De Ridder delight as Latics cruise to a final pre-season win

FC UTRECHT 0
WIGAN ATHLETIC 2
De Ridder 29'
Kilbane 60'

Goals from Daniel De Ridder and Kevin Kilbane eased Latics to victory in their final warm-up game before next week's big kick off.

This made it five wins and a draw from seven matches, but it is the manner of those results as much as the scores themselves that will surely please Steve Bruce, plus the fact there were some key absentees here.

New Dutch wingman De Ridder particularly enjoyed his return home, giving Latics the lead with a fantastic free kick shortly before the half hour mark.

Honduran midfielder Wilson Palacios was brought down 25 yards from goal and De Ridder stepped up to show the Latics faithful his ability from set-pieces, despatching a sensational strike into the top left hand corner.

De Ridder and skipper Mario Melchiot continued to cause the Utrecht left side constant problems as they linked up superbly throughout the match.

There was a slight worry for Latics though as Emile Heskey was forced off in the first half through injury and was replaced by Marlon King.

Latics doubled their lead on the hour mark when Kevin Kilbane volleyed home at full stretch. Kilbane, even with his broken finger, reminded Bruce what he can do in with a quality performance throughout, which gives the manager something of a selection headache when everyone is fit.

Considering Chris Kirkland, Paul Scharner, Amr Zaki, Antonio Valencia, Jason Koumas or Ryan Taylor did not even feature here, and the likes of Henri Camara, Michael Brown, Antoine Sibierski and King came off the bench, the squad is looking healthy and has a bit of depth to it.

Bring on West Ham next Saturday!

LATICS
Pollitt; Melchiot, Boyce, Bramble, Figueroa; de Ridder (Camara), Palacios (Brown), Cattermole, Kilbane; Kapo (Sibierski 72), Heskey (King 19)
Subs not used : Nash, Montrose

Referee:- Mr. R. Wiedemeijer