Nationwide Division One
Wigan Athletic 1 West Ham United 1

Sunday, 9th May 2004
by Nick Homer

“Uncle Joe’s famous mint balls.” Surely one of the great-untried delicacies of the north, but unfortunately that is how they will remain.

While the advertising hoarding stood proudly behind the goal, no one could really shed any kind of light on what they might actually be. Perhaps they could be found on the paradox that is Wigan Pier? Maybe they should be best left alone on that ?EUR~try before you die?EUR(TM) list, somewhere between deep fried mars bars and Morris dancing?EUR?

If Uncle Joe was inside the ground yesterday, and indeed a Wigan fan, he would have seen a play-off position cruelly snatched away in the last minute in the kind of manner that normally haunts West Ham fans around the world. How Wigan weren?EUR(TM)t well on the way to four goals by half time stays as much a mystery as the northern sweets. Straight from the kick off Wigan attacked like a wild beast, stalking the West Ham goal in a series of puncturing runs, telling crosses and aided by the kind of comedy defending that has dogged our entire season. The biggest surprise was that it took them so long to score. Roberts slotted home about ten minutes before half-time, firing the ball past Bywater as everyone else looked on.

Before then however, Dailly had carried out the kind of last ditch tackles, blocks, goal-line clearances and general spoiling that Scotland is probably used to. On the left hand-side though, Anton Ferdinand seemed completely out-of-sorts. Bad passing, poor marking ?EUR" it was no surprise that everything from Wigan started coming straight at him. Maybe Rio can give him some performance enhancement tips. While the defence was hapless, the midfield was overrun. Carrick barely seemed to touch the ball, yet Lomas chased tirelessly with the kind of enthusiasm that will be a huge asset in the play-off lottery. And what of big Don? Hero against Watford a week earlier, yet strangely quiet out wide on the right flank. With the Irons?EUR(TM) goal under siege, Don?EUR(TM)s contribution was left limited. With first-half opportunities few and far between, Zamora and Harewood were feeding off scraps, often barely enough to keep an undernourished hamster alive.

Whatever Pardew said or did at half-time (maybe they had mint balls instead of a cup of tea?), the West Ham of the second half was more like the swaggering force required if we?EUR(TM)re going to leave this division via the play-offs. With Coventry two down, Wigan could breathe easy. A one-nil lead would take them through, unless Palace staged the kind of comeback normally reserved for this season?EUR(TM)s Champions League. Time drew on, the Hammers bossing the game as Carrick saw more of the ball, and Etherington probed down the wings, urged on the 8,000 strong army which accounted for almost a third of the attendance. For once though, Pardew got his substitutions spot on. Connolly replaced Hutchison, which consequently pushed Harewood back out to the flank.

Still no goal, but Connolly began to link with Harewood and Etherington, putting moves together than began to stretch Wigan, much as they had done to West Ham in the first half. With the clock ticking and Palace back in contention after bringing the score back to 2-1, Wigan looked nervous. Freekicks were given away, corners conceded, and then finally their bubble burst. Carrick?EUR(TM)s free kick drifted across the area, where substitute Brian Deane strained his neck muscles, firing the ball into the back of the net to send a wave of relief over the travelling faithful. Wigan rallied, goal mouth scrambles ensuing as Pardew?EUR(TM)s men fought to hold on to a point. The Latics however, were spent. Several players dropped to the floor at the whistle, a season of hopes and dreams dashed by a last minute header that we?EUR(TM)ve conceded all season. It?EUR(TM)s funny how things turn out?EUR?

With a point safe it was a pleasure to see the first team coming up to the crowd, players handing over their shirts to the younger members, gifts which will remain in the heart longer than the memory of the day.

As I left the ground the window of the car in front opened and a young boy leant out, his toy waving from side to side as his obvious delight lightened his face against the grey northern sky. Bubbles fired into the air, some reaching high, some bursting almost instantly in some cruel twist of fate. I looked round and could see that some had reached the car park, others climbing into uncharted areas of industrial wilderness. Where would this madness end I wondered as we turned back onto the main road? Losing to Palace in the final after one last throw of the dice from the football Gods? Crashing 4-0 to Ipswich in the first leg of the semi final? A final bubble landed on the windscreen, leaving some kind of artificial kiss on the glass. I just hope it had come far enough.

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Player Ratings

Stephen Bywater
Coped well with the kind of onslaught that he may encounter in the play-offs. Not at fault for the goal and distribution is getting better.


Anton Ferdinand
Same hair, different school of defending to his brother. Better in the second half but will surely be replaced by Brevett at the first opportunity.


Hayden Mullins
Doing a better job than Repka and keen to move forward to link with the midfield.


Christian Dailly
Defended with pride and led the defence by example even if it didn?EUR(TM)t rub off on the others. Hopefully hitting good form at the right time.


Andy Melville
Today?EUR(TM)s call up to the Wales squad will boost his confidence. Not the best defender in the world, but did enough.


Michael Carrick
Poor first half, good second half. Works best when Lomas is on his game and always looking for a useful ball to play.


Steve Lomas
More effective in the second half, but his work rate was second to none. Excellent work rate and created space and time for Carrick.


Matthew Etherington
Still the best left-winger in England in my opinion, but was only allowed off the leash after the break. Probably our best source of creativity.


Bobby Zamora
Very quiet day at the office for Bob, although he did manage a couple of attempts on target. Doesn?EUR(TM)t seem to link well with Harewood.


Marlon Harewood
Works hard but in fits and spurts. Clearly frustrated out on the right, but needs to remember that the team comes first. Selfish on occasions.


Don Hutchison
Quiet first half and failed to carry through his performance from last week, although admittedly the flow of the game didn?EUR(TM)t help him.



Substitutes

David Connolly
(Replaced Hutchison, 56) Helped to stamp West Ham?EUR(TM)s dominance on the second half and must surely start against Ipswich on Saturday.


Brian Deane
(Replaced Zamora, 73) Well taken goal, which I?EUR(TM)m sure is all Pardew wanted from him, so who am I to complain?


Nigel Reo-Coker
(Replaced Etherington, 84) Brought on to save the fitness of Mr Etherington, but didn?EUR(TM)t show anything that will cause AP a selection headache next weekend.


Pavel Srnicek
Did not play.


Tomas Repka
Did not play.



Match Facts

West Ham United: Stephen Bywater, Anton Ferdinand, Hayden Mullins, Christian Dailly, Andy Melville, Michael Carrick, Steve Lomas, Matthew Etherington, Bobby Zamora, Marlon Harewood, Don Hutchison.

Goals: Brian Deane 90                  .

Booked: Hayden Mullins 28          .

Sent Off: None sent off.     .

Wigan Athletic: Filan, Eaden, De Vos, Breckin, Baines, Bullard, Farrelly, Mahon, Ellington, Teale, Roberts.

Subs not used: Walsh, Mitchell.

Goals: Roberts (34).

Booked: Baines (73).

Sent off: None.

Referee: R.Pearson.

Attendance: 20,069.

Man of the Match: Christian Dailly.