Jewell prepares to spend now

Last updated : 19 March 2003 By Paul Farrington
The Latics boss found himself down to 16 professionals to select from for last night's 1-1 draw at Stockport County.

Two of the squad on duty at Edgeley Park were teenagers Leighton Baines and Ryan Yeomans, after injury ruled out Steve McMillan, Gary Teale and Peter Kennedy.

Jewell has until the transfer deadline a week tomorrow to conduct any business, and he could even make a move ahead of the weekend trip to Queens Park Rangers.

He said: "Gary Teale and Steve McMillan were injured in Saturday's game, and had no chance really of making it last night.

"Gary has been feeling his hamstring, it's quite tight, while Steve has a thigh strain.

"We'll have to see how they are, but we are getting down to the bare bones now.

"We don't have anyone else as far as pros are concerned and we might have to have a look at that."

Jewell has been scouring the transfer market all season but has vowed to only bring in players who would improve the squad rather than just boost numbers.

He has funds to spend, while the club still has its full quota of loan deals available.

This time last year as the deadline approached, the manager signed Nathan Ellington and Jason Jarrett, although both deals were done with an eye on this season.

Last night's draw at Stockport was Latics' fourth on the spin, but Jewell felt his side created more than enough chances to emerge as winners.

Skipper Jason de Vos gave them a 62nd-minute lead with his eighth goal of the campaign, only for Andy Welsh to head the hosts level nine minutes later.

With second-placed Crewe winning, Latics saw their lead at the top shaved to 12 points with eight games to play.

Jewell said: "I think we should have won the game because we created a lot of chances.

"Their keeper had a decent game, making two saves when he had gone the wrong way, we had a couple cleared off the line, and also hit the bar.

"We missed a great opportunity when the Duke went through, but we just couldn't find a second goal.

"It was always going to be a hard game on a tight pitch, and it was played at a high tempo.

"I thought we restricted them to very few chances, while we cut them open at times at the other end.

"When we scored the goal we should have gone on from there, but unfortunately we didn't.

"It's another point towards promotion, though, and we're unbeaten in 10 games.
"We're still in pole position and that's where we want to continue to be."

Jewell reserved a pat on the back for teenager Baines who was making only his fifth start in the first-team.

He said: "I thought Leighton was excellent in a difficult game. He coped very well."

Article from the Wigan Evening Post.