The Guardian
Connolly landmark does trick for Wigan
David Connolly has been scoring goals for more than a decade. Until yesterday, however, never in England's top league. All of his 123 league goals had come either in the equivalent of Division One or during a spell in Holland. But, finally given his chance by Wigan at the age of 28 to appear in the Premiership following a £2m move from Leicester on transfer deadline day last month, Connolly took 40 minutes to make his mark at this level.
Wigan had been struggling to break down West Brom's defence when Damien Francis fed the ball through into Connolly's path on the edge of the penalty area. He took one touch to bring it under control and with his second drove a shot beyond Chris Kirkland.
Connolly's dream introduction into the Premiership was completed in injury time when Jimmy Bullard scored the winner before more than double the number of Wigan fans who had been there at the start after they had been delayed following a traffic jam on the M6.
Paper Talk: Sunday Papers
Last Updated : 11-Sep-2005 byJonathan Greening goals are a lot rarer than one's from Connolly, but his first for West Brom since joining them from Middlesbrough more than a year ago had put them ahead in the 26th minute.
He drove home from the edge of the penalty box after the ball had come back to him from Wigan keeper Mike Pollitt, who had punched his originally deflected shot straight back into his path. Connolly was a replacement for Nathan Ellington, who had left them to join their opponents.
He was one of three strikers appearing against their former clubs and, like Geoff Horsfield and Jason Roberts, was predictably booed by fans that had once adored them.
Roberts, scorer of 24 goals in 89 appearances for West Brom, seemed to be the most unpopular of the three, making a mockery of his claims in the local newspaper earlier in the week that he did not anticipate any problems.
The nephew of Cyrille Regis had left the Hawthorns in January 2004 because he claimed that the manager of the time, Gary Megson, had teased him so much.
Indeed, after Greening's goal, the biggest cheer of the afternoon was reserved for Roberts in the 24th minute when having won the ball off Neil Clement he slipped on the wet surface and fired embarrassingly wide.
He had to wait a long time for his revenge, but when it came it was worth it.
The match was deep into injury time when he controlled the ball on the by-line and played it into the path of Bullard, who placed it past Kirkland and secure Wigan's second consecutive win in the Premiership.
The match was deep into injury time when he controlled the ball on the by-line and played it into the path of Bullard, who placed it past Kirkland and secure Wigan's second consecutive win in the Premiership.
Man of the match David Connolly - did not look out of place.
The Telegraph
Wigan have last laugh
Three strikers were appearing yesterday against their former clubs, which gave those supporters who like to recognise these things plenty of reason to clear their throats. In the event though it was a midfielder, Jimmy Bullard, who won the day with a goal in the second minute of added time.
The Telegraph
Wigan have last laugh
Three strikers were appearing yesterday against their former clubs, which gave those supporters who like to recognise these things plenty of reason to clear their throats. In the event though it was a midfielder, Jimmy Bullard, who won the day with a goal in the second minute of added time.
The Wigan supporters were loudest in their efforts to make Nathan Ellington feel he had done a dastardly deed in signing for West Brom a few weeks ago.
Despite scoring 67 goals in three years with Wigan, and playing a significant role in their promotion from the Coca-Cola Championship last season, he was roundly jeered by the travelling fans when his name was announced before the kick off.
Despite scoring 67 goals in three years with Wigan, and playing a significant role in their promotion from the Coca-Cola Championship last season, he was roundly jeered by the travelling fans when his name was announced before the kick off.
The raucous reception appeared to have an impact; he contributed little and his second-half departure added to the visitors delight as they celebrated their second Premiership victory in succession and their first away from home.
The home end had their own target in Jason Roberts who before going to play alongside Ellington had trod the turf at the Hawthorns. As with his former partner at the JJB, Roberts had offered precious little to suggest his new employers had got the best out of the deal until, that is, right at the death when his careful pass paved the way for Bullard to bag the points.
Roberts had wasted an opportunity around the midway stage of the first half and within a minute West Brom were in front. The goal had been signposted as they began to dictate matters and push the memory of back-to-back defeats further into the past.
Jonathan Greening, characteristically busy, could claim both an assist and the goal for it was his initial shot which spiralled high off Stephane Henchoz and forced Mike Pollitt to come off his line to fist away. The ball only travelled as far as Greening and from 25 yards he perfectly executed the pot into the empty net.
No one inside the Hawthorns thought it would be enough. Albion had slid to a disappointing defeat here against Birmingham two weeks ago and Wigan, both spirited and skilful, had wore a confident air befitting seasoned Premiership pros rather than the greenhorns they are.
Their equaliser before half-time carried a stamp of class as Damien Francis invited David Connolly to use his pace in the inside left channel and the recent £2 million capture from Leicester unleashed a stunning left-footed finish to beat Chris Kirkland at his near post.
Ellington came to life at the start of the second half but Pollitt was equal to his powerful drive. When he departed the Wiganites voiced their appreciation but they knew, with Kevin Campbell and Robert Earnshaw called upon to assist Geoff Horsfield, who had also once worn Wigan colours, that the threat to their goal had just increased. Yet it was they who produced the punch that mattered.
The Times
Bullard beats rocky Albion
WIGAN ATHLETIC moved into the top half of the Premiership thanks to Jimmy Bullard’s last-minute winner at West Bromwich Albion, whose players left the field to a cacophony of boos.
Bryan Robson’s side pulled off a remarkable escape act on the final day of that season but the former England captain was scathing about the defensive performance that ended with former Albion striker Jason Roberts setting up Bullard for the coup de grace.
The Times
Bullard beats rocky Albion
WIGAN ATHLETIC moved into the top half of the Premiership thanks to Jimmy Bullard’s last-minute winner at West Bromwich Albion, whose players left the field to a cacophony of boos.
Wigan’s success represented their first away points in their fledgling top-flight campaign and those, as Norwich, Southampton and Crystal Palace found to their cost last term, are a vital component in Premiership survival.
“How they could get a man on the edge of our box totally free in the last minute is beyond me,” he lamented. “There have been a few harsh words said.
“As far as I’m concerned we are resting on the laurels of last season, thinking we can play and pass now. We are forgetting the qualities that got us survival.”
Wigan manager Paul Jewell, who had pulled off a similar Houdini act at Bradford City at the turn of the century, was understandably far sunnier after the final whistle, especially as he had been given an instant return on his £2m investment in Republic of Ireland striker David Connolly, whose 40th-minute equaliser cancelled out Jonathan Greening’s first Albion goal.
The deadline-day signing from Leicester accepted a Damien Francis through ball, outpaced centre-back Thomas Gaardsoe and blasted a rising left-foot drive past goalkeeper Chris Kirkland.
While Connolly and Roberts were enjoying the prospect of a win bonus, Albion’s former Wigan strike pair of Geoff Horsfield and Nathan Ellington had an afternoon to forget.
Horsfield was booked by referee Mark Clattenburg for complaining too much when a first-half penalty appeal was rejected.
Ellington made even less impact and his 71st-minute removal prompted huge cheers from the Wigan contingent.
Mike Pollitt had been caught out by Greening’s 26th-minute opener, producing only a weak punch when the midfielder’s initial effort had spun up off Stephane Henchoz. The ball went straight back to Greening, who made no mistake with a right-footed effort.
That should have been the platform for Albion to take control but the lead was short-lived and Wigan more than held their own in the second half.
Albion sent on strikers Robert Earnshaw and Kevin Campbell in the final 20 minutes in search of a winner but it was Bullard who had the last word to lift Wigan up to ninth place.
STAR MAN: Jimmy Bullard (Wigan)
The News of the World
JIMMY BULLARD grabbed an injury-time winner as Wigan came from behind to snatch a win over West Brom at The Hawthorns.
The victory was the Latics' second in a row and propelled Paul Jewell's men into the top half of the table.
Debutant David Connolly had earlier netted a stunning 40th-minute equaliser to cancel out Jonathan Greening's first goal for 19 months for the Baggies.
Albion were booed off at the end and Bryan Robson said he understood the frustration of the fans, who chanted 'what a load or rubbish'.
Robson said: “They are going to boo if you get beaten by a Wigan team in their first season in the Premiership.
“But this was not good enough from my players and we will be going back to basics, in particular with our defensive play because at this moment in time we are not doing that.
“They have kidded me because in the first couple of games we started where we left off last season.
“But the last three matches are not acceptable as far as our defending is concerned. The frailty with which we are giving goals away is really poor.
“How we switched off at the end I don’t know because we left a man free near the corner flag and then another man free on the edge of our six-yard box to set up their goalscorer.
“There were a few harsh words said in the dressing room after the game and the lads have to take a good look at themselves because we are resting on our laurels from last season.”
Paul Jewell was ecstatic to have grabbed an early away win so early in the campaign.
The three relegated clubs managed just two away victories between them all season.
Jewell said: “It’s a big thing to win away from home.
“Whatever win you pick up away it’s always a bonus and this is a big bonus for us today.
“We felt at half-time we could win the game, particularly after finishing the first half quite strongly when we scored what was our first goal from open play this season.
“That was also important for us, and I guess you could say it was a turning point because goals do change games.
“From our point of view both goals were good ones because they were well worked, giving us a big three points.
“There was a great team effort, great work-rate, and I felt David Connolly exemplified that.
“He worked hard throughout. He is a hungry boy who wants to do well and wants to play and long may that continue.
“He will be a good acquisition for us.”
The pre-match hype had centered on Nathan Ellington and Geoff Horsfield of West Brom along with Wigan's Jason Roberts who were all facing their former clubs.
Ellington especially had jumped ship in a controversial move only four weeks ago and the Latics fans were in no mood to forgive the striker.
Despite scoring 67 goals in three years with Wigan, he was roundly jeered by the travelling fans.
But Ellington had the chance to silence his hecklers after only four minutes. The ball fell nicely to the striker following a hapless clearance by Arjan de Zeeuw but he sliced wide.
Two minutes later Connolly almost gave the Wigan fans something to cheer about.
He beat keeper Chris Kirkland to the ball after Lee McCulloch's flick-on but shot wide.
Albion enjoyed the majority of the possession and should have netted when Greening whipped in a cross from the right wing for Darren Carter. Mike Pollitt was equal to the midfielder's fierce header.
Horsfield then found himself bundled over on the edge of the area by Stephane Henchoz but referee Mark Clattenburg was unmoved.
Albion's protests led to bookings for Horsfield and Ronnie Wallwork.
On 26 minutes they finally made the breakthrough with Greening grabbing his first goal for the club on his 42nd appearance.
His first 20-yard effort was blocked but the ball looped up in the air and the midfielder gratefully lashed home at the second attempt.
Wigan struck back with their first real attack five minutes before the break.
Connolly was played in by Damien Francis and the diminutive striker cracked a stunning first-time shot into Kirkland's top right-hand corner.
Albion should have regained the lead just before the break only for Thomas Gaardsoe to miss an easy header from eight yards.
Ellington and sub Richard Chaplow both went close for the Baggies in the second half.
Ellington had a rasping drive tipped over by Pollitt two minutes after the interval and Chaplow saw a 25-yard drive flash just past the post on 70 minutes.
The home side threw on Rob Earnshaw and Kevin Campbell in a desperate bid to grab the winner with the Welshman immediately testing Pollitt from 20 yards.
But West Brom were punished for their wastefulness in the dying moments as Bullard fired home to complete the smash-and-grab victory.
