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After
Tuesday night's defeat at the hand of table-toppers and arch
rivals Preston North End Wigan needed to get back to winning
ways to put the promotion train back on track. Two goals from
Simon Haworth gave them the three points but the performance
was far from convincing and laid back to say the least.
The
crowd of 4,848 that witnessed the game was a far cry from Tuesday
night's figure as well. Mind you Oxford's 2-300 following didn't
exactly match upto Preston's mass exodus along the M6 either.
The
few that did manage to peel themselves away from the TV and
the Grand National were sent away happy at the end of the day,
well the vast majority anyway, with another win and that bit
closer to Division One. And, at the end of the day, it's results
that matter at this crucial stage of the season.
The
game started slowly with few chances at either end, Wigan wasting
any opportunities that came their way and Oxford being shut
out by Wigan's solid defence.
The
only clear cut chance of note in the first quarter was a Neil
Redfearn shot from just outside the box but his effort sailed
agonisingly over the bar.
Oxford
pushed forward just after quarter of an hour and managed to
catch Latics on the break. Paul Tait found himself in space
and fired a low shot goalbound which Roy Carroll did well to
get down and block with an outstretched leg sending the ball
behind for a corner.
Soon
after Oxford found themselves on the attack again but former
Preston North End striker Nigel Jemson saw his effort on goal
blocked by Darren Sheridan.
The
deadlock was finally broken on 23 minutes after Neil Redfearn
had been brought down by Mark Watson on the edge of the penalty
area on the right hand side. On loan mdfielder Terry Cooke,
who has just had his spell with Wigan extended to the end of
the season at least, floated the resulting free kick into a
crowded area but managed to pick out 6'3" Simon Haworth who
rose almost unchallenged to nod the ball in from 10 yards out,
leaving keeper Richard Wright, on loan from Derby County, with
little hope of reaching it.
Latics
then took control and a landslide was expected as they pushed
forward at every opportunity, passing the ball around well but
hitting the target seemed too much of a tall order.
Neil
Roberts had a thunderous shot from outside the area tipped over
the bar as it seemed destined for the roof of the net whilst
Jeff Peron found himself clear on goal and should have shot
but instead slipped a square ball to Simon Haworth who was immediately
swamped by what seemed like every Oxford player on the park
and the danger was cleared.
Another
incident of note from the first half was when referee collided
with an Oxford player and hit the deck and needed attention
from Wigan physio Alex Cribley before the game could be restarted.
Half
Time: Wigan 1 Oxford 0
Oxford
came out for the second half and immediately began pushing forward
in an attempt to grab an equaliser and after less than five
minutes into the half Murphy saw his attempt at lobbing Carroll
land just over the bar and onto the roof of the net.
On
55 minutes Kevin Nicholls was introduced to the proceedings
for only the second time season as he replaced Jeff Peron. Injury
has sidelined the former Charlton Athletic star and it's been
a long hard struggle for the young lad in his bid for recovery.
Let's hope that he is finally fit and that his presence on the
field can help in Latics' quest for promotion.
Around
ten minutes later at the other end of the field dead ball expert
Neil Redfearn drove a free kick from 25 yards out and keeper
Wright did well to save at the near post.
Five
minutes later Oxford were awarded a free kick which Jamie Cook
floated into the area finding Murphy only for his header to
fly over the bar.
With
a little over twenty minutes remaining Haworth was chopped down
in the penalty area by Oxford defender Mark Watson but referee
Dowd waved play on much to the disbelief of angry Latics fans.
A
word of note about the incident: As Haworth was brought down
in the area and the resulting protests from the fans, the rest
of the Wigan squad, who were not on manager John Benson's team
sheet and sat high up in the West Stand, were spotted heads
down, laughing away at their copies of Cockney Latic. Is that
a compliment for the fanzine or an indication at how interesting
the action was on the pitch?
Oxford
also had a penalty appeal turned down after Jemson fell in the
area and turned to the Stoke official in vain, hoping to see
him point to the spot.
As
the game drew to a close Oxford valiantly pushed forward in
a bid to rescue something in their relegation battle but deep
into stoppage time it was put completely out of their reach.
Neil
Redfearn slotted a beautiful ball through the middle, splitting
the Oxford defence. Simon Haworth chased through unmarked and
keeper Wright raced off his line in an attempt to beat the Welshman
to the ball. Wright did, in fact, win that race by the narrowest
of margins, only to completely miss the ball in his attempt
at a clearance. Haworth rounded the keeper and tapped in his
second goal of the match, and his fourth against Oxford this
season.
The
result saw Wigan close the gap on Preston and pull clear of
Bristol Rovers as both only managed draws. A win at Boundary
Park on Tuesday night would see them within two points of Preston
North End and the top of Divsion Two.
Full
Time: Wigan 2 Oxford 0
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