Nathan Ellington and Jason Roberts appear unstoppable in attack for the Latics as they both grabbed a goal after Matt Jackson cancelled out Kenny Millers earlier goal.
The Latics started very slowly and took a long time to get used to the sharpness of Miller and the power of Cort. Wolves had a host of early chances and it was only right when the lively Miller cut goalside of Baines to put the ball into the top of the net, he ran onto Ince's through pass after Frandsen had left the former United man and he in turn pulled Breckin away from Miller. Jackson could have possibly got across earlier but maybe thats being harsh. Sloppy marking from the Dane in midfield cost the Latics here. 1-0.
This seemed to spark the Wiganers into life and thankfully we stopped trying to catch the Wolves offside all the time! It took just 8 minutes to find an equaliser as Jimmy Bullard's curling free kick looped over Craddock and onto the head of diving Matt Jackson, 1-1 in the bottom corner.
This sparked off a spell of un-relenting Latics pressure as wave after wave of long passes were snapped on by the Duke and his partner in crime, Jason Roberts. The Wolves just couldn't cope with the pure pace and power of the pair, coupled with some superb skill from Ellington thrown into the mix.
It was just five minutes after the equaliser that the Latics turned the game on it's head and went 2-1 up. Another long hopeful ball was knocked down by Roberts to Ellington. He beat the defender to the ball before steadying himself and lauching a curling thunderbolt in off the corssbar. Jones had no chance! 1-2.
The Latics could and probably should have added to this before the half time whistle but Wolves somehow hung on to go in at half time still in the game.
Second Half
This was a different story. Despite a bright start to the half it was Wolves who were to make the first break through, as our front two tired.
Kenny Miller managed to miss a penalty as David Wright made a trio of fatal errors at right back. First, his headed clearence was staight to Naylor who played the ball forward, he then failed to tackle Olofinjana and brought him down in the area.
Miller who has already missed this season stepped up and although the penalty wasn't the best, it certainly wasn't the worst and Filan through hismelf across the goal to save.
Not long after however he made up for it. Cooper who replaced Naylor was to stand the game on it's head for a second time. He picked up the ball deep in the Wigan half, jinked his way into a crossing position and whipped in a curling ball onto the head of Miller who had somehow managed to sneak between Jackson and Breckin. Poor defending, the cross should not have come in in the first place and the to have a striker of Millers class unmarked, you don't win titles for ignoring such. 2-2
Up to now the Latics had lost their sharp edge, especially up front. The major problem with the way we play is that when both Ellington and Roberts tire - which they do because they chase a lot of long balls - we cannot keep feeding them this service as the ball comes back. What does not help is the fact that we can't seem to put a number of passes together and keep possesion when this is the case. As a result the defence is put under constant pressure. I feel that maybe the introduction of Mahon and Graham to change the style might have worked here. Instead we got Nicky Eaden for Gary Teale. A fair substitute to shore up at the back.
However Roberts seemed to come back to life, maybe it was the chants of "Theres only one Jason Roberts" that got him going, but he worked his way into the penalty area before Lescott came thundering in to give the penalty away. He stood on the back of Roberts' leg.
Roberts got up to take the kick himself and produced a carbon copy of Miller's kick. The difference being that Roberts' counted. 2-3.
Most inside the ground now felt that we should go on to win the game, instead Jewell reached for the self destruct button. He somehow felt it was a good idea to drop Nathan Ellington back into a left midfield role and leave Roberts alone upfront.
Now while it may have worked to leave Roberts up front alone, nobody got up to support him and I'm sure Mahon would have done a better job on the left flank than the tiring Ellington.
To make matters worse, Wolves made a number of substitutions. The every awful Seol was replaced by pacey Sturridge and the slow, defensive, gangly Olofinjana was replaced by the industrious Cameron. The latter having a big influence. Thome was also introduced Ellington.
The Latics now lined up with a defence of Eaden, Wright, Thome, Jackson, Breckin, Baines with three tired midfielders in the form of Bullard, Frandsen and McCulloch and the weary Roberts up front alone.
No it didn't work, and no I'm not suprised.
It was one of Jones' earlier substitutes, Cooper, who again played a part as he fed - now right back - Shaun Newton who delievered a pass to the unmarked Cameron inside the area who did the rest by beating Filan. 3-3. Cameron had managed to seak behind Emerson Thome who was seemingly still on the touchline looking at himself in a mirror.
Initially this was very disappointing, but I would have taken a point before the game began. Let's hope Jewell learn's from his mistakes, and doesn't make the team too defensive. Only John Deehan has won anything by being defensive, and that was the old division Three!
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This seemed to spark the Wiganers into life and thankfully we stopped trying to catch the Wolves offside all the time! It took just 8 minutes to find an equaliser as Jimmy Bullard's curling free kick looped over Craddock and onto the head of diving Matt Jackson, 1-1 in the bottom corner.
This sparked off a spell of un-relenting Latics pressure as wave after wave of long passes were snapped on by the Duke and his partner in crime, Jason Roberts. The Wolves just couldn't cope with the pure pace and power of the pair, coupled with some superb skill from Ellington thrown into the mix.
It was just five minutes after the equaliser that the Latics turned the game on it's head and went 2-1 up. Another long hopeful ball was knocked down by Roberts to Ellington. He beat the defender to the ball before steadying himself and lauching a curling thunderbolt in off the corssbar. Jones had no chance! 1-2.
The Latics could and probably should have added to this before the half time whistle but Wolves somehow hung on to go in at half time still in the game.
Second Half
This was a different story. Despite a bright start to the half it was Wolves who were to make the first break through, as our front two tired.
Kenny Miller managed to miss a penalty as David Wright made a trio of fatal errors at right back. First, his headed clearence was staight to Naylor who played the ball forward, he then failed to tackle Olofinjana and brought him down in the area.
Miller who has already missed this season stepped up and although the penalty wasn't the best, it certainly wasn't the worst and Filan through hismelf across the goal to save.
Not long after however he made up for it. Cooper who replaced Naylor was to stand the game on it's head for a second time. He picked up the ball deep in the Wigan half, jinked his way into a crossing position and whipped in a curling ball onto the head of Miller who had somehow managed to sneak between Jackson and Breckin. Poor defending, the cross should not have come in in the first place and the to have a striker of Millers class unmarked, you don't win titles for ignoring such. 2-2
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However Roberts seemed to come back to life, maybe it was the chants of "Theres only one Jason Roberts" that got him going, but he worked his way into the penalty area before Lescott came thundering in to give the penalty away. He stood on the back of Roberts' leg.
Roberts got up to take the kick himself and produced a carbon copy of Miller's kick. The difference being that Roberts' counted. 2-3.
Most inside the ground now felt that we should go on to win the game, instead Jewell reached for the self destruct button. He somehow felt it was a good idea to drop Nathan Ellington back into a left midfield role and leave Roberts alone upfront.
Now while it may have worked to leave Roberts up front alone, nobody got up to support him and I'm sure Mahon would have done a better job on the left flank than the tiring Ellington.
To make matters worse, Wolves made a number of substitutions. The every awful Seol was replaced by pacey Sturridge and the slow, defensive, gangly Olofinjana was replaced by the industrious Cameron. The latter having a big influence. Thome was also introduced Ellington.
The Latics now lined up with a defence of Eaden, Wright, Thome, Jackson, Breckin, Baines with three tired midfielders in the form of Bullard, Frandsen and McCulloch and the weary Roberts up front alone.
No it didn't work, and no I'm not suprised.
It was one of Jones' earlier substitutes, Cooper, who again played a part as he fed - now right back - Shaun Newton who delievered a pass to the unmarked Cameron inside the area who did the rest by beating Filan. 3-3. Cameron had managed to seak behind Emerson Thome who was seemingly still on the touchline looking at himself in a mirror.
Initially this was very disappointing, but I would have taken a point before the game began. Let's hope Jewell learn's from his mistakes, and doesn't make the team too defensive. Only John Deehan has won anything by being defensive, and that was the old division Three!