Yet another below par performance from the Latics on Saturday. I say "another" because prior to the away win at QPR we had drawn no less than four games on the spin.
Firstly in that run came the Tranmere game. Rovers came to the JJB hunting a play-off place and boasting a front line which was certain to trouble our defence.
It was disappointing to see the Latics almost playing for a draw with little enthusiasm going forward. The usual footballing style had gone out the window and long balls had become the flavour of the week.
9,000 fans went home disappointed. The display was hardly going to keep that good attendance up!
Next up came the trip to London Road to face lowly Peterborough. Unfortunately I could not make the game and if you chose not to listen to Mr McCann's somewhat biased commentary and chose to listen to either 909 or The Gilette Soccer Saturday reports, we were out classed and could have well come home empty handed!
One week later and another chance to put things right. This time we welcomed play-off chasing Luton Town to our farm yard pitch. How did the Sun newspaper put it? "An instantly forgettable first half."
I would have had to agree. Luton under the guidance of Joe Kinnear and sporting players like Kevin Nicholls as a captain and Steve Howard in attack were never going to come and play 'pretty' football.
If it wasn't for the luck of substitute Neil Roberts in the penalty box that day we would have gone down 1-0 and deservadly so in my opinion.
After three consecutive draws I was quite looking forward to the trip to Stockport. Even if only to see how Jewell could rally his players in one final leap for promotion.
It wasn't forthcoming and instead the masses of travelling fans witnesses a kind of stumble, a trip and half hearted plod towards the finishing line.
The Hatters have really struggled this season and I was expecting quite a big win. If only we could have been bothered to put in the kind of performance on display at Gresty Road just a few weeks prior.
Anyway lets be thankful we had the points already in the bag.
Finally a victory, in possibly the hardest mathc of the bunch!! 1-0 away to QPR with Nathan Ellington returning to the score sheet.
Now a nice home game with mid-table Plymouth. Lets push on and go for the title. It's not over until it's over after all.
Unfortunately we got the see the same teams that turned up to play Luton and Tranmere in the weeks earlier.
Half a team turned up and we duly beated 1-0 by a team with nothing to play for but pride.
Again the dreaded 'punt' up field had returned to our game. I seems to be hanging around the place. Hopefully its not a side-effect of having to play on a farm yard style pitch??
The ball was fired forward to the front two so quickly that even when they did manage to win the header, the midfield did not have the time to get up and support by winning the second ball. It would have made good tennis but I went to see a football game.
Plymouth had the best of the chances too. The managed to pass the ball around fine with some neat one touch football at times. Jason Bent and David Friio were controlling things in the middle of the park.
Jarrett was struggling without Dinning alongside him to control and put his foot in. Instead he had the mad hatter Bullard in there with him.
Only Jewell knows why Bullard is our free-kick and corner taker. His free-kicks never beat the first man, and his corners were a god send to Larrieu.
He also doesn't seem to know when to pass the ball short, or let alone pass the ball. Always insisting on beating that extra man. It looks wonderful when he pulls it off, but nine times out of ten possession is conceeded to simply by one mans greed.
As a result of the countless punts upfield, both Lee McCulloch and Andy Liddell were starved of service on the flanks, with was upsetting to see.
Another upsetting thing was the lack of knowledge displayed by PJ. After 70 minutes Jason De Vos was sent up front to win all the headers. Instead of simply playing some good football, we take De Vos and put him out of position up front. Leaving him looking like a fish out of water!!
You could tell it wasn't going to be our day when the tunnell was broken by the evergreen Latics stewards. What an embarrasment!!
Two major positives from the game however were the performances of Leighton Baines and star man Nathan Ellington.
Baines showed everyone why he is so highly rated and with any luck will keep his place on Friday.
While the Duke showed us the match turning form which we all know he is capable of. That was very nice to see.
Not one shot on goal all game tells a story in itself. Jewell has got his work cut out before Friday's away day at relegation favourites Northampton.
I will not be happy with a scrapped 1-0 victory, but a comprehensive display from the Latics, with good football on show, and the goals will come.
Player Ratings
John Filan 7
Made some top notch saves and was unlucky not to keep out Keith's defected effort for the goal.
Nicky Eaden 6
Consistent as ever, but doesn't add anything to the team when we are playing poorly.
Leighton Baines 7
The drive and effort on display from the youngster was nice to see. Deserves to retain his place after a performance like this one.
Matt Jackson 5
A below par performance, lets hope its a one off.
Jason De Vos 6
Mis-timed a few tackles and was just lost up front!
Jason Jarrett 5
We know what JJ can do, he just needed someone who could hold the midfield alongside him. Instead he had a one man band in Jimmy Bullard.
Jimmy Bullard 5
I thought he was superb when he first signed and played very well at Crewe. We know he can run all day and has some superb long range passing. Surely there is more depth to his game than this though. Easy ball Jimmy!!
Andy Liddell 5
Starved of service on the right side in the first half and he just isn't strong enough nor determined enough to be a centre forward.
Lee McCulloch 5
Again starved of service.
Nathan Ellington 8
Star man. Absolutely superb. He looked capable of winning the game all by himself. Very close to his magical best.
Neil Roberts 5
Strugglied with a lack of good service. Everything was flung up to him in the air with no support.
Substitutes
Ian Breckin 7
I'm a big fan of Breckin's. Nothing fancy, solid in the tackle. A very cabaple defender and he didn't disapoint. Deserves more of a chance in the team.
Gary Teale 4
didn't really have very long to prove himself. Never really got going and playing on the wing, idn't see much of the ball either.
Star Man
Nathan Ellington
Referee
Overall not a bad display. made some 'iffy' decisions regarding corners but on the whole nota bad display. 6
Please feel free to contact me with your opinions.
Paul Farrington
wiganer@blueyonder.co.uk