Wigan Win As The Referee Ruins Game

Walker Off

The Alexs came off the back of the poor performance at home to Luton so Dario felt in need for a change reverting back to 442 with Ben Rix coming in for Stevie Jones. This gave us more width than having to play it down the middle.
Wigan admittedly started the much brighter team but weren't a team who looked liked they were in the hunt for promotion. The best of the Latics' chances came when Liddells cross was met by a free header by Ellington but the ball went right over. Crewe passed ball well despite the rain lashing down in the freezing wheather but the build up play was good and as usual it was the final ball which let Hulse & Jack down. With possesion being shared it wasn't good enough for referee Mark Cooper so he though he would change the whole outlook on the match. Only 9 minutes into the match Walker chased the ball into the box being closley marked by Dinning and as Dinning stepped up the pace to stop the ball ging out of play so did Walker and as arms do when you start running Walkers was left abit behind and Dinning ran into it and made a meal of the little flick which prompted Mr Cooperman to give an instant penalty - fair enough. Then called Walker over and gave red, i doubt there was anyone in the JJB stadium which felt the red was justified. It was simply a trailing arm from Walker and why a team who haven't recieved a red card since Paul Taits 2 years ago would start elbowing players when they're not even infront of goal is beyond me.
So Liddell stepped up fooled about by stopping behind smashing the ball into the back of the net. It was a massive blow to the 1,500 travelling Alex supporters. Sodje then got booked for a small challange on a Wigan player while an equally bad one from Wigan was let go by the thing they call a referee. He did book a player in a blue shirt though, namley Jarrett. With Walker off Dario needed a player and tactical change so he took Rix off for Dave Walton and changed it to a 4-3-2 formation. Liddells goal gave Wigan a lift and Crewe were just drained while the pitch got heavier with the rain still pouring down. Ince turned a effort from Ellington(Over-rated!) onto the post as he missed chance after chance to put his side further into the lead. Ince then had his goal kick closed down and did well to recover and after Liddell refused to leave Ince alone Mark Cooper gave Crewe their first free-kick. With the pitch turning into mud the players

Poor All Day, Again

were slipping all over the place and when Wright slipped it let Ellington run free on goal but Ince showed his class and charged down the ball well while spreading himself for Walton to eventually clear. The rain continued to fall non-stop and the pitch was getting worse as puddles appeared and Jack nearly injuring Neil Baker when he went sliding into the dugout. With 3 minutes of injury time it looked as though the drained Alex would hold on and hopefully come out for the second half with a few wise words from Dario under their belt. However nothings ever that straight with the Alex and Fozzy helped their lead with the help of that twat Mark Cooper though. Ellington, facing the Alex fans, clearly knocked the ball down to the floor with his hand - there was no question about it - and as the ball bounced down Foz ran straight into it and saw the ball bouncing past Inces far post. The travelling Alex were furious at the referee and linesman as it was more obvious than the sending off.

Half Time -: Wigan 2-0 Crewe

Second half and Crewe started where they left off. While the pitch was in its worst state after an hour of non-stop rain, the centre circle was nearly a mud bath. The ball was stopping dead in the middle of passes and players were slipping and sliding on every sharp turn. The second half though was a ta better for the Alex as the over-rated Ellington continued to miss chance after chance, but as usual it was the ref who marred the chances for Crewe, a few minutes in the first half and a corner from Lunt was sent into a dangerous position and as

Where's our player called Dean Ashton?

Hulse tried to turn and shoot, which could have been a goal easily, but his left arm was nearly pulled off by the Wigan defence and Hulse was denied a attempt at goal... penalty surley? Not with Mark Cooper and his assistants around. Dario decieded to change it and brought on out of form striker Dean Ashton for Sodje, who was again poor. Within minutes Ashton raced clear of the defenders but his speed was not as it use to be as Filan got there before he could but the ball was spilt by Filan and after a scrambled by Ashton and the defence on the goal line Deano got it out to Hulse who's shot was cleared off the line. Filan then denied Deano of another chance when he couldn't get his shot off quick enough. The game then fizzled out, with Andy White coming on and looking good and commited, but Wigan put pressure on the defence again and Ellington again scuffed perfect oppitunities.