Match Reports

Coca-Cola Championship

02 November 2004: Stoke City 0 Wigan Athletic 1 Att: 15,882

EXTRA CLASS TELLS IN END AS LATE STRIKE HANDS POTTERS DEFEAT by AndyP

Having taken the week off work and no early night needed, I thought it might be an idea to take in an evening match which to be honest has become a bit of a rare event for me of late. It just so happened that this Tuesday night match was the visit of high flying Wigan, and the chance to end their lengthy unbeaten run. Following an afternoon trip down the motorways with recent 90 Miles recruit Dan, and some nosh at the Parents', it was off to the Britannia to see if Tony Pulis could guide his side to victory over our impressive opponents.

Unsurprisingly Pulis stuck with same back four of Hill, Duberry, Taggart, and Thomas that did so well against Millwall in the game before. However, what was a surprise was the promotion of Greenacre from the bench to the starting line-up following his late winner against Millwall. He joined Akinbiyi up front and Asaba slotted in on the left side of a midfield also containing Clarke, Brammer and Russell. The game set off at a fair old pace with both sides sizing each other up, but overall it was Stoke who started most brightly and Wigan might have been surprised at the early pressure they found themselves under. Greenacre seemed determined to repay Pulis' faith in him, and in the opening exchanges he was everywhere. On 6 minutes Thomas got down the right and fired in a cross to the edge of the box. Greenacre met it brilliantly, volleying on the turn, but the powerful effort flew straight at Filan in goal and he clutched it just under the bar. A minute later down the other end Baines let fly from 25 yards, and his low drive was smothered on the floor by a well positioned de Goey.

But Stoke were soon pressing again. On 8 minutes a sustained bit of pressure and sweet build up in and around the box led to Russell having a close range shot parried by Filan, and Akinibyi's follow up was blocked by a defender and looped out for a corner. From the set-piece Taggart headed over from about 12 yards. It was end to end in these early stages and on 11 minutes a cross from the left was cut out by Thomas, but his header only arced backwards and fell kindly to Bullard who forced de Goey to tip over from a stinging 10 yard shot. From the corner Stoke broke away and Akinbiyi went on a charge up field and was only halted by a tackle on the edge of the Wigan box. On 14 minutes Wigan were given a dubious free-kick after what seemed a clean challenge, but Ellington blasted it well over from 22 yards. After 23 minutes Stoke produced a nice build up and exchange of passes that led to Greenacre just managing stretch enough under pressure from a defender to poke a tame shot at the keeper. Sadly on 26 minutes the impressive Hill left the field injured and was replaced by Karl Henry. This prompted a reshuffle with Henry going right midfield, Russell moving into the middle, and Clarke dropping back into the left-back position. Ultimately it was a change that seemed to break up Stoke's early pace and rhythm, and it assisted Wigan as they began to look more menacing as the half went on.

Henry was involved a minute after coming on when his hard and low cross from the right seemed to confuse both Akinbiyi and Greenacre, who got in each other's way as they slid into the six yard box, and the chance was cleared. A handball decision gave Stoke a free-kick 30 yards out on the right side after 29 minutes. Sadly Brammer was unable to put in a telling cross, and his dead-ball effort came in low and was easily cleared. On 31 minutes it was Wigan who earned a free-kick, 25 yards out on the right side of the Stoke box. They managed a decent delivery and an unmarked McCulloch headed over from 12 yards when he should have hit the target. A minute later Wigan whipped in a cornerbut Brammer made a good headed clearance. Wigan were beginning to boss proceedings now, and on 34 minutes Ellington used his pace well to make a run into the right side of the box, and he unleashed an angled effort which de Goey blocked and gathered at the second attempt. There was no respite for Stoke though and two minutes later a Wigan corner caused confusion and a failure to clear presented Graham what seemed the easy task and drilling home a shot from 10 yards, but he somehow cleared the crossbar. On 40 minutes Wigan had another effort that looked a goal all the way. Ellington jinked and twisted around the left edge of the box before cutting back a superb ball to McCulloch lurking for that very reason, but when it seemed certain to bulge the net, his crisp 12 yards strike whistled just pass the post with de Goey rooted his line. Baines was booked for Wigan after taking out Henry on a run, and Mahon tried a chip from 30 yards but it cleared de Goey's crossbar easily. HT 0-0

Just one minute after restart Stoke were under pressure as de Goey had to race out of his area to hoof the ball into the West Stand as a deft chip had put Roberts into space. However Stoke then crafted their two best opportunities of the half, before once again Wigan's supremacy began to show. On 50 minutes Thomas did well down the right, then delivered an excellent cross to the far post where it was met by Greenacre at the left corner of the six yard box, but his header was straight at Filan. A minute later Akinbiyi surged down the left channel before cutting inside and slipping a sideways pass to Russell who smacked a low drive just wide of the post from some 30 yards. Sadly that was pretty much it as an attacking force from Stoke as gradually Wigan began to boss the game.

On 55 minutes the excellent Duberry made his only mistake, sending a bad back pass to de Goey who sliced a clearance out for a corner. From the set-piece, Ellington put a free header over from about 7 yards. On 63 minutes a miss hit scissors kick bobbled on to the Stoke post with de Goey rooted to his line. There was more desperate defending 4 minutes later when a brave block from a close range effort went behind for a corner. After 72 minutes another Wigan corner could only be headed up in the air, and in the confusion Stoke hacked it clear. A minute later Roberts made a powerful run from midfield towards the box as defenders backed off nervously, and it took a vital foot to prevent him getting a clean shot on goal.

It was obvious that Stoke needed to make changes to stem the growing Wigan pressure. For much of the second half, Asaba had been forced to play too deep on the left side to pose any threat on the flanks, and Thomas had been our only attacking outlet on the right when he could risk pushing forward. The strikers had worked hard chasing and harrying but had lacked a supply of quality balls, receiving only two decent crosses all game. I would have preferred to see Asaba pushed up front into his natural role, while the tiring Greenacre could be replaced by Guppy to provide some ammunition from the left wing. Sadly on 74 minutes, Pulis elected to substitute the clearly annoyed Asaba, moved Greenacre to left midfield, and threw on Noel-Williams up front along side Akinbiyi. Maybe Pulis mistook the Boothen End singing Noel-Williams' name as he warmed up by the corner flag as a demand for his introduction to the fray. More amusingly the Boothen started a chant of "Six kids, he's only got six kids", which was met by a huge toothy grin from the Stoke forward.

Within a minute of coming on Noel-Williams was involved in a fine Stoke move with Akinbiyi, but the latter's final pass just went behind Brammer as he charged into the box, and clear shooting opportunity went begging. On 77 minutes Brammer was involved again slipping a delightful slide rule ball through the defence for Akinbiyi, but it was cleared before he could latch on to it. As the game entered the later stages it was Wigan who seemed most likely to break the deadlock. On 81 minutes Roberts fired over from 25 yards out, the two minutes later Mahon tried his luck from distance. On 84 minutes Roberts again was involved, chipping a lob from wide on to the top of the Stoke net. It was clear now that the Potters were happy with a 0-0 draw, but almost inevitably the Stoke resistance was broken on 86 minutes. A fine pass towards the edge of the box was controlled and laid back for McCulloch, who smote the ball form 25 yards past the despairing dive of de Goey, and into the bottom corner of the net. It was a quality finish and on the balance of play deserved. For the final four minutes and the extra three minutes of stoppage time Stoke mustered no chances of note, and were limited to hopeful punts into the Wigan box. In these final moments the Wigan fans serenaded their team with a song of "We are unbeatable" to the tune of La Donna e Mobile from Verdi's Rigoletto, and on this showing it was a fair premise. Wigan looked superior in every aspect of play, and it will take a very good team performance to beat them at the moment. Stoke certainly didn't have the wherewithal to find a way past Filan in the Wigan goal, and while it was a hard working display, it lacked the creativity and attacking prowess to achieve victory. FT 0-1

Team Marks: (4-4-2 formation)

GK De Goey (7) One great save and pretty steady on crosses all game. Kicking a bit suspect.

RB Thomas (7) A good display at full-back defensively, and our only threat on the right wing.

LB Hilll (7) Playing very well until forced off through injury.

CB Taggart (7) Sound in the heart of defence.

CB Duberry (7) One error but a dependable and fine display other than that.

RM Russell (6) Occassional bright spells but overall not effective.

RCM Brammer (7) One excellent pass, one run into the box, and sound tackling. Passing wayward at times.

LCM Clarke (6) Seemed to disappear at times. Poor passing, and unhappy once switched to left-back.

LM Asaba (6) Clearly not his favoured position and bore little threat. Too deep for much of the game to be effective.

RCF Greenacre (7) Grasped his chance to impress. Worked tirelessly up front, got on the end of some chances, and tackled back and hassled well in defensive mode. [STARMAN]

LCF Akinbiyi (6) Picked up a knock early on and seemed less sharp afterwards. His final ball often let him down.

SUBS

Henry (6) Didn't do much.

Noel-Williams (6) Gave us nothing extra given the dearth of creativity from midfield.

Conclusion

The early stages of this game showed promise as the Potters took the game to Wigan. But as the game went on it became clear that the Wiagn side were superior all over the park, and while our hard working display might have merited a draw, there can be few complaints about Wigan getting a winner. Stoke are a long way short of this standard, and if Pulis continues with his tendency to play in a negative fashion, we will continue to slip down the table. We need new players quickly, preferably wingers or creative midfield playmakers, or we will certainly not be "pushing on", and Pulis might find his tactics less palatable for the increasingly frustrated home support.

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