Paper Talk: Jewell's carrot and stick

Last updated : 01 March 2004 By Paul Farrington
The 1-0 win over Walsall saw them move to within three points of second-placed West Brom who were on the end of a shock home defeat to Rotherham.

But it needed a few choice words from Jewell at half-time on Saturday to shake Latics out of their first-half slumbers.

Things improved measurably in the second-half, with Nathan Ellington's 81st minute goal enough to clinch the win.

Jewell was delighted with the victory, admitting that points rather than performances were more important at this stage of the campaign.

And he thinks more untidy games like this one, rather than vintage football displays, will follow between now and May.

The boss said: "We were dire in the first-half on Saturday and it was almost like a testimonial game.

"I couldn't wait to get in at half-time to shake them up, and in the second-half we saw a big improvement.

"But it's all about points now.

"Last week at Stoke we were absolutely outstanding, played some great football and got a point.

"Here, we didn't play particularly well but scrapped a win.

"Walsall came here with a game plan, and fair play to them, frustrated us.

"We didn't really look like scoring in the first-half, but in the second, Jason Roberts had two one-on-ones and Andy Liddell hit the bar.

"It was good that we created those chances and in the end, I felt we fully deserved to win.

"In the first-half, perhaps we were too patient and we showed no tempo which isn't like us.

"Walsall were taking their time getting the ball into play and their keeper took his time taking kicks.

"I told the lads before the game that it would be a day when the crowd would sit back and expect us to just roll Walsall over, but that just doesn't happen."

Jewell took another dig at the state of the JJB Stadium pitch which looked in even poorer condition than when it was last played on a fortnight ago.

"The pitch is just a complete shambles but there is nothing we can do about it," he blasted.

"It stifles the way we play and stifles some of my players.
"Fortunately, the one thing you can't accuse my players of is not having the heart and endeavour to get a result."

Ellington's winning goal came in his 150th league start in professional football.
It was his fourth goal on the bounce and took his tally for the season to 16, all but one of them in First Division action.

Jewell said: "It was a really cool finish from Nathan and that is what confidence does for a player.

"It was only a half chance to be fair, Jason Roberts put a nice little ball in, and I was delighted to see it go in. Jason's arrival here has given the Duke even more spring in his step.

'We want more from Jason and I would have liked to see him get his first goal at home, but he missed a couple of chances.

"But he created both of them himself and that shows what he is capable of."
A haul of 10 points from a possible 12 in February may have put Jewell in the frame for the latest manager of the month award.

Of more concern to Jewell, though, is tomorrow night's trip to Gillingham.
He said: "It's a big game down there and it's important we push on by trying to get another three points

"We're on a good run at the moment and what we have to do is keep a cool head and keep grinding out results."

Story from the Wigan Evening Post.