Wigan 3 Leeds 0 - United well beaten

By Andy Baggott
February 21 2005

Leeds were well beaten on Saturday by a good Wigan side. Despite Leeds’ improved recent form, this game shows that Leeds are not good enough at the moment to be classed as one of the better teams. The gulf was as wide as the scoreline suggests, and will bring them back down to earth with a bump.

We lost by three goals, but it was the manner of the defeat that was the hardest to stomach. We created very little, while Wigan seemed able to pick many a hole through the defence. The first goal was a tap in from Ellington after a cross from the right. The second, came via Jason Roberts chest from Mccullochs header, and Mahons screamer killed the game off. Leeds never got to grips with the forward pairing of Roberts and Ellington – both were simply too fast and too strong for the Leeds back line. That wasn’t where the game was lost though as the Wigan midfield bossed the games. Sean Gregan battle well, as was probably the pick of the outfield players, whislt new boy Shaun Derry had a good first half on his debut. The forward line though of Lennon, Healy and Hulse though were starved of any kind of possession, and the extra man n Wigans midfield made all the difference. Leeds weren’t helped by the withdrawl of Glyfi Einarsson with an injury which meant a team change for Blackwell, but that cannot be held up as an excuse. There appeared more fight between the Leeds team than with the opposition as various players had run ins with each other, at least showing some passion that the performance wasn’t good enough. Unfortunately they couldn’t transform that passion onto the pitch in what was a very disappointing display.

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