LOST ONE, DRAWN ONE
Posted on: Thu 16 Jul 2009
Tale of two team sides for Latics at Crewe
CREWE ALEXANDRA 1
WIGAN ATHLETIC 0
Report by Paul Chialton
Roberto Martinez said he would be treating this game as a training exercise and that's exactly how it was played out, with eleven changes at half-time and Latics' players trying to find a bit of rhythm in their football.
There were glimpses of how Martinez is planning on setting up his team, with first-half wingers Daniel de Ridder and Charles N'Zogbia drifting into the middle and interchanging well with Olivier Kapo.
N'Zogbia was Latics' main threat in the first-half making some dangerous runs down the left wing and getting a couple of shot away that were saved well by Crewe Keeper Adam Legzdins.
The second-half brought about a clean sweep of changes and those that came into the game brought a healthy dose of competitiveness to the occasion.
Michael Brown did everything he could to claw back an equaliser and came close mid-way through the half, firing from 30 yards only to hit the back stanchion and roll across the back of the goal.
There was also the opportunity to see Jordi Gomez in action for the first time. The Spaniard did well considering the lack of training he and the squad have had so far, linking up well with second-half striker Tomasz Kupisz and bringing others into the game with some clever, crisp passing. A good first impression from Gomez who looks as though he could be key this season.
Overall the result will not bother Martinez who saw this as the next step to Latics' fitness training before they head off to Austria on Saturday.
Latics first-half: Kirkland; Obeng, Bramble, Scharner, Mustoe; N'Zogbia, Watson, Routledge, de Ridder; Kapo; Cwyka
Latics second-half: Pollitt; Melchiot, Boyce, Meace, Edman; Bouaouzan, Brown, Holt, Koumas; Gomez; Kupisz
Crewe: Legzdins; Brayford, Mitchel-King, O'Donnell, Jones; Donaldson, Ada, Schumacher, Grant; Zola, Elding
CREWE ALEXANDRA 1
WIGAN ATHLETIC 0
Report by Paul Chialton
Roberto Martinez said he would be treating this game as a training exercise and that's exactly how it was played out, with eleven changes at half-time and Latics' players trying to find a bit of rhythm in their football.
There were glimpses of how Martinez is planning on setting up his team, with first-half wingers Daniel de Ridder and Charles N'Zogbia drifting into the middle and interchanging well with Olivier Kapo.
 FRESH ROLES: de Ridder featured in the first half |
N'Zogbia was Latics' main threat in the first-half making some dangerous runs down the left wing and getting a couple of shot away that were saved well by Crewe Keeper Adam Legzdins.
The second-half brought about a clean sweep of changes and those that came into the game brought a healthy dose of competitiveness to the occasion.
Michael Brown did everything he could to claw back an equaliser and came close mid-way through the half, firing from 30 yards only to hit the back stanchion and roll across the back of the goal.
There was also the opportunity to see Jordi Gomez in action for the first time. The Spaniard did well considering the lack of training he and the squad have had so far, linking up well with second-half striker Tomasz Kupisz and bringing others into the game with some clever, crisp passing. A good first impression from Gomez who looks as though he could be key this season.
Overall the result will not bother Martinez who saw this as the next step to Latics' fitness training before they head off to Austria on Saturday.
Latics first-half: Kirkland; Obeng, Bramble, Scharner, Mustoe; N'Zogbia, Watson, Routledge, de Ridder; Kapo; Cwyka
Latics second-half: Pollitt; Melchiot, Boyce, Meace, Edman; Bouaouzan, Brown, Holt, Koumas; Gomez; Kupisz
Crewe: Legzdins; Brayford, Mitchel-King, O'Donnell, Jones; Donaldson, Ada, Schumacher, Grant; Zola, Elding
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