Friendly - Saturday 27th July 2013

0

Wigan Athletic

1

Dundee United
Nadir Ciftci 52

Report by: John Patrick Heeley

Owen Coyle tasted defeat for the first as manager of Wigan Athletic with a stunning strike from Dundee United new boy Nadir Ciftci separating the two sides in this pre-season friendly at the DW Stadium.

Latics started brightly and went close to taking the lead in the 15th minute when Grant Holt rose to meet a Ben Watson free kick but saw his effort come crashing off the post.

The rebound was then met by Thomas Rogne, making his first appearance in a Wigan shirt, but the Norwegian's header sailed agonisingly inches over the bar.

The former Celtic defender then tried his luck again in the 22nd minute when he was first to another Watson free kick but this time found Radoslaw Cierzniak in superb form, the Polish keeper pulling off a stunning reflex save to tip over the bar.

Rogne's introduction to the DW Stadium was cut short however when a collision near the half way line with Dundee United's Stuart Armstrong resulted in the 23-year-old being stretchered from the field.

The visitors went close themselves just before the break through David Goodwillie who has recently rejoined the club on a six-month loan deal from Blackburn Rovers.

The striker forced Scott Carson in the Wigan into a finger tip save from the edge of the area earning his side a corner.

Coyle made just one change during the interval with Jean Beausejour introduced to the proceeding in place of Callum McManaman.

The second half had barely got under way when Wigan found themselves behind to piece of pure magic.

Former Portsmouth player Nadir Ciftci, who had only signed for the club two days earlier following a successful trial, collected the ball 25 yards out after Goodwillie had seen his shot block.

The Dutch born Turkish forward turned on the ball before rattling it into the top corner of Carson's net sending the travelling United fans wild behid that goal.

Wigan should have been level on 65 minutes when Holt headed a Stephen Crainey cross wide of an open goal.

Substitute Jordi Gomez came extremely close in the final exchanges with a thunderbolt from 20 yards out but was denied by a smart save from Cierzniak who tipped over for a corner as Latics pushed for that illusive goal but the SPL side hung on for a moral boosting victory ahead of next Friday evening's season opener against Partick Thistle.

Wigan can take some encouragement from this workout and I imagine that they are looking forward to next Saturday's trip to South Yorkshire where they will face Barnsley with great intrepidation.