Paper Talk: Sheff Utd 0 Wigan 2: Wigan back to winning ways

Lee McCulloch: Star Man

Back up to second place in the table and with an automatic promotion place once again a permissible subject of conversation, his pride was restored.

“We did well at the unfashionable things,” he declared, describing how his men had played into the teeth of a snowstorm in the second half. “We defended well against long throws and cut out crosses. These are the mainstays which the Arsenals and Chelseas do well and we’ve got to do them too. We’ve been too nice, letting too many crosses into the box, but not today.”

Jewell’s team created the early pressure and, with the wind at their backs, got a seventh-minute reward. A Jimmy Bullard corner flew over the home defence and Lee McCulloch volleyed home from 10 yards.

This game had been cast as a showdown between Wigan’s dual spearhead of Nathan Ellington and Jason Roberts and United’s tough centre-backs, Chris Morgan and Danny Cullip. In the event, the respective midfields proved more influential.

United took 20 minutes to master the elements and an intriguing encounter developed with both teams playing a quality passing game that would not have disgraced the Premiership. Alan Quinn and Phil Jagielka stood out in the home midfield in the first half, but McCulloch, Gareth Whalley and David Graham were perpetual sources of irritation whenever the Blades threatened to dominate.

Michael Flynn came on for the injured Bullard and immediately conjured up a sublime pass to release Jason Roberts. Only a wonderful block by Danny Cullip kept the score at 0-1.

If Sheffield fans had anticipated turning Wigan over once the teams turned round, then they were to be disappointed. Jewell’s men weighed each ball carefully before despatching it into the wind and their goalkeeper John Filan’s clearance work was exemplary.

When Wigan’s second goal arrived in the 73rd minute, it was from a corner delivered by Flynn and should have been dealt with before Ellington’s header flew into the net.

“No complaints at all,” Neil Warnock, the United manager, admitted with typical honesty. “They beat us in every department. They went to bed early on New Year’s Eve and we went out on the town.”

The only exception to this judgement was Jagielka, Warnock declared, “but I could only play him in one position”.

STAR MAN: Lee McCulloch (Wigan)

Player ratings. Sheffield United: Bennett 7, Bromby 6, Harley 6, Cullip 7, Morgan 7, Jagielka 8, Quinn 6 (Forte 74min, 6), Tonge 6, Liddell 6, Gray 6, Cadamarteri 7 (Shaw 69min, 5)

Wigan Athletic: Filan 7, Eaden 7, Breckin 7, Thome 6, Baines 7, McCulloch 8, Bullard 6 (Flynn 40min, 8), Whalley 7, Graham 7, Ellington 8, Roberts 7

Scorers: Wigan Athletic: McCulloch 7, Ellington 73

Referee: A Hall

Attendance: 21,869.

REPORT TAKEN FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES.