Wigan Athletic 2 Watford 2

Last updated : 22 January 2005 By Paul Farrington

The Latics made two changes to the team that started against Rotherham a week ago. Goalscorer that day, Gary Teale, replaced David Graham on the right wing, while Mike Flynn replaced Gareth Whalley in the centre of the field.

Watford meanwhile, rested players such as Neil Cox, Heider Helguson, Neil Ardley, Jermaine Darlington, Paul Devlin and Gavin Mahon. Chris Eagles made his debut on the right flank after he completed his loan move from Manchester United yesterday.

It was the visitors who started the game better in what was poor atmosphere. The bright green pitch seemingly startling both the home support and the home side.

The Hornets took the lead after just ten minutes. Eagles was played on the right side of the area after he crept behind Baines. The loanee took full advantage of Baines’ mistake and he fed in Bruce Dyer who coolly side-footed into the net from eight yards out.

Watford looked good value for their lead. They looked more determined and certainly were the better side in possession of the ball. It was at this point that the Latics discovered who their big players are.

Jimmy Bullard: Worked Tirelessly
Jimmy Bullard, Jason Roberts and Lee McCulloch to name the main three. They did not go hiding as the fans got more and more agitated. Bullard - although he hadn’t found his range – was behind everything the Latics did going forward.

Others such as Nathan Ellington and Gary Teale went hiding. Teale especially who was chasing shadows down our right side, he just wasn’t interested in getting into the game.

Filan, who had another off day and he will be glad the ink is dry on his contract. He was spilling shots and crosses with alarming frequency. On one such occasion he was lucky to earn a free-kick, Watford were just about to put the ball the net after the Aussie spilled a simple take from a corner.

Unsurprisingly it was two of the three mentioned above who helped get the Latics back on level terms. In the 25th minute, Roberts did well to win a long ball right of the area, he then laid the ball back for Eaden who delivered a great first time cross which McCulloch attacked powerfully to head across goal and past the beaten Jones.

The lead didn’t last long. Just two minutes later and Watford were back in control. A long ball was not dealt with by Jackson and Dyer flicked the ball on to the on-rushing Webber who rounded Filan and slotted the ball home. A terrific finish from the prolific striker.

McCulloch: Goalscorer and undoubted man of the match
The game was now in Watford’s grasp. They held the ball well and retained possession, playing with a youthful eagerness that left some of the Wigan players startled. The reply from the promotion chasing side was to punt possession deep into the Watford half – at the request of the over eager fans - were the impressive Doyley and Demerit would send straight back.

This went on until half time when Jewell will surely have roasted his players, some more so that others.

The second half started much the same and just five minutes in and Jewell decided enough was enough. Alan Mahon came of the bench for Mike Flynn who had not caught up with the pace of the game from the start despite plenty of enthusiasm.

The substitution had a big effect on the game. Mahon is more of a ball player than Flynn’s grit and tackling. The Latics started to hold onto the ball more and as consequence built more attacks. A goal was not far away, in fact, just two minutes after Mahon’s introduction and the Latics clawed back to level terms again.

Mahon: Made a big impact
Teale was released down the right hand side, he ripped down the outside past Mayo and whipped in a cross with pace that McCulloch again got his head to. The result, as in the first half, was a goal for Wigan. McCulloch was looking a real threat from crosses, this was an impressive performace from the Scot on the left side.

Teale meanwhile was seemingly transformed from a player who really wanted to be anywhere but on the football pitch, to a good quality winger. The confidence to get at Mayo and deliver a cross was back, it was just what Wigan needed. Unfortunately, the opportunities for him to get at the full-back ceased and the supply line for McCulloch was cut.


The major talking point now will be whether the Latics or indeed
Watford could have sealed all three points with what looked like strong shouts for a penalty.

First came Watford’s as Thome appeared to trip Dyer alongside what the Hornet fans claimed was an initial handball by the Brazilian. The ball came into the box striking Thome around the arm, it broke to Dyer who fell over an outstretched leg. The referee waved away the protests.


In my opinion however, the Latics should have had a penalty. Just five minutes from the end and McCulloch was being pulled and pushed all over the place by
Watford sub Gunnarsson, the referee seemed uninterested as the Latics players and ground appealed in vain.

The game ended 2-2 and thankfully the Latics haven’t paid too heavily for the complacency shown today. We still occupy second place but Sunderland have closed the gap to one point after their victory over Sheffield United.

Lessons must be learnt, a better side would have ripped us to pieces today.

Complacency has cost us top spot.

Wigan boss Paul Jewell:

"The first half was as poor as we've played for a long, long time. It was sloppy and we didn't take the game by the scruff of the neck.

"We were better in the second half but we'll look at that as two points dropped. We huffed and puffed and we didn't really have many chances.

"They looked more hungry than us. You would have thought it was them trying to get in the Premiership, not us."

Watford boss Ray Lewington:

"We made a lot of changes but were magnificent, a great performance against a good side. We didn't show any fear.

"We played with so much freedom, played some smashing football, creating more than just the two goals that we scored.

"At the end when we had to roll our sleeves up and dig in, everyone was digging in, from back to front, and that was really nice to see."