thing Wigan gave away in that first half. Goal attempts, 7-1, yes, but then there are shots that might also be classed as passes to the corner flag. Three reasonable ones, now, if we count that, and also take that blocked ball….
The last minute is on, yellow card to Thomas, and that’s fine too, gets on Edwards’ foot there. By the way, Hendry Thomas is called “The Doctor”, because he is like a doctor, operating the ball off the foot of the opponent. He just didn’t make it.
Good last chance maybe for Rodallega. Doesn’t look to his right or left again, that’s a huge problem he has, because McCarthy was already free just now, and now the situation is more or less over. Figueroa, and very alert once again in the defensive work Kevin Doyle. Is there anything else going forward for Wolverhampton Wanderers, no. It’s 0-0 after a disappointing first half. Rodallega and Di Santo need to try harder and do more to get something positive, finally a third goal for Wigan.
2nd half
Back at the DW Stadium in The Robin Park complex. We are curious to see if there is an improvement on the extremely low level first half between Wigan Athletic in blue and Wolverhampton Wanderers, the Wolves, in orange. If you’re just tuning in now, you didn’t miss much apart from a red card, rightly awarded after just 11 minutes to Carl Henry of Wolverhampton Wanderers. Now if you’re wondering if you’ve seen that in the game yet, that there are 11 against 10 playing, then I can reassure you, if you’re a Wolves fan. No, so far Wigan have not found a means to seriously threaten Markus Hahnemann’s goal here.
Maybe once now, that was well done, and the first good chance in the second half, and almost, almost 1-0. It took just 50 seconds, and then di Santo has the first really good chance, and great job by Hahnemann, throwing himself in there. And actually unselfishly played by Rodallega. That was a lot more action than in the whole of the first half in those very first approaches of the second period.
Yes, they seem to have heard a sentence or two in the dressing room, Roberto Martinez’s team, they should have more courage now. Distance shot. Also good from di Santo.
The Argentine with the Italian passport seems to be warming up now.
No changes for either team so far, Mick McCarthy will keep the formation on the pitch that played excellently against the numerically superior Latics in the first half as long as he can, until one or the other gets into difficulties.
Ward with the liberation and up front Doyle or Fletcher help in case of doubt. But now it’s James McCarthy’s build-up play again. Striking so far. Jordy Gomez, who was also surprisingly in, has only been substituted once so far, in the Premier League in the win against Tottenham, today he was in from the start, and he has already justified his call-up. Now this typical first-half scene, where to put the ball, who’s got the good idea to make something happen, N’Zogbia out there, with Thomas, N’Zogbia now, goes past Manciennes, Thomas again, in the penalty area, that’s not necessarily his favourite territory, McCarthy, played across, finally the opening pass, after small-small back there, Jordy Gomez, and Boyce, and he’s then poor. Both Boyce’s cross and now McCarthy’s intended pass didn’t work.
Nice excitement at the beginning of this second period, let’s hope it continues like this. Here we have the scene again. First Rodallega was well run through and then the double pass, seen like that, with Di Santo, who was close to his first goal of the season, or, rather, even at all, because Di Santo is a newcomer. (49:22)
McCarthy, outside again Boyce, inaccurate but again, inaccurate now from Christoph Berra. Di Santo, in the back, these are all passes where it’s not quite enough, but that’s not bad now, he comes into the middle and almost Rodallega, but a chance for McCarthy. Hahnemann is on the spot. It’s getting lively. First it’s cleared by Craddock and then McCarthy’s follow-up shot.
Figueroa, sticking error.
Elokobi. He was on the pitch against Aston Villa after 30 minutes. I would imagine Mick McCarthy will make a defensive change there in the second period based on those first few minutes, and it doesn’t even have to be Steven Ward scoring. I don’t know if that’s where Rodallega’s next laceration came from, it could have been the header duel before that with Craddock.
(To repeat 🙂 Here’s the cross again, ou yes, awkward, and that was Berra getting the header there before Rodallega. So, and Elokobi is in, for Steven Fletcher, yes, an attacking man, Steven Fletcher, goes out, and Elokobi comes in. Let’s see where he posts up. Fletcher won’t be adding to his two Premier League goals and the one he’s already scored in the League Cup today.
Let Kevin Doyle do that up front on his own. Again, the right decision. Offside by Kevin Doyle.
Elokobi lines up on that forward defensive line with David Edwards, giving Edwards a wee bit more air to the back and side. Still in thought, Manciennes Jarvis and Doyle the offensive-minded players, Elokobi to help keep things tight there on the left. (53:35)
N’Zogbia, and that was awkward for Foley, the little shove in the back, not penalised by Lee Mason, but then Foley dealt with that well. Hahnemann.
And now we need to talk to Mr Doyle and Mr Alcaraz. So, let’s have another look, yes, the elbow from Doyle and then the little revenge from Alzaraz. Gohouri prevents further body contact. Of course it’s frustrating for Kevin Doyle, who has lost his partner in attack and is now the sole entertainer up front.
Bad ball into the middle from Jordi Gomez. And now Doyle can maybe move forward, but he fails against Gohouri, who does it very calmly, very confidently.
Boyce fails with a dribbling attempt.
So another action by Doyle, then there could be a yellow card. Gohouri of course tells him a few more bars there and now here’s the foul.
The list on the card from Lee Mason, the referee from Bolton, is getting longer with Doyle’s misconduct, it won’t be long now and then it will be yellow.
Just now we saw the unfortunate Gary Caldwell, still injured after the hip injury he sustained. He’s the captain of the team and should be back in the squad after the international break. Has now played a test match and lasted 90 minutes. Important man for the defence.
Gomez and again just about ok the pass. N’Zogbia, they try to get through in a tight space, passes again, yes, and Thomas is no marksman. (57:53)
McCarthy, good (missing a part) … from Foley. N’Zogbia wanted a free-kick, yes, he hit it, but, also correctly seen, you don’t have to blow the whistle, because the ball had already landed with Craddock anyway.
So now that was a substitute attacking ball from Wolverhampton. Long balls forward and then let’s see what Kevin Doyle does with it. He’s on his own. Very far back now, the Wolves.
Change. Ronnie Stam, the new acquisition from Dutch champions Twente Enschede. Can play left defensive midfield as well as left-back, and with Figueroa leaving, he’ll probably become a left-back then. And says the football fan, it’s 0-0, eleven against ten, and the attacking efforts really aren’t going so well, and then I substitute Ronnie Stam as a left-back, but maybe Roberto Martinez has thought of something and Stam fulfils more offensive tasks, I could imagine that. Also someone who can go to the baseline and cross dangerously, we haven’t seen that from Maynor Figueroa. He closed down his side, that’s normally his job.
Foley, yes, and now actually two from Wolverhampton, and just a moment ago there was, I think it was Gohouri, rightly against Matt Jarvis at the last second, who was almost through there. You can’t be that sure. Sure, you’re frustrated because it’s still 0-0, because they just can’t manage to score a goal, in inverted commas, and then you lose a bit of concentration. But of course Wolverhampton can also hope that one will go in at some point, shortly before the end, or it doesn’t have to be shortly.
McCarthy’s in shooting position, he’ll have to explain what that should be. Boyce and Stam. Stam out on the right. He can do that. Did he want to spoon the ball in there with his left. (62:02)
Yeah, I think that says a lot about how the game went. 77% possession for Wigan. 23 for Wolverhampton. They’re ten, they don’t need to have more possession, but Wigan, they need to have 1 up there, in that all-important graph. Long outnumbered and still without any really really dangerous action, apart from the one really really good chance from Di Santo just after the start of the second half.
So, long ball Craddock, thank you very much, says Alcaraz, and off we go again, again the next set of mostly clumsy attacking moves from Wigan. Manciennes, Jarvis, well watched, N’Zogbia with the attempt, Boyce wants the ball there on the right, now Stam has it, who is playing very attack-minded, so there actually tactically not the same position from Ronnie Stam compared to Figueroa, and that was a hold, clearly, we’ll look at that again in a moment, from Edwards, briefly held, and then there’s the free-kick. Good position. on the edge of the penalty area and of course there’s one or two experts who can do that. Stam is ready there, Rodallega. Gomez takes responsibility there, good shot, and the 1:0.
Jordi Gomez scores the 1:0 in the 65th minute. It had to be a standard. Yes, and actually it’s the corner of the goal, Christoph Berra can’t get his head up that quickly, and Hahnemann looks to see if it might not be flicked over the wall and shot softer, no, Jordi Gomez has done everything right, hard, placed into the corner, 1:0 for the Latics.
We finally have a real climax in this game, which of course should get a bit more interesting now. How can Wolverhampton respond to that?
Stopped by Gohouri, free-kick on the other side. Yes. So now Matt Jarvis gets a go from the right…. First half good free kick attempt from Fletcher. He could try a chip there, he does, but, too far, too far the good plan, so there he would have been quite free, David Edwards, but didn’t come off after all.
So, Mick McCarthy brings on his substitutes, or his planned reinforcements, in particular Markus Bent, the push forward, or Sylvan Ebanks-Blake. Also scored two goals already. Must do something for the attack.
Wolverhampton with the next long ball. So this comparison with the chloroform, which was made by the English media for the Wigan game in Birmingham, when they played 0-0, is also quite correct today. It was soporific, and then just this one standard snaps everyone out of their lethargy. That was the adrenaline rush that was needed for this game. And now the question, is there a reaction?
Jarvis, cleared in twos, Stam and Alcaraz. And the tempo has picked up noticeably. Berra has snuck in there now, and Al Habsi. He hasn’t had a single real shot on goal yet. The free kick just went over, the one from Fletcher in the first half went over. Smells like he’s going to play another one to nil here.
So, of course, now Wigan have all the time in the world. Inaccurate that back pass, N’Zogbia almost got to it. McCarthy takes Stam on the outside. Yes, and now amazingly, Stam has gone over again and is now playing the defensive role, now they’re playing with a four-man back line again, because there’s a fear that a Wolverhampton striker will enter the field again, in a moment, Stam on the left side again.
Boyce, Thomas, and there’s Stam, and then such a mistake. Doyle, all alone against five Wigan players, it’s frustrating. There’s no one coming forward, and that’s a question you can ask, whether Wigan (he meant Wolves) are running out of steam because they’ve been shorthanded for so long. Maybe it’s even a general problem, we remember Wigan, or rather Wolverhampton Wanderers, who always scored in the closing stages of the last few games, maybe the team is not physically at the level you need in the Premier League, especially if you’re not quite as technically experienced, without offending Wolverhampton, it’s a different kind of football to Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal and other teams who can play the game in a completely different way and don’t have to go quite so far. They run behind a lot and here’s the free kick again. One step over, one step Hahnemann takes to the left, there’s this little lunge, and then he has to go back and that’s not enough. Hard as nails, Jordi Gomez. His first goal of the season, the 25-year-old Spaniard.
That was well taken care of by Boyce. Gomez waits too long and then Jarvis gets the ball back, now Ward, goes long, and there it is against two too many, now he can move backwards again. Jordi Gomez. The man of the match if you like, caused that red card against Carl Henry which led to a massive shake-up for Wolves, and then he scores the goal in his first game out from the start. (72:24) The right nose from the Spaniard Martinez for the Spaniard Jordi Gomez.
There he is again. Di Santo, after the strong scene right at the beginning of the second half, he disappeared again a bit, Elokobi, Hahnemann, yes he doesn’t really appreciate these back passes now, so playing football in the sense of a modern goalkeeper, others can do that better than him.
So, Diamé, the man who surprisingly wasn’t in the starting line-up now comes in for Hendry Thomas, maybe also a precautionary measure by Martinez, Thomas has a yellow card, and 10 against 10 would still help Wolverhampton in the end.
However, the alignment is clear here too, Diamé will be primarily responsible for destroying Wolverhampton’s build-up play. Well, the question is whether he has to destroy much at all, because it doesn’t really work without Hendry Thomas and Diamé anyway.
N’Zogbia, di Santo, try something surprising, it didn’t work. N’Zogbia out on the right, he did well against Elokobi, no. No. (74:53)
The final quarter of an hour begins in this important game for two teams looking to create space and gain a foothold in mid-table in the Premier League. Wolverhampton with 10 against Wigan with 11 players and against a 0-1 deficit for the hosts since the 65th minute through Jordi Gomez.
There it is again, the question of whether that was offside from Rodallega. No, not whistled, but no big deal either, Christophe Berra controlled the ball. Mancienne, Ward, David Edwards, Mancienne again, Foley, and there they have to play around the back. They’re not getting the switch there. Now maybe, Doyle, good save from Gohouri.
Good to see here again, three against seven, it’s hard to get any offensive flow then. Good shot, not bad, from di Santo(that happened on the other side; 76:53). He saw that Hahnemann was too far in front of his goal and then just shot directly at it from a full run. Good action here again from Di Santo, who had some good situations, already the third shooting chance for him. He didn’t score a goal today, but it was justified. Good shooting chance, but again insufficiently solved, Diamé. He has space, nobody feels responsible, but then Berra casually runs into the right path of the ball.
Wolverhampton lack energy. Yes, in a shorthanded situation, of course, but if you wanted to do harm to the athletics coaching team around Tony Dailey, then you could also say that this team is not up to the challenge.
“Shots on target. 14 times Wigan have shot on goal, targeted this goal, and here comes Marcus Bent, 0 times Wolverhampton Wanderers, and that’s why it’s 1-0 here in the end, because at some point such statistics actually turn into something countable in that little red statistic up there. (78:50)
Mick McCarthy, Marcus Bent, experienced man, 32 years old, and I think he’s even going to bring in his second striker, yes, there you go, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, has already scored two goals in four games, Ebanks-Blake, once again Wolverhampton’s final offensive. You can’t do much less than that.
Almost the wrong pass by Ward, inaccurately played, and then there’s also the loss of the ball, and those are such lapses of concentration that happen to you when your strength is fading. Very deep, still these two four-man chains of Wolverhampton. Of course Di Santo would have liked to have had a free kick in the middle, after he didn’t get any further against Berra. So you can almost make this one with ball pushing until the end from the Latics’ point of view,
Wolverhampton are still hardly dangerous up front, they don’t find any ways to play well, and Wigan are also aggressive now, right on the man with the ball, of course, it’s not like they were completely out of breath in the first half and for long stretches in the second period as well. There should still be enough power there.
Boyce enables the change with another stick error, and Steven Ward, who hasn’t attracted any attention today, goes out, both negatively and positively, so a defensive man in (I’m sure he meant “out”), Ebanks-Blake in for him, and David Edwards goes out, so really a three-man forward now, I could imagine Doyle playing a bit more withdrawn.
Foley, ball loss, and now of course there are other spaces, the man in the middle is missing, Edwards, and also Ward, again not the means to solve that playfully or to offer something creative. Ronnie Stam attempts a shot. Cost four million euros, could have played in the Champions League with Twente Enschede, and decided, I want to play Premier League football, like my brother, the older one, Jaap Stam, who is well known from Manchester United. The player who, in Alex Ferguson’s view, was actually the only player in his tenure that he wrongly sold on. Only mistake Alex Ferguson has made in a very successful career, by his own admission, or at least that he regrets. (83:25)
Back now to Di Santo, who goes a lot of long distances, showed a very decent game here, despite his ankle injury last weekend, when he actually seemed so badly injured that he wouldn’t even be considered for the next few weeks. He was there today and he was important for Wigan.
Jarvis. First time we’ve ever seen him so brave going forward there. Class from McCarthy, and then cleverly done, and dropped, and in the 84th minute you can get 20-30 seconds out of it with probably the phantom pain he’s in now, dropped on the ball.
Di Santo, yes, rightly the applause of God knows not many Latics fans at the DW Stadium today, Ben Watson comes in, should provide further stability there. Midfielder, his fifth Premier League appearance of the year, good ball deep and there’s the 2-0 and I don’t even think that was Rodallega, I think it was Berra.
(For The Replay 🙂 it all looks harmless, then the stroke of genius, Rodallega at the right moment he goes through and then has to…, no, it’s Rodallega. Berra has to try to clear the ball, N’Zogbia at the right moment, Rodallega keeps his foot in this clearing action of Berra and then he is lucky for once that the ball bounces right. Rodallega, his second Premier League goal, 2:0 for Wigan, and that, I think, is the decision in this game. (85:50)
Mick McCarthy then pulled out his last trump card, the two offensive changes Ebanks-Blake and Bent, took Edwards and Ward out and then there is finally space for creativity, and what this Charles N’Zogbia can do from time to time, that’s more than the usual Wigan player can do. That pass was excellent, it was on Rodallega at the right moment and then he does it with luck but also skill, because if Berra doesn’t pick it up, then he has an ideal opportunity to shoot.
Mick McCarthy, that’s the number of worry lines…
Al Habsi, I don’t know what he did there, but maybe he could also play and bring in some excitement.
Mick McCarthy, given the extremely tough programme that’s coming up, it’s bitter for Wolverhampton today. The next game on the 16th, on a Saturday, after the international break, here we see again, Bent is pressed into the ground, hit off guard, and if he stays down, that’s a tough player who has no reason to mark there now.
Here’s the pass again, N’Zogbia and Rodallega with the 2-0. Wolverhampton’s programme: West Ham United, that’s still quite pleasant, against the nineteenth in the table, but then it’s off to Chelsea, against Manchester City, to Manchester United and against Arsenal. Games that I now assume are not 12 points, but can also be 0 and then Wolverhampton no longer have an average start to the season in the middle of the season, but a worrying one. Wolves in their second year in the Premier League after promotion in 2008/2009, last year solid and well secured at the end, this season the team needs (??? incomprehensible).
Hard to say what would have been in it if that red card hadn’t happened so early against Carl Henry, The team had played well against Aston Villa, also had moments against Tottenham, those two games before just lost stupidly, at Fulham they were weaker, but they always scored a goal, that didn’t happen today, Mick McCarthy has to rebuild his team, now with Carl Henry in this important game they are also missing a man who can provide security there.
And Roberto Martinez is looking forward to some quiet times, there were some who wanted to write him off after the second game, after that disastrous 0:6 against Chelsea at home, but then there was the absolute vote of confidence from the president, who said, well, no question, Martinez is our man, and if he is to go, then I’ll go too. They didn’t want to risk that, so they stuck with Roberto Martinez. His success proves him right. After all, this is a coach who lost 0:8 and 1:9 last year.
But now Rodallega again and Hahnemann with the next good save, Jordi Gomez, again, good shot, here in injury time.
It’s the first three points in a row at home at the DW Stadium for Wigan (I think he meant three wins?). Next games at Newcastle, at strong newcomers, Bolton Wanderers at home, then it’s Fulham, then Blackburn. Perhaps the only thing that Wigan have done from these first games, the first seven games, four at home already, and now today the fifth, that they then don’t have so many advantages due to the home venue, but this performance can be built on, at least as far as the defence is concerned, that’s important for a change, here in the relegation battle, And another yellow card, yes, pushed by Berra, rightly so.
It was not a game after which you have to go to bed on Saturday afternoon to recover from the excitement, but it was a game that was fought for, that was close, and that found a deserved winner in Wigan Athletics. Watson second try again with the free kick.
Wolverhampton Wanderers were going for the point here, that plan ruined for them with an exquisite free kick by Jordi Gomez, player of the match in my view. It’s exhibition football now, McCarthy, hardly any resistance, maybe some frustration at the most, but it’s going to be a run-out.
Well, 14,042, that’s modest. More are welcome at Wigan’s next home game against Bolton Wanderers, a game in which they can perhaps score again. Jordi Gomez again, the last 10 seconds of the displayed time running, Rodallega again on Gomez, and now it’s official. Roberto Martinez with the shakehand to Mick McCarthy, Wolves slide further down the basement. And that’s Garcia Jordi Gomez giving this game the decisive turn, Rodallega with the 2-0, a deserved win for Wigan Athleitcs, who then made better use of their advantage in the second half by going ahead.
English commentary, two speakers, identified by “Speaker1” and “Speaker 2”:
(Speaker 1 🙂 Rodallega, looking for Gomez, that’s a clash by Karl Henry, and he’s straight off! Carl Henry lunging in on Gomez, Gomez down, Henry red-carded, and Wolves, once again, will be the focus of attention as regards tackling.
(Speaker 2 🙂 That’s a very poor challenge. We can see that coming a long long way off. Well, he’s in the team to win the ball, to make challenges, to disrupt play, he’s got that one completely wrong. If you come flying in 10 yards away you gotta win the ball. Referee Mason does the right thing, straight red, absolutely no arguments. Well, Mick McCarthy is an honest guy, if he sees the replay of that, I think he won’t have any complaints either.
(Speaker 1 🙂 So, Wolves are down to 10, Mick McCarthy did say this week, that Karl Henry has been affected by the spotlight that’s been upon him, particularly after his tackle on Bobby Zamora against Fulham. He said, after Bobby Zamora had a broken leg in that challenge, it wasn’t even a foul. That’s when all the talk started of Wolves being a little bit too physical. McCarthy said, that isn’t true but that tackle by his captain will just put them back in the spotlight again.
(Speaker 2 🙂 Yes, this will be another much talked about incident. We mention the Bobby Zamora tackle, I felt it was a rare luck, sadly he did somewhere get to the ball, Fulham didn’t make too much out of that challenge. Bad things happen and Zamora was a bit unfortunate,
(So Wolves down to ten and Wigan looking to cash in. Rodallega.
(Speaker 2 🙂 Latics fans cheering Jordi Gomez, because his part in that . Nothing, Gomez could do about that. (Speaker 1 : ) Swept out by Karl Henry. Right decision for you? (Speaker 2 🙂 Oh, yes, without a doubt. I think, he saw the tackle coming as well, nicks the ball away, and then he’s just rounding the challenge. It’s an awful challenge. He just about misses him with his right leg, he certainly catches him with his left. There is no real harm done, but only because Gomez is quick enough to see that challenge, as I said, and avoid most of it, the contact in the end is minimal. (These comments on the replay of the red scene).
(Speaker 1 🙂 Wolves are a long time to play here now with just ten man. And good play here. (Speaker 2 🙂 Can you imagine, he’s out of the window! (Speaker 1 🙂 That’s Charles N’Zogbia, McCarthy…. And it certainly will be one opt now for Wolves. Kevin Doyle or might even be Steven Fletcher will be patrolling this right side. as long as they last in the game.
(Speaker 2 🙂 So the big talking points so far the Red Card of Karl Henry for that challenge on Jordi Gomez. This is Figueroa. There were two red cards when these two teams last met back in January at Molineux, one each side, Richard Steven (??) for Wolves and Hendry Thomas for Wigan, but not this early.
(Speaker 1 🙂 Well, Mick McCarthy himself was a tough tackler and defender in his time. He knows it’s a vital part of the game, to win tackles, to obstruct the opposition play. His captain lost his head. That may lead to Wolves losing this game.
(Speaker 2 🙂 Craddock’s header, Oh, that’s (???a ball bounced off the foot of a Wolves player), however, now N’Zogbia, Gomez, Figueroa again here. (Speaker 1 🙂 Eventually on his right. (Goal shot Figueroa, over) Well, you remember his last goal, it was that goal. against Stoke City. (Speaker 2, on replay 🙂 It is unfortunate in the way the ball comes back to him, never really looked comfortable on his right side, he has real dynamite in his left foot. It has the power, but always rising. (Speaker 1 🙂 (…) last season, his strike against Stoke from just inside his own half, last season. Wolves are getting in trouble, Kevin Foley, there is Fletcher, They are trying to steady themselves, they were having a decent start to that game, when their captain had his moments of madness. Rodallega, N’Zogbia, Michael Mancienne, does that challenge so well in the back four, flying and away things (not to be understood correctly) (Speaker 2 🙂 This is Gomez, who certainly posesses the talent to score from there. (Goal kick Gomez, 30 metres, just past) It is actually the responsibility for Mancienne for the likes of Jarvis and Edwards, to get much more discipline alongside him. Roberto Martinez wants his team to play total football and they have more space to play that kind of game now. That’s what they are hoping, now that Wolves are down to ten.
(Speaker 1 🙂 Well, the full backs for Wigan now can be released, it’s a much further position up the field. There will be a lot more freedom, now that Kevin Doyle will be the lone man. because they play with four man in the midfield. Now the Captain returns. (Captain Alcaraz returns with a stitched up laceration; Speaker 2 🙂 It’s now eleven against ten. Alcaraz is back. How ??? were the situation. It’s Craddock. (Just another thing that they would have passed each other in the summer on joke is, because Carl Henry is already in the shower. (Unclear here; surely meant that it was a “mis-pass” addressed to Carl Henry who was already in the shower; British humour)
Wigan now have to move the ball very quickly, from side to side, if they do, trying to stretch Wolves to one side,always in and out, there should be a free player almost every time they are in posession. I said, the full backs are (at least useful), Figueroa will be the man really, you can figure, who can almost play as winger and a half for much of this game, (Speaker 2 🙂 :The teenager McCarthy, and Craddock stepping in, Kevin Doyle, stopped by Alcaraz, Rodallega, now N’Zogbia in for the centre, back towards N’Zogbia, and it’s the referee just waiting to see, if the frenchman . …(some expression; in any case the flag was up after the kick-off; offside N’Zogbia). (Speaker 1 🙂 It was a good idea, well, the lay-off in fact wasn’t such a good ball, to Di Santo, he took one touch, by the time, he controlled it, N’Zogbia, speed merging at the edge, was already half a yard offside. (to the replay of the scene).
(Speaker 2 🙂 Mindly and empowering they would feel, that Birmingham were winning the race for Charles N’Zogbia, but what was a grave at Wigan, the personal talks broke down. He made no secrets about it, Charles N’Zogbia, that Wigan is a springboard for him, trying to go on to bigger things. (Speaker 1 🙂 That was said, when he was actually signing for Wigan, I remember. (Speaker 2 🙂 It is something that Roberto Martinez accepts, and Dave Whelan accepts too, the Wigan Chairman, but they just like two or three years service to try and get further forward. (Speaker 1 🙂 Yes, they agree on that, they are realistic, Dave Whelan is an experienced campaigner. as on any big offer from a bigger club at some point another player will leave, if it works for them financially.
(Speaker 2 🙂 Now this is what Wolves will have an opportunity. Foul by Gohouri on Kevin Doyle. (Speaker 1 🙂 That was a silly nudge, Kevin Doyle was never going to be able to controll that ball.
(Speaker 2 🙂 No David Jones in the starting eleven to try and pounce from these situations, He scored a fabulous free-kick on the other day against Stoke, he was trying a few times last season. and came off, for Foley, but he’s watching on. Here is Al Habsi, who wants to get his wall absolutely spot on. So the right foot of Foley or the left foot of Fletcher. It’s Fletcher, not so far away. (Not at all. A yard or so over the bar. Good left foot, Steven Fletcher, unfortunately we will be unable to see him too much in a central position. First touch, and he was looking for the goal, very, very close. That’s what you wanna do, of course, being a striker. Lots of dirty work now for him. for the remainder of the game.
(Speaker 2 🙂 McCarthy, Hugo Rodallega, the Argentinian, Di Santo, (The Viroian, back on ties ???), Di Santo again, who had a quick spell at Blackburn last season, Figueroa, Mancienne spotted the danger, having another game there, Michale Mancienne.
Edwards.
Boyce. And now Alcaraz. I would bet, (???) that he was a surprise at anyones of the paraguayese World Cup squad.
(Speaker 1 🙂 This is Fletcher, who can do damage from a wide position. but being all the way there, Di Santo, to really cash it. Craddock made sure of that.
That’s a ball, that was always stretching him. Roberto Martinez won’t be pleased with that, because Wigan really have the opportunity here to do something against the ten man of Wolves.
