In what was a great team performance, Wigan Athletic clicked to send the Reds home with no points and sent us 4 points clear of the relegation zone.

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE – DW STADIUM – Monday 8th March 2010
 

WIGAN ATHLETIC
Hugo Rodallega (35)

1-0
LIVERPOOL

After chatting with Roberto last week I went home thinking about what he said, that we were just one god performance and a win away from clicking, and when we do it we’ll kick on and show what a great side this really is.

Well we certainly got the great performance and the much needed win against a Liverpool side that was prevented from playing straight from the first whistle, Chris Kirkland didn’t have one save to make the entire game, I am sure that this must be some sort of record.

The 1-0 scoreline flattered the Reds, having turned up to expect us to roll over and take our beating they got one hell of a reality check as Latics dominated proceedings for very long periods of the game. Martinez’s tactics were excellent, allowing Liverpool possession in areas where they couldn’t hurt us, but rallying when a threat started.

Hugo Rodallega scored 10 minutes before half time after several attacks had not culminated in a goal. We could have opened up the scoring in the 15 minutes as both N’Zogbia and Moreno had efforts blocked and saved. McCarthy was playing out of his skin and carved out several great passes which saw Carragher and Kyrgiakos scrambling to tackle and block.

Torres did give us an early scare as he found space on the right only for us see his effort crash into the side netting. In the most part though our defence was on top form and rarely had to break into a sweat as the midfield stood firm. Diame and Scharner contained Gerard and Kuyt to the point where we wondered if Kuyt was actually playing.

The Liverpool player’s frustrations showed in that they resorted to fouling but for once we had a referee that was standing for none of it as he calmly placed 5 Pool players in the book. The deadlock was broken as Kuyt laid off a stray pass that Boyce picked up, the right back then pin pointed his cross onto Hugo’s boot and the Columbian slotted past the impressive Reina.

It was no more than we deserved and it sent the DW Stadium mental. There was an idiot who was waving a ‘Martinez out’ banner before the game, oh boy how he must have felt after this game. Comments coming into the site say that he talks like he doesn’t know anything about football and was lucky not to get more abuse than he did.

The expected onslaught after the goal didn’t come and although Torres had two more opportunities he managed to scuff one wide of the post when he should have done better and a header went aimlessly over the bar from another chance.

To a man Latics were excellent in this game, everything just clicked together on and off the pitch, the crowd were that good that you struggled hear anything coming out of the away end, they were very quiet. The second half was controlled by Latics and though there were very few chances it was still very entertaining seeing us frustrate the Reds.

The win brought 3 points nearer to safety and importantly 4 points away from that danger area. We just need to build on this by getting a result at the Reebok on Saturday to carry into ou game in hand against Villa on Tuesday.

Report by Jayt

Cockney Latic Man of the Match: James McCarthy
Referee: Andre Marriner
Attendance: 17,427
LINE UP
WIGAN ATHLETIC LIVERPOOL
1 Chris Kirkland 25 Pepe Reina
17 Emmerson Boyce 23 Jamie Carragher
5 Gary Caldwell 16 Sotirios Kyrgiakos
19 Titus Bramble 22 Emiliano Insua
31 Maynor Figueroa 8 Steven Gerrard
27 Mohamed Diame 21 Lucas Leiva
14 Charles N’Zogbia 20 Javier Mascherano
7 Paul Scharner 18

Dirk Kuyt

24 James McCarthy 9 Fernando Torres
18 Marcelo Moreno 15 Yossi Benayoun
20 Hugo Rodallega 17 Rodriguez Maxi
SUBS
29 Vladimir Stojkovic 1 Diego Cavalieri
4 Antonio Amaya 2 Glen Johnson
15 Jordi Gomez 5 Daniel Agger
11 Victor Moses 11 Albert Riera
6 Hendry Thomas 4 Alberto Aquilani
9 Jason Scotland 24 David Ngog
16 Scott Sinclair 19 Ryan Babel
TIMELINE
22′     Yellow Card Emiliano Insua
29′     Yellow Card Lucas Leiva
33′     Yellow Card Sotirios Kyrgiakos
35′ Goal Hugo Rodallega    
40′ Yellow Card Titus Bramble    
55′     Player Off Lucas Leiva
Player On Glen Johnson
67′ Player Off Marcelo Moreno
Player On Victor Moses
   
69′     Player Off Yossi Benayoun
Player On Alberto Aquilani
79′     Yellow Card Fernando Torres
82′     Yellow Card Steven Gerrard
82′ Player Off Mohamed Diame
Player On Hendry Thomas
   
82′     Player Off Dirk Kuyt
Player On Ryan Babel
86′ Player Off Hugo Rodallega
Player On Jason Scotland