Match Day Thread Wigan Athletic v Preston North End DW Stadium 22/4/2019

Off to the Dave I broke my leg at Wembley once Whelan Stadium to face the pies in what might be a must win game for the home side although do not think Rotherham are going to pick upfive points in three games to catch the Latics.
Wigan have struggled this season although their home form has kept them in a decent position, until Friday they were pitiful away from home then go and win at Leeds with only 10 men a tremendous result.
Cook is a decent manager his sides are always competitive with a couple of ex Nobbers in the squad Joey Garner and Jamie I spilled the ball in the 93rd minute to give Donny a draw Jones.
Main danger Nick Powell quality is this lad think he is out of contract at the end of the season so be interestng to see were he ends up.
Last visit was two seasons ago was a 0-0 draw Hugill missed a penalty the highlight being very luckily not covered in a technicolour yawn in the away end.
The buggers are charging us 30 quid a pop unsurprisingly the offer has not been taken up with only about 2500 travelling to the games . Nowt on it for us bar a bit of bragging rights.

Wigan Athletic Football Club (/ˈwɪɡən/) is a professional football club in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England, which competes in the Championship, the second tier of the English football league system.

Founded in 1932, the club have played at the DW Stadium since 1999, before which they played at Springfield Park. Their colours are blue and white stripes, although all-blue shirts have been common throughout the club's history.

Wigan were elected to the Football League in 1978, and competed in the Premier League from 2005 to 2013.

They won the 2012–13 FA Cup with a 1–0 victory against Manchester City at Wembley Stadium, when Ben Watson scored the winning goal.

Wigan have also won League One and are two-times winners of the EFL Trophy. They made their European debut in the 2013–14 UEFA Europa League.


Team News: Wigan Athletic

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Manager Alex Neil is still likely to be without almost a full team of players for the short Easter Monday trip to face Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium.

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For the Good Friday win over Ipswich Town, nine senior players were absent and nothing is likely to change for the derby game 72 hours later.

Ben Pearson sits out the last of his three game suspension for the red card he received in the clash with Leeds United earlier in the month.

He is joined in the stands by the injured group of Tom Clarke, Alan Browne, Josh Harrop, Andrew Hughes, Brandon Barker, Tom Barkhuizen and Billy Bodin.

For Paul Cook will be without Cedric Kipre for the game after his red card in Saturday’s impressive win over Leeds United, with ten men, at Elland Road.
Kipre had been recalled for the game, in place of the missing Danny Fox, but saw red just 15 minutes in, with the home side then taking the lead, only for the Latics to come from behind with one man down and win the game 2-1.

Fox missed the game with a knee injury and must be considered a doubt for Monday’s game, with such a quick turnaround, whilst Michael Jacobs (hamstring) and fellow winger Anthony Pilkington – who has missed the last three with a groin injury – are also likely to miss out.

Ref Watch: Wigan Athletic

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For our third Lancashire derby of the season, one of the most experienced Championship officials, Andy Madley, will take charge of a North End this Monday, as we travel to face Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium.

The referee will be taking charge of his fifth North End game this season – the most of any select group referee.

He was the man with the whistle for our home clash with Stoke City back in August, which ended 2-2, the 4-1 win over local rivals Blackburn Rovers in November, our recent 4-1 win at Queens Park Rangers and the victory over Bolton Wanderers at the University of Bolton Stadium in February.

He has been in charge of some of the Lilywhites’ best moments over the years, most notably the League One Play-Off Final in the 2014/15 season, where a Jermaine Beckford hat-trick led to a convincing 4-0 over Swindon Town at Wembley.

Last season, Andy refereed four PNE games. He oversaw home victories against Reading and the final day 2-1 win over Burton Albion, as well as our games away to Ipswich Town at Portman Road and the return fixture against Reading.
He was in charge for a previous trip to Loftus Road, back in the 2016/17 season. Jermaine Beckford was on the scoresheet and Nedum Onuoha scored an own goal in a 2-0 victory as Simon Grayson’s returned from London with all three points, their first win of the season.

During that campaign, Andy refereed four more North End games including both games against Newcastle United and a 5-0 victory at Deepdale against Bristol City, where Callum Robinson netted twice.

As well as the aforementioned Play-Off Final, the official also had the whistle for another 4-0 victory in the 2014/15 season. North End convincingly beat Scunthorpe United away from home, as Joe Garner netted twice.

He was the referee for our famous Capital One Cup victory over rivals Blackpool in the 2013/14 season. Tom Clarke netted the winner three minutes from time to secure a famous 1-0 win over our rivals.

So far this season, he has refereed 34 games in all competitions, issuing 99 yellow cards and three red cards, his last game being Sheffield United’s 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Good Friday.

It will be the second time that he will referee the Latics this season, with his last game being their 3-0 home defeat against Sheffield United on New Year’s Day.

On Monday, the ref will be assisted by Andrew Fox and Adam Crysell, with another experienced Championship official, Jeremy Simpson as the fourth official.

 

The Latics will be cock-a-hoop over their win at Leeds. I fancy facing NE will be a different kettle of fish, though. Despite unsettling of the NE squad due to injury and suspension, the team seemed to be on song of Saturday. Mind you they were playing a dispirited Ipswich. I watched the Cup Final match when Whelan broke his leg which finished his career.

 

Wigan Atheltic 2 Clarke Evans Preston North End 0

Wigan Athletic line-up: Walton, Byrne, A Robinson, Morsy ©, Fox, Massey (Powell, 46), James, Naismith (Roberts, 67), Dunkley, L Clarke (Garner, 84), Evans. Subs not used: Evans, Gibson, Windass, Olsson.

PNE line-up: Rudd, Rafferty, Fisher, Ledson, Storey, Davies, Gallagher ©, Johnson, Nmecha (Ginnelly, 77), Maguire (Moult, 77), Robinson. Subs not used: Ripley, Earl, Stockley, Huntington, O’Reilly.

Referee: Mr A Madley

Maybe we should have started with 10 men because we were far better with one less than we were withh 11, saying that though both Latics goals were against teh run of the play and the first especially the first was a gift.

Dominayed early stages without really looking threatening, Athletic with Clarke giving both centre backs a difficult time were a bit more purposeful going forward.
Latics took the lead from a North End corner, the ball got cleared to Johnson who could have put the ball back into the box but opted to pass back to Fisher who sent the ball back to Rudd and from that moment on we really never cleared the ball and when Davies in his own six yard box miscontrolled the cross to Massey who squared the ball to Clarke who had an easy tap in.
Then came the sending off, personal view thought it was harsh Naismith and Ledson both went with feet for a high ball, Ledson got the ball and both players caught each other, Naismith did not need input from the trainer, Ledson gets red, Both Cook and Richardson the Latics management commiserated him as he walked off.
Managed to get to half time without too many alarms, and could have been two down almost immediately after the restart, however for the next 20 minutes we battered them, Davies header cleared off the line. Latics managed to survive a whole series of coners and a free kick from a dangerous position following a foul by Morsy who should have received a second card for the foul having already been booked in the first half.
Latics survived the seige and added a second with about 20 minutes to go, ball over from the left fell to Evans, his shotv was diverted past Rudd by Storey, end of game basically although Moult latte chip nearly got us a consolation.
Safely predict we will not win away from home again this season, Brentford last day.
Finally Mr Madley truly inept today, got the sending off wrong, booked Nmecha for diving at least two home players did the same and were not carded and generally gave us sod all only surprise he didn't manage to conjur up giving Latics a penalty.

Wigan manager Paul Cook:

"In the lowest moments we all thought about possibly getting relegated, but football is a long, long season, and you have to stay the pace.

"League tables don't tell lies, everyone finishes where they deserve to finish, and we're delighted to be staying up.

"I'm so pleased for the players and the staff, because those are the ones who've had to pick themselves up from the lowest moments.

"I thought we responded well at the right time, and I'm sure the Wigan fans are proud of their side tonight."

Preston manager Alex Neil told BBC Lancashire:

"Ryan makes a rash decision by flinging his boot in and gets sent off and from that point it makes it really difficult for us.

"It's happened too often this season, if we're going to challenge for the top six. I think that's happened six times now this season and we've still got two to play, so hopefully nobody gets sent off in them.

"I've got to work with 10 men again and, to be honest, we're the makers of our own downfall at times."

 

As good neighbours do (except the Lashers), NE were just helping little ole Wigan to survive relegation. Aaah! Nice!