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ARJAN de Zeeuw
produced a Dutch masterpiece goal to keep Wigan at the top of the
tree over Christmas.
This pre-festive clash seemed to be petering out into a goalless draw
until the big defender headed the winner with 13 minutes left.
And not only did it preserve Latics' lead over second place Preston,
it helped equal the much talked about club record of 21 unbeaten league
games.
But until de Zeeuw's classic 77th minute header, Latics were in danger
of seeing that excellent record go up in smoke.
While they all-but dominated possession in the first half, they rarely
threatened the Brentford goal, with only a shot from Simon Haworth
which struck the outside of the post stinging the Bees.
And after the interval, they allowed the visitors - who had clearly
come with the intention of grinding out a draw - grow in confidence
and create a handful of chances.
Thankfully Brentford couldn't find the back of the net, and de Zeeuw
went up field to show everyone how it should be done to claim only
his second goal of the season.
"I was due one and I've been taking a bit of stick from the lads
for not hitting the target enough," the defender revealed later.
"It was nice to see it go in because Brentford made it really
difficult for us.
"That seems to be the script now, with most teams coming here
to spoil the game for us and the crowd."
Latics boss John Benson made just one change to the side which was
unluckily beaten by Wolves last week, with Alan McLoughlin given his
debut in place of the suspended Roberto Martinez.
Top scorer Stuart Barlow had to make do with a place on the bench
after recovering from a foot injury, but was introduced to the action
at the beginning of the second half in a bid to kick-start Latics.
The first half was far from a classic, although the constant coaching
of Brentford's chairman and manager Ron Noades sat just behind the
press box made for some great entertainment for the gathered media
corp.
And to be fair to Noades, he seemed to know what he was talking about
even though many people in the game view his dual role at the club
with some doubt.
Michael O'Neill lifted a 20 yard free kick over the bar after four
minutes, while Bees defender Robert Quinn had to slide in to clear
Haworth's cross out of the six yard box with Andy Liddell closing
in.
Latics' best chance of the half arrived in the 13th minute, when Haworth
got the better of Quinn and cracked in a low shot from an acute angle
which struck the outside of the near post.
Liddell was high, wide and handsome with a couple of long range efforts,
while Brentford's sole chance on target in the first half came in
the 26th minute.
Derek Bryan centred from the right bye-line and Ivar Ingimarsson's
header at the far post was well saved by the diving Roy Carroll.
Jeff Peron and Martin Rowlands both fell foul of referee Matt Messias
on the stroke of half-time.
Peron took offence to a challenge from the Brentford midfielder, and
a bit of "afters" saw them shown the yellow card.
The out-of-sorts Scott Green was taken off at half-time, with Liddell
switching to the right wing and substitute Barlow lining-up alongside
Haworth in attack.
But the change didn't exactly bear fruit, with Brentford enjoying
a good spell of pressure in the opening 20 minutes after the interval.
Lloyd Owusu curled a shot from the edge of the box just too high in
the 54th minute from Scott Partridge's knock down.
And two minutes later, Partridge tried his luck with a 20 yarder which
whistled narrowly wide.
But their best chance fell to Gavin Mahon after 59 minutes, when the
dreadlocked midfielder danced his way through the defence and drilled
a low shot towards the far bottom corner which Carroll got down to
save at the second attempt.
Latics responded with McLoughlin firing just wide with a shot from
the edge of the box in the 65th minute.
While not exactly bringing the house down, the Republic of Ireland
midfielder showed enough decent touches to suggest that he will be
a decent addition to the squad.
The winner arrived in the 77th minute after Rowlands had been penalised
for handball 30 yards out.
Liddell's free kick bounced off the wall and in the ensuing scramble,
Barlow crossed into the middle from right wing, and de ZEEUW rose
above a crowd of players to power a header past Woodman from 12 yards.
The relief of the home players was there to see, and the defender
was engulfed in a mass of bodies.
Barlow could have doubled the lead five minutes later and grabbed
his 50th competitive goal for Latics in the bargain, but saw his shot
hit a defender and bounce clear after Liddell had set him up.
Brentford should have had an equaliser with six minutes left, Partridge
screwing a shot wide from 10 yards after Owuse's cross had picked
him out in space at the far post.
In the last minute, Haworth curled a shot from the edge of the area
inches past the post, but a second goal would have put an unfair gloss
on the scoreline.
Not the best display by a long chalk, but to match the 1981/82 side's
achievement of 21 unbeaten games is fantastic.
Will it be 22 at Notts County on Boxing Day and a place for the class
of 1999/2000 in the record books?
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WIGAN ATHLETIC :
Carroll
7, Bradshaw 6, Sharp 6, Balmer 8, de Zeeuw 9, McLoughlin 6, O'Neill
6 (Kilford 68), Liddell 7, Haworth 7, Green 6 (Barlow 46, 6), Peron
6
Subs not used: Stillie,
Griffiths, Sheridan
Bookings: Haworth 22
(dissent), Peron 45 (retaliation)
Scorer: de Zeeuw 77
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BRENTFORD:
Woodman 7, Boxall 6, Quinn 7, Marshall 7, Clement 6, Rowlands 7 (Graham
83), Mahon 8, Owusu 7, Partridge 7, Bryan 6 (Agymang 79), Ingimarsson
7
Subs
not used: Pearcey, Warner, Theobold
Bookings:
Rowlands 45 (foul on Peron), Partridge 70 (foul on Peron)
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And
how Brentford saw it...
BEES
UNLUCKY TO LOSE (18/12/99)
Wigan
(0) 1 Bees (0) 0
Wigan
equalled a Club record in unbeaten matches when they fortuitiously
beat Brentford at the impressive JJB Stadium this afternoon by a single
goal. The Bees went into the match still without a number of first
team regulars, and the added problem of playing without inspirational
captain Paul Evans through suspension.
Brentford started the game by showing a bit too much respect for the
countries only unbeaten side in the League. It was a full eight minutes
before they really made their mark in any real respect. However the
home side, during this period, failed to capitalise by breeching the
Bees defence.
This was thanks to resolute defending by such as Danny Boxall who
on eight minutes brilliantly cleared off the foot of former Bees target
Simon Howarth as he looked to make the most of Andy Liddell`s left
wing cross.
A few minutes later the Bees broke through Martin Rowlands, but his
long pass to Scott Partridge failed to carry. A minute later Howarth
struck a half chance against the post from an acute angle.
Midway though the opening half, Howarth who seemed more interested
in winning freekicks than proving his worth in the penalty area earned
a yellow card for trying to con the ref into a free kick!
On 27 minutes, my man of the match, Ivar Ingimarsson, saw his shot
saved following a good move involving Rowlands, Partridge and Bryan.
Seconds later Lloyd Owusu and Partridge linked well, although Scottie`s
shot was well wide.
Eight minutes from the break a brilliant long ball from Neil Clement
dropped perfectly for Del Bryan but he failed to test the keeper.
The Bees, now showing more and more confidence really took the game
to Wigan, and during this spell a Rowlands shot flew wide from 20
yards, whilst a Partridge shot also flew wide of the target.
Seconds before the break, Jeff Peron`s over reaction to a Rowlands
tackle, earned them both a booking...Martin`s meaning he will miss
the home game against Stoke City.
On the back of a confidence boosting first half performance, the Bees
started the second half brightly. But this half they had to contend
with leading scorer Stuart Barlow who came on for Scott Green. It
was to prove a faint threat.
A forceful run by Owusu took him to within striking distance, but
he shot wide. The same player then seized on a clearance and played
short to Partridge, who played straight back to the provider who in
turn tried to chip into the far corner of the net, but missed the
target narrowly.
Minutes later a good run by Rowlands saw him play on to Partridge
who fired over.
It was all Brentford at this stage, although surprisingly it wasn`t
until the 59th minute that they gained their first corner. It was
only half cleared whereupon Partridge played to Gavin Mahon who turned
and shot goalwards, only to see his shot pushed wide at full stretch
by keeper Roy Carroll.
It carried on in the same vein as a shot by Rowlands was saved by
the keeper on 63 minutes.
Wigan had to wait some 21 minutes into the second half before they
put in any shot of note. It came from the foot of Alan McLoughlin,
but flew wide.
Back came the Bees with Partridge turning and shooting, but wide again.
On 71 minutes Scott Partridge became the 2nd Bee to be booked, his
first of the season.
A minute later a terrific run by Ivar saw him progress into the penalty
area, whereupon his 1-2 his Partridge looked to have set him up for
a strike at goal. But it ran away at the last.
Four minutes later following a free kick, Wigan`s Arjan De Zeeuw rose
to head home into the far corner of the net. A fine goal, but a crushing
blow to the Bees. Fit again Patrick Agyemang replaced Del Bryan in
the 79th minute, whilst four minutes later Gareth Graham came on for
Rowlands.
An interchange between Partridge and Ivar on 84 minutes, ended when
Scott again fired wide of the goal. A minute later a back heel from
Partridge following Agyemang`s centre failed to find a Bees player.
Even in the final seconds the Bees were still pressing, and a Graham
ball to Ivar was met by a shot on the turn which was saved by the
keeper.
The final whistle saw the home fans celebrating another victory, although
in their heart of hearts they must know how fortunate they were.
Team:
Woodman, Boxall, Clement, Quinn, Marshall, Ingimarsson, Mahon, Rowlands
(Graham), Owusu, Partridge, Bryan (Agyemang). subs not used: Pearcey,
Theobald, Warner.
Bees
Man of the Match: Ingimarsson.
Bees
fans: 422
Referee:
Matt Messias.
An
excellent performance by the Bees in the face of adversity. Another
great performance by the Bees fans. A terrific stadium, but lacking
in atmosphere with the home fans making more noise in trying to coax
the referee into giving them free kicks than getting behind their
team.
Taken
from the Official
Brentford F.C. website
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