Once again we emerge from winter with the worst pitch in the league. Probably due to the stadium being built on somewhat of a flood plain, this was never going to help the fluid possesion football that we like to play.
Bolton were their typical selves, pumping the ball into Kevin Davies who would either flick it on for Elmander or lay it off to a host of midfielders.
The Latics meanwhile started slowly and never really got going. aside from N'Zogbia rattling the goal frame, there was little else of note in front of goal.
Passing was as good as impossible on a very poor pitch and the team struggled to get any real momentum going. There was a positive spell midway through the second half but no real clear cut chances were created and Bolton escaped with a deserved point.
Victor Moses was given a second half run from the bench and although threatening with his pace and direct running, he didn't look too keen on passing the ball.
Moreno started his first match for the club and he showed some classy touches, linking the play well and bringing others into the game. He didn't fashion any chances on goal but for a first game in the league he did well.
Melchiot was back in at right back and he looked slow compared to Boyce, whilst McCarthy was his usual self in the middle of the park and is a real positive for Martinez.
Here is the reaction of the two ultra positive managers.
Roberto Martinez
Overall I was extremely proud of the attitude, the effort, the discipline and the responsibility of the players. The conditions were very difficult and it was always going to suit the away team.
They were solid and trying to play through set-plays, and I thought we stood up to that very well. Charles N'Zogbia hitting the post was the break you need in games like this and I felt we deserved it.
You could see again that every time Charles got on the ball he made something happen, and that is a key ingredient of being a good side. We have great competition for places all over the park, and that is why I am so pleased.
The clean sheet was important because it would have been easy to lose concentration in those conditions with the state of the pitch and the weather. But we were superb at the back and the way we dealt with the set-plays was excellent.
It was also promising to see Marcelo (Moreno) make his first start and Victor (Moses) his home debut, and they will give us a completely different dimension.
Overall it was a very encouraging night, because we are starting to see a togetherness and a team spirit that will allow our undoubted talent to shine and help us win football matches. It was our game in hand and we have won another important point.
You always want to get three points, especially when you are at home, but if we can show the same attributes we have shown tonight then I am sure the points will arrive.
Owen Coyle
Any point in the Premier League is a valuable point. Looking at the game, it certainly wasn't a zero-zero. We had by far the clearer goalscoring opportunities.
It could turn out to be a very important point. Could it have been three? Absolutely, so we'll move on because there's a lot to be pleased about in terms of the performance.
I would be more worried if we weren't creating chances but we are.
The table
| Latest match Wednesday, 17th February 2010 |
Pld | Home | Away | Overall | Pts | GD | |||||||||||||||||
| W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | |||||||||
| 1 | Chelsea | 26 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 39 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 22 | 14 | 18 | 4 | 4 | 61 | 22 | 58 | +39 | ||||
| 2 | Manchester United | 26 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 36 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 26 | 13 | 18 | 3 | 5 | 62 | 21 | 57 | +41 | ||||
| 3 | Arsenal | 26 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 36 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 25 | 16 | 16 | 4 | 6 | 61 | 30 | 52 | +31 | ||||
| 4 | Manchester City | 25 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 30 | 14 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 18 | 19 | 12 | 9 | 4 | 48 | 33 | 45 | +15 | ||||
| 5 | Liverpool | 26 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 31 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 16 | 13 | 5 | 8 | 43 | 27 | 44 | +16 | ||||
| 6 | Tottenham Hotspur | 26 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 28 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 17 | 18 | 12 | 7 | 7 | 45 | 26 | 43 | +19 | ||||
| 7 | Aston Villa | 25 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 18 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 5 | 32 | 19 | 42 | +13 | ||||
| 8 | Birmingham City | 25 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 24 | 26 | 37 | -2 | ||||
| 9 | Everton | 25 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 20 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 15 | 20 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 35 | 36 | 35 | -1 | ||||
| 10 | Fulham | 26 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 19 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 20 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 30 | 28 | 34 | +2 | ||||
| 11 | Stoke City | 25 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 19 | 14 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 14 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 24 | 28 | 31 | -4 | ||||
| 12 | Blackburn Rovers | 26 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 18 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 31 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 26 | 43 | 31 | -17 | ||||
| 13 | Sunderland | 25 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 19 | 14 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 13 | 28 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 32 | 42 | 26 | -10 | ||||
| 14 | Wigan Athletic | 25 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 15 | 34 | 6 | 7 | 12 | 26 | 49 | 25 | -23 | ||||
| 15 | West Ham United | 25 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 20 | 20 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 20 | 5 | 9 | 11 | 32 | 40 | 24 | -8 | ||||
| 16 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 25 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 17 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 25 | 6 | 6 | 13 | 21 | 42 | 24 | -21 | ||||
| 17 | Hull City | 26 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 18 | 20 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 7 | 31 | 5 | 9 | 12 | 25 | 51 | 24 | -26 | ||||
| 18 | Bolton Wanderers | 25 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 17 | 23 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 23 | 5 | 8 | 12 | 29 | 46 | 23 | -17 | ||||
| 19 | Burnley | 25 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 17 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 8 | 38 | 6 | 5 | 14 | 25 | 50 | 23 | -25 | ||||
| 20 | Portsmouth | 25 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 15 | 18 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 5 | 24 | 4 | 4 | 17 | 20 | 42 | 16 | -22 | ||||
Next game
This was a golden opportunity for the Latics to put some real daylight between themselves and the relegation zone. However with Tottenham, Birmingham and Liverpool as their next three matches, our trip to the Reebok on 13th March could be very important.
Next up though is Tottenham in front of the Sky cameras this Sunday.