BATTLE OF THE BULG
Posted on: Fri 24 Jul 2009
Scoreline a Minyor fact
WIGAN ATHLETIC 1
PFC MINYOR 1
Somewhere in the rolling hills of Austria Wigan Athletic gave a dominating, dynamic and inspirational performance that should have resulted in Roberto Martinez's first win as manager.
Latics bossed their opponents, playing fluent, creative football and making huge advances in their pre-season training schedule.
That their Bulgarian counterparts managed to scrape an equaliser ten minutes before the end is irrelevant. By that time it was a different looking side that had commanded the game for such a long time.
It all started after just five minutes when Jordi Gomez, Latics' touch of class, pin-pointed a free-kick into the six-yard box for Hugo Rodallega to pounce on and head in to make it 1-0. A clinical finish from a man who looks as though he's not too far off reaching full steam.
Martinez's men continued to push, enjoying their football and finding a fluent rhythm in their football.
Lee Cattermole, who teamed up superbly with Hendry Thomas in the centre, had an effort saved well from the edge of the area, and Thomasz Kupisz, coming on for the injured Rachid Bouaouzan, guided a lovely ball into the box for Rodallega to head just over.
At half-time it seemed as though the delicate but deadly football Martinez was renowned for at Swansea City was being born at Latics, and it didn't stop there. What's more impressive is that the second-half side who came out continued where the last had left off.
Ben Watson took no time at all in grabbing hold of the game, dictating play and relishing the opportunity to cut open defences and play to his strengths. He twice played through balls, to Gomez and Daniel de Ridder, but both were slightly unlucky in their finishing.
The introduction of Jon Routledge and Joe Holt 20 minutes before the end gave a good indication of Martinez's plans to integrate the youth of the squad into the first-team.
Although the gaffer won't look too much into the face that the Bulgarians salvaged an equaliser, it was a performance that warranted a win. Nevertheless the display is a clear indication of the squad's progression so far, and speaking after the game Martinez had nothing but words of encouragement for his team:
"There were real signs of progress out there tonight. I was pleased with the momentum and some of the chances we created were excellent.
"We maybe just needed that little bit more sharpness in front of goal, but that will come the more we play."
Latics: First-Half: Pollitt; Boyce, Bramble, Figueroa, Edman; de Ridder, Cattermole, Thomas, Bouaouzan (Kupisz, 20); Gomez, Rodallega
Latics: Second-Half: Pollitt; Melchiot, Bramble, Scharner, Figueroa; Gomez (Routledge, 70), Watson, Cho, de Ridder (Holt, 70); Cywka; Kupisz
Unused Subs: Kirkland
WIGAN ATHLETIC 1
PFC MINYOR 1
Somewhere in the rolling hills of Austria Wigan Athletic gave a dominating, dynamic and inspirational performance that should have resulted in Roberto Martinez's first win as manager.
Latics bossed their opponents, playing fluent, creative football and making huge advances in their pre-season training schedule.
That their Bulgarian counterparts managed to scrape an equaliser ten minutes before the end is irrelevant. By that time it was a different looking side that had commanded the game for such a long time.
It all started after just five minutes when Jordi Gomez, Latics' touch of class, pin-pointed a free-kick into the six-yard box for Hugo Rodallega to pounce on and head in to make it 1-0. A clinical finish from a man who looks as though he's not too far off reaching full steam.
Martinez's men continued to push, enjoying their football and finding a fluent rhythm in their football.
Lee Cattermole, who teamed up superbly with Hendry Thomas in the centre, had an effort saved well from the edge of the area, and Thomasz Kupisz, coming on for the injured Rachid Bouaouzan, guided a lovely ball into the box for Rodallega to head just over.
At half-time it seemed as though the delicate but deadly football Martinez was renowned for at Swansea City was being born at Latics, and it didn't stop there. What's more impressive is that the second-half side who came out continued where the last had left off.
Ben Watson took no time at all in grabbing hold of the game, dictating play and relishing the opportunity to cut open defences and play to his strengths. He twice played through balls, to Gomez and Daniel de Ridder, but both were slightly unlucky in their finishing.
The introduction of Jon Routledge and Joe Holt 20 minutes before the end gave a good indication of Martinez's plans to integrate the youth of the squad into the first-team.
Although the gaffer won't look too much into the face that the Bulgarians salvaged an equaliser, it was a performance that warranted a win. Nevertheless the display is a clear indication of the squad's progression so far, and speaking after the game Martinez had nothing but words of encouragement for his team:
"There were real signs of progress out there tonight. I was pleased with the momentum and some of the chances we created were excellent.
"We maybe just needed that little bit more sharpness in front of goal, but that will come the more we play."
Latics: First-Half: Pollitt; Boyce, Bramble, Figueroa, Edman; de Ridder, Cattermole, Thomas, Bouaouzan (Kupisz, 20); Gomez, Rodallega
Latics: Second-Half: Pollitt; Melchiot, Bramble, Scharner, Figueroa; Gomez (Routledge, 70), Watson, Cho, de Ridder (Holt, 70); Cywka; Kupisz
Unused Subs: Kirkland
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