Festive success on a massive scale
Well, it's that time to reflect on Christmas, the 1st half of the season and the new year to come. And the opening question must be, how far have the Latics come under Dowie? Very far has to be the answer. Ok, many players were brought in under Wadsworth, but the odd acquisition in Josh Low and the now injured Clyde Wijnhard have so far been instrumental in the seasons success. Chris Killen has yet to prove himself, but all in all, Dowie's tactics have improved since his opening day error against Cardiff's 3 pronged attack and when you look at those employed in the recent games, the man could fast be emerging as a master tactician.
The halfway point of the 2002/3 season shows the Latics to be a force to reckon with. It's no surprise that the best clubs are in the top 5 of this division, with those just below them being good contenders for the play-offs and possibly more next season. Brentford were are one of these teams that have done remarkably well to sustain a challenge of sorts under Wally Downes. The Bees feared a struggle after losing the likes of Lloyd Owusu and having loanee Ben Burgess depart to end up at Stockport. But it is a spirit within the camp and a fresh enthusiasm within a changed game that is keeping teams like the Oldham's & the Brentford's going whilst those without this look set to be plunged deep into a relegation battle. Huddersfield know all too well already and spirits in clubs like Stockport and Peterborough are fast diminishing along with league positions.
It is this new spirit which the Latics have acquired and thanks to Dowie that has seen the side weather the stormiest part of the season so far. Indeed, some are suggesting that they have come through it stronger. Bruised through injuries and suspensions, the Boundary Park outfit has shown they can compete in a fight but not be battered.
Although last Christmas heralded 6 very welcome points, this year has seen an even more important 4 points gained, as rivals continue to win around us. Wigan (unfortunately) look uncatchable but Cardiff and Bristol City have shown signs of faltering whilst the Latics have recently put doubts into Crewe's aspirations. Thus the 4 points won this Yuletide, sends sounds around the top of Division 2. The Latics have struggled, but we have now proved that we do actually have enough in our armoury to fight on.
Latics 1 vs 1 Blackpool
The Blackpool game showed a glimpse of the new fight and spirit with which the Latics now possess. Although it took a tough 45 minutes to make the difference, the side returned back to its best and relied on pace upfront, domination in midfield and strength at the back to eek out a point in a game both sides could have won.
Bare in mind also, the Latics had to bounce back from a poor FA Cup exit and a Wigan defeat, both at home, therefore this Blackpool result was a good point. Turning the corner seemed to have come through a tough win at Chesterfield (a side that rarely lose at home) and thus the side now must pick up enough January points before the crunch showdown in Cardiff on January 31st .
In more depth, the Latics found Blackpool a tough side to deal with. Possession was often fairly even but the Blues often found ideas and movement hard to come by in the first half. Blackpool had their foot on the ball, they knew what to do with it and Bullock, Taylor and Murphy enjoyed tormenting the Latics defence. It took just 6 minutes for this trio to work Taylor in on goal. Running from an angle, Pogliacomi covered the goal well and block the near post shot with his legs.
Blackpool's passing play and running at the defence was causing the hosts all sorts of problems and some of the diagonal balls being played for runners were exquisite. The tangerine army easily looked the best side to visit Boundary Park this season as the Blues struggled to deal with the visitors. Pogi had to make a number of good saves, one on 11 minutes was a superb reaction save to stop Murphy header in another wonderful back post cross.
Admittedly, 'Pool took control and on 17, the opener came as Armstrong failed to tackle Bullock before he reached the box. Having been forced to to let the midfielder race past for fear of giving a penalty, Bullock chipped a sweet ball into the middle and Murphy rose above Berahall to glance in over Pogi. 0-1.
Trying to reply quickly, Murray couldn't get a shot in on 20 and then on 28, Murray picked out in-running Andrews, but the former Chesham man could only steer the ball against the foot of the post.
Despite both sides making chances, Blackpool were really on top in terms of possession and looking more dangerous. Pogi made 2 more good saves and then against the run of play, the hosts proved to have enough luck to steal an unworthy equaliser. Clegg (brought on for flu-ridden Berahall) flighted in a free-kick which Sheridan headed on. Haining, who has been superb since being given a run in the team, stood unmarked 6 yards out to head home his 1st league goal for the Latics. 1-1.
The Blues came out fired up and ready for the challenge in the 2nd half. Playing with more conviction and ideas they began to cause Blackpool real trouble. And it was mainly a combination of Andrews being constantly fouled and Eyres' free-kicks that were taking the strain on the 'Pool defence. On 50, Hall headed over one of Eyres' free-kicks and on 57, Eyres himself bent a curling free-kick around the wall. Barnes turned the ball around the post.
The tactics were clear and simple now, get the ball forward to Andrews and let Blackpool struggle with his pace. And Leam Richardson dived in on him with a 2-footed lunge from behind on 66, but the referee refused to pull out a red card. Eyres' free-kick to the back post narrowly missed both Haining and Vernon but from a resulting corner Eyres almost caught out Barnes with it's bend. The 'Pool keeper just managed to punch away to safety.
The game ended with 2 moments, one of class and one resembling a playground fight. John Hills brought out a full-stretch save from under-rated Pogliacomi and then at the other end the Latics tried to force the ball home in a goalmouth scramble which ended with 22 players and a referee all trying to get a piece of the action. No goal and no cautions for what looked an ugly scene at the end of this match.
Crewe 1 vs 2 Latics
It was the 2nd half tactics against Blackpool that were to set up the Latics perfectly for the Crewe game. Having looked unconvincing with 4 at the back in recent games, Dowie changed this to a 3 again. Thanks to the return of John Eyre, the loss of suspended Darren Sheridan ( player that has become more of a passenger game by game) was never noticed. It allowed Armstrong and Eyre to be creators in the middle with Baudet there to grind out centre-circle battles and win most headers. Baudet protected the defensive 3 well, whilst Eyres commanded his wing and Murray closed down lightening paced Rodney Jack on the opposite flank. Defensively, the tactics worked superbly.
Even better, Dowie employed a defend from the front policy. Crewe's defence never settled as any possession the Latics had, saw the ball quickly worked up to Andrews and Corazzin. By making the Crewe defence need to make space for a forward pass, most of the hosts attempts to get forward got as far as their final 3rd. Hall, Berahall and especially Haining's anticipation allowed them to leave the man they were marking and cut out any forward ball before it even reached its intended target. Thus, Jack, Ashton and Hulse had a particularly frustrating day - it's alright to have 3 very good in-form forwards but what can they do without the ball? The Latics worked tirelessly to make this the case.
However, with such quality in the side, Crewe were still always going to have chances. And Pogliacomi was outstanding when called upon. Pogi tipped away one superb free-kick at full stretch and made 2 other stops; one which he saw late and was wrong-footed meaning his action looked more like one of desperation, than of excellent agility. When he was beat, Crewe hit the crossbar from 30 yards. However, the Latics also had their chances especially after taking the lead.
That lead came as the Latics were forcing Crewe's defence into "get rid" policy and it often meant at the expense of a corner. This time, Eyres' corner ball found itself flicked on and at Berahall's feet at the back post. The former Newcastle defender lashed the ball into a melee of players in the 6 yard box and Corazzin was there to tap home. 1-0.
With all 2000 Latics tickets sold out, the visitors were in fine voice and the side looked to double their lead. After weathering Crewe's best chances of the half, the blues should have been 2 up when Hall burst through and had only the keeper to beat. But the ball never settled and Hall could never get enough on the ball to turn it goalbound. Seconds later, Andrews had a turn and shot on the edge of the box which had he hit it cleaner, would probably have tested Crewe's keeper. Instead it was tame and wide.
After a superb Latics 1st half, fans stood at half-time marvelling at the vastly-improved performance and especially talked about Haining and his contribution to the side. Indeed, Haining looks to be the new Clint Hill. The question was, could both him and the rest of the side keep up the tempo and the performance?
Indeed, as expected, Crewe came out lively in the opening seconds of the 2nd half. Hulse, Jack and Ashton enjoyed more of the ball and with Baudet now sporting a yellow card, the Frenchman had to be increasingly careful for the rest of the game. David Ellerey did referee the game fairly well - indeed he showed the difference in quality from lower league refs - but there were the odd time where you just felt Baudet was being penalised for his height. Where Baudet would win a header, it often looked as though he had held down a player. This in the 1st half earned Baudet a yellow card (another stupid, needless card that the Latics are constantly and unfairly being given) and ultimately, another one of these types of fouls led, in the 2nd half, to Crewe's equaliser. It is true that the defence should have defended better, but Ashton's quick free-kick did enough to whip around the defensive line for Hulse to glance in past a stranded Pogliacomi. 1-1.
The Latics then had 2 major decisions in their favour to kill Crewe off. And both decisions centred on Ellerey making the right choices, which he did. Another angled ball for Andrews to chase, saw him power past Foster only for a body-check to send him tumbling. A definite penalty and only a yellow saw Foster free to continue. Eyres perfectly slotted home despite the keeper diving the correct way. 2-1.
As the Latics looked to finish Crewe off, Foster was again chasing Andrews and in a late and ugly challenge the Crewe defender received his marching orders for clattering the Latics forward. The visitors should have had the advantage, but having run themselves into the ground, it was Crewe who ended the game with plenty of possession. Fortunately though, their 10 men couldn't create anything with it and the blues could claim a major victory in the race for promotion. This win was a vital win which saw the Latics go into the new year unbeaten on their travels. An amazing feat by any teams standards.
Tranmere 1 vs 2 Latics
Having weathered a hard-fought battle at Gresty Road, the Latics faithful turned out in force to cheer on the Blues at a usually fruitless Prenton Park. The burning question was could a tired Latics side keep up their amazing run of results on their travels? And to be fair, the answer should have been "no" after just 30 minutes and by half-time, the visitors had to breath a huge sigh of relief. Ray Matthiaus' side could have been 2-0 up before the visitors broke the deadlock. First Pogliacomi saved an awesome top-corner strike from Sean Connelly early on and then on 30, Gary Jones woefully headed wide with just Pogi to beat.
Instead, the Latics took an undeserved lead as Andrews was subject to the exact same treatment that he got at Crewe - winning another deserved penalty. Again, the opposite defender, Gareth Roberts, escaped a red. And again, Eyres neatly tucked the ball home for his 2nd in 2 games. 1-0.
After this, the Latics took control towards the end of an uneven 1st half. In succession, the visitors forced 7 corners as they looked to give Tranmere a double blow but another breakthrough wasn't forthcoming. Even in a lively 2nd half opening, the Blues couldn't double their tally as Andrews saw an angled strike across Achtenburg, finger-tipped just wide.
Ironically, just as the Latics had in the first half, Tranmere then scored against the run of play. Howarth's angled header from a Hay's cross left Pogi stranded. 1-1.
With the omens looking as though Tranmere would again turn into the Latics' bogey side, the referee evened up the penalty tally by ridiculously awarding the hosts a penalty for a Haining handball that never was. Roberts, looking to make amends for conceding the first spot kick, saw his penalty brilliantly saved at full stretch by the Latics Aussie star.
The saved penalty proved top be the turning point. Within minutes, Murray found enough space to cross in for Baudet and the Frenchman, who is growing in confidence and conviction with every game, towered above the defence to bury the winning goal. 2-1.
In an attempt to save the Latics from a tense finish, Andrews almost finished off the hosts as Murray slipped him in again. With another angled effort past Achtenburg, his shot beat the keeper but agonisingly rebounded back of the post. Instead, the visitors would face a tough finale but in the end, Pogi had little more to do than watch his defence work their magic. Yet another strong, stubborn, resilient and cleverly worked victory.
Latics vs Peterborough
So the Blues march on. And with only the Latics playing in the league out of the top 5 (due to FA Cup games) the chance to turn the screw and move into the top 2 is perfect. Dowie has already stated that he wants the "away game" mentally used at Boundary Park and with an unchanged side for the 3rd time - the very first time that this has happened this season - the Latics should make up for a so far unconvincing home record.
Peterborough have not won away from London Road since the opening day of the season and even after that victory, it was the Latics who brought them straight back down to earth as they won there for the first time since 1966.
Despite the fact that the blues haven't won a home game since November 2nd, a run which has seen an FA Cup exit and a bitter defeat to title rivals Wigan, this is the time to set the record straight and boost a fantastic away record with some home wins. Peterborough should feel the Latics force tomorrow, as the hosts have finally weathered the injury storm and should use this new found form to beat an out-of-sorts Posh side. This is the time to take advantage and go into 2nd spot. And then, only the rest can chase us. Come on the Latics!!!