Papers: A Hutch of Class

Last updated : 20 August 2007 By Liam Cooper
The Sun

Wigan 3 Sunderland 0

Antoine Sibierski inhaled the air at the summit of the Premier League and admitted: It's nice up here!

Granted, Wigan only occupied the lofty spot for 24 hours and the season is just three games old, but they were many's tip for the drop. The Frenchman is the league's top scorer with three goals after scoring a penalty and winning another.

And to crown a really bad day for the travelling Sunderland faithful, Sibierski is a former Newcastle player.

The free transfer had his name and every touch jeered by Black Cats' fans. But he said: "I heard what they were shouting so I'm happy to score against them."

The Independent

Keane aiming to benefit from Unwanted Lesson


Titus Bramble and Andreas Granqvist, the signing from Helsingborgs, looked secure and Chris Kirkland, who made two significant first-half saves, was authoritative. Denny Landzaat and Paul Scharner combined with drive and strength in midfield, where Jason Koumas supplied creativity and Antonio Valencia pace. Up front, Heskey gave a centre forward's masterclass and Antoine Sibierski was as game as he was clever.

Their cohesion as a team was a tribute to their manager, Chris Hutchings, who was short odds with most bookmakers to be the first Premier League manager to be handed his P45 but is defying the curse of the promoted number two.

"I think it helps that I've brought in six or seven new signings, so familiarity has not been as much of a problem as some people might have thought," he said.

The Times

Shambolic Sunderland get punished


After being written off for relegation before a ball was kicked, Wigan under Chris Hutchings are proving the Premier League can still be unpredictable. They won one of their first seven league games last season, but head for Upton Park next weekend in search of a third straight win, with the manager slowly gaining the respect of those who questioned his appointment after a disastrous 12-match stint in charge of Bradford City seven years ago.

While problems continue to mount for Sammy Lee as he tries to emulate Sam Allardyce's achievements at Bolton, Hutchings appears to be finding the step up from assistant to manager after Paul Jewell's departure less troublesome after a series of bold moves.

His decision to replace Leighton Baines, Everton's new £6 million defender, at left back with Kevin Kilbane appears an inspired choice, while Andreas Granqvist has also impressed in a defence that has recorded back-to-back clean sheets.

The Mirror

Wigan 3 Sunderland 0


The outstanding Emile Heskey tucked away Wigan's opening goal, albeit from an offside position, while Sunderland substitutes Danny Collins and Russell Anderson conceded stupid penalties, which were converted by Denny Landzaat and Antoine Sibierski.

The door of the away changing-room remained firmly shut for a good 15 minutes after the final whistle at the JJB Stadium as Keane no doubt told his players it takes more than last-minute goals to cut it in the Premier League.

The team sat in silence in their rain-soaked kit - except for Dwight Yorke who had already showered and changed after being substituted at half-time - and no-one dared move.