Wigan Athletic 0 Clattenburg 3

Last updated : 31 December 2005 By Paul Farrington
I am not one to criticise a referee, I believe they have a very hard job to do and many referees do this well. However Mark Clattenburg is not welcome at the JJB Stadium to referee future Wigan Athletic matches in my opinion.

Numerous 50/50 decisions went the way of Blackburn with Clattenburg losing control off the game right from the off.

I think he gave all his cards out at Christmas, but he saved one for Lee McCulloch in the second half.

How the hell he got booked for his one and only bad challenge when Blackburn players got away with 90 minutes of murder I will never know.

Khizanishvili inparticular produced a blatent push on Camara outside the box, just minutes before McCulloch's offence, and got off.

Shefki Kuqi and Robbie Savage are two more who should have gone into the book but didn't.

Rovers opening goal was subject to controversy with the linesman changing his mind over an offside decision.

The Latics could have also had a penalty for a blatent pull on Roberts inside the area. It wasn't to be, Mr Clattenburg is a Rovers supporter.

A terrible display from the officials who in my opinion were biased towards Blackburn.

In terms of tactics deployed, Blackburn played ugly football and it worked against a tired Latics side boasting no changes after three games in six days, including a 500 mile round trip to Upton Park.

Something Jewell must learn from. He was slightly out-foxed by Mark Hughes who deployed Stephen Reid as an anchor man. The former Millwall player was given time to dictate play by Jimmy Bullard, who put in another headless-chicken display.

Bullard's attitude was spot on (apart from his arguing in the second half with Chimbonda and Jackson). However, in the Premiership you cannot afford for players to go chasing the ball and losing the discipline for their position.

Jewell did not have an answer to the tactics that Rovers employed. Hughes had clearly watched recent Wigan games and his defence lay deep to combat the pace of Camara and Roberts from the long balls up field, while his midfield four and front two stopped the Latics from getting any form of a passing game going.

Stephen Reid strikes his wonder goal
A good Pedersen strike, a Stephen Reid thunderbolt and sloppy goal apart, Blackburn were not three goals better than the Latics.

Reid's goal in particular was stunning. A 25 yard belter than 999 times out of 1000 will end up in row z. Fate consipred against the Latics today who were never going to get anything.

The Rovers were not impressive and created few chances, but did take them when they came along.

Arjan De Zeeuw had a header cleared off the line for the Latics who failed to create too much threat.

Henri Camara and Jason Roberts worked hard up front but ultimately looked tired compared to the fresh Rovers centre backs who hadn't played since Boxing Day.

The Rovers brought up an excellent support who were thanked with a free pie. While Latics fans had to pay for theirs. Many of the Latics faithful are upset with this show of appreciation to supporters, 99.9% of whom will not have seen Whelan play.

I have missed one game so far this season, spending £'s to follow my club and I am offered a pie at half price while the Rovers fans get a free one!

It was even more disappointing to see all the fair weather fans leaving before the final whistle. The true supporters stayed and applauded their team.

It's a sad way to finish the year, but what a year it has been. By far the greatest twelve months for any Latics fan. Here's to another twelve months of continuing success.

Player Ratings

Mike Pollitt - 6
Not at fault for any of the goals.

Pascal Chimbonda - 6
Not many runs forward, wasted posession too often, but made some important clearing headers. Fatigued.

Leighton Baines - 7
Clearly another one who is fatigued. At just 21 years of age, to be an ever-present in the top flight is a big ask. Played well today but looked tired.

Matt Jackson - 6
Struggled to cope with the aerial power of Shefki Kuqi.

Arjan De Zeeuw - 7
35 year of age and 3 games in 6 days, it's a lot to ask. Was unlucky not to score with a thundering first half header.

Gary Teale - 6
Lacks agression, direction and power. This wasn't the day for Teale, the game was too aggressive and passed him by.

Lee McCulloch - 7
Struggled in the air against Neill, and should have given the cocky little **** Bentley a good smack.

Graham Kavanagh - 6
Struggled to cope with the Rovers midfield who out ran the 32 year old. Suffered poor distribution again today.

Jimmy Bullard - 6
Plenty of desire and effort, but too little discipline. The old headless chicken routine came into play today exposing Kavanagh. Should have given Reid something to think about.

Henri Camara - 7
Worked hard but is another one who looked fatigued.

Jason Roberts - 8
Didn't get much change out of the Rovers defence but worked hard and was unlucky not to earn a penalty in the first half.

Subs

Damien Francis - 4
Uninterested in the game. He should have added strength and steel to the midfield, but added nothing.

David Connolly - 7
Worked hard and looked fresh, unlucky not to score when one-on-one with Freidal. Should have started?

David Wright - 6
Covered well for Baines who went off complaining of a sore hamstring.

Click here for a match report.

Do you have an opinion on this story?
Let us know on the messageboard - click
here.