Blackburn

I’d like to see a reasonably fresh team to face Blackburn. But Coyle only made three changes for Maribor, bringing in McManaman, Boyce and Beausejour. So several players are going to appear for the third game in a row.

Blackburn played – and beat – Watford on Tuesday night, Rhodes scoring yet again. They will have had four days to recover, compared to Wigan’s two.

Assuming Fortune is not fit, my guess for the team is;

Carson (played in 2/2 games)
Boyce 1 Barnett 2 Rogne 1 Perch 2
Watson 2 Gomez 2 McArthur 2 Beausejour 1
Powell 2 McClean 1

Difficult choices for Coyle;
Defence; Bovce 1/Shotton 2
Forward; McClean 1/McManaman 1

I don’t know how Espinoza 0/2 fits into Coyle’s plans. If the team needs more energy, surely he will come on at some stage.

I still can’t see how Coyle wants them to play. They seem to be doing their best in the absence of any grand plan and a recognised forward. So long as they don’t just kick it upfield for McClean to chase.

Wigan gave their best performance of the season against Nottingham Forest. A fluid formation was led by Fortune, supported by Maloney and McCarthy. And Beausejour played instead of Crainey.

Although we won’t see that same team again, it does provide a model for the future. I’m not particularly looking forward to the return of Holt. He hasn’t been either dominant or mobile when he has played. Also, there has been an inclination to boot the ball upfield in his general direction, in effect giving the ball away.

We do desperately need a recognised forward and some clearer tactics. We need three points today too. Wigan stand fifteen points behind Burnley with three games in hand. Three wins and nine points would take them into sixth place, just above Blackpool.

Wigan have got a demanding programme, certainly until the start of the New Year and beyond it if we are successful in the Europa League and the FA Cup. It will become increasingly difficult to catch up with the league leaders if the gap becomes any bigger.

I think we will win today as the pressure to gain promotion (unlike at the never never club QPR )isn’t there and isn’t being applied by the management.
They have had a good run but our back line should be able to cope with Rhodes and I think we will trouble them with or without Holt.
Good to have these games back

Well done. Three points and very hard won.

Men Wigan 11 Blackburn 10
Possession Wigan 71% Blackburn 29%
Shots on target Wigan 6 Blackburn 2
Goals from open play Wigan 0 Blackburn 0
Corners Wigan 15 Blackburn 3
Goals from free kicks/corners Wigan 2 Blackburn 1

Creating openings was clearly a problem today. Coyne was getting furious, kicking water bottles all over the place. The Wigan team is still something of a work in progress.

Puzzling; right-footed left back who always had to come inside and left-footed right winger who always had to come inside. Remedied by substitution after an hour but, strangely, it made little difference to play.

Correct it made a great difference.

Once McClean was on his “right” side he combined well with Jean Beau and that made a hell of a difference.Most of the play was down the left.

It’s been credited as an OG now but I’m glad we will now have a proper striker upfront.It was Holts pressure that caused the OG.

Yes, it’s an excellent tactic to play against a team with only ten men.

However, you got it wrong once again – Holt didn’t score. But he is a threat at corners and free kicks, especially when the opposing centre half has been sent off.

It’s open play that I’m worried about. Even with overwhelming possession against ten men, Wigan found it difficult to create chances from open play, whether or not Holt was on the field.

But there is something I’m looking forward to – a well-reasoned post from you. You know you can do it.