STB’s Match Report: Wigan

By Aston
March 6 2005

Totally and utterly walked all over by Wigan would be one way of describing this game as Town lost for the 3rd game running.

Totally and utterly walked all over by Wigan would be one way of describing this game as Town lost for the 3rd game running.

A single goal settled the one between the two most prolific sides in the championship and that came from the penalty spot 4 minutes before half time.

Although it was only 1-0 thanks to a spot kick Town were very lucky not to be going 3 or 4 nil down it was only thanks to some poor finishing on Wigan’s part and the greediness Nathan Ellington who missed a couple of easy chances and shot when his striker partner Jason Roberts was in a much better position.

Jimmy Bullard looked certain to score from about 6 yards out but some how managed to send the ball wide, the luck that had left Town when Watford visited Portman Road last month looked as though it may of been coming back until the 41st minute.

Ellington was brought down by Fabian Wilnis in the box and the referee awarded a penalty with Ellington rolled home after Davis had committed himself.

At the start of the second half Joe Royle obviously disappointed with the way Town and in particular Darren Bent had played in the first half he replaced Bent with Bowditch who certainly looked more lively than Bent but even with the introduction of Jim Magilton just before the hour in place of Currie and Pablo Couñago replacing Kevin Horlock with 20 minutes left Town caused Wigan few problems.

Jimmy Bullard was denied by a fine Kelvin Davis save, Gary Teale and Ellington also went close to wrapping up the points before the end but both missed their chances horribly.

Town did rally late on but too late to salvage a point and now lay 3rd in the championship three points behind Wigan who replace Sunderland as league leaders.

Wigan Squad: J Filan, N Eaden, I Breckin, M Jackson, L Baines, G Teale, J Bullard, G Kavanagh, L McCulloch, J Roberts, N Ellington
Subs: G Walsh, D Graham, A Johansson, D Wright, J Jarrett

Ipswich Town Squad: Darren Bent, Dean Bowditch, Pablo Couñago, Darren Currie, Kelvin Davis, Kevin Horlock, Daniel Karbassiyoon, Shefki Kuqi, Jim Magilton, Tommy Miller, Richard Naylor, Lewis Price, Matt Richards, David Unsworth, Ian Westlake, Fabian Wilnis.

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