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Hart breaker for Martinez
Wigan Athletic v Manchester City: James McCarthy after his shot, probably Wigan's best chance, was saved by Joe Hart
ROBERTO Martinez admitted Latics only had themselves to blame for not taking points off top dogs Manchester City last night.
After gifting City their half-time lead through Edin Dzeko, the home side threw everything bar the kitchen sink at City after the break.
But Latics couldn’t quite find the moment of magic required to unlock a determined rearguard.
And when James McCarthy did see the whites of Joe Hart’s eyes, the England goalkeeper pulled off a tremendous save at the three-quarter mark to secure the Sky man-of-the-match honours.
All that left Martinez a very frustrated figure as he assessed the damage.
“I have mixed feelings about the game,” said the Wigan boss.
“In the first half we worked hard, we defended well, but we weren’t ourselves with the ball.
“There was a little bit of anxiety there, which the crowd picked up on, and that was very evident in our play.
“In the second half we adapted well, and we found a little bit of momentum.
“We were on the front foot for the most part and that gave us a real competitive edge.
“We knew we’d get chances in the final quarter, and James was very unlucky not to score with his shot.
“Unfortunately, we just couldn’t get the break that would have given us a deserved point.
“But if we can find a way to play for 90 minutes with the intensity we had at the end, we are capable of winning games.”
The winning goal came after Antolin Alcaraz was penalised for an innocuous foul down the City left, and David Silva crossed for Dzeko to guide home a free header past Ali Al Habsi.
“It was a soft goal to concede,” acknowledged Martinez.
“I thought the initial decision was very soft, and the way we defended the set-piece showed us to be lacking in concentration – and that has really cost us.
“Without playing well, Manchester City found it difficult to break us down, and we just couldn’t find the goal that we feel we deserve.
“We finished strongly, but just couldn’t find that one little bit of quality and composure in the final third that would have got us a goal.”
That said, Martinez believes there were plenty of positives to be taken into Saturday’s crunch clash at QPR.
“It’s not easy to play against Manchester City when the scoreline is against you,” he added.
“But I felt we were calm, composed and I was pleased with the way we reacted.
“We pride ourselves with how we are in possession as well as off the ball, and unfortunately we weren’t as good as we can be in both areas.
“The reality is we came up against a top team, but it’s good to be critical and it’s the only way we are going to improve.”
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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Comments
There are 19 comments to this article
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Lyndon36
Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 05:28 PMJerseyman, glad someone else can see what a one trick pony manager we have, the blokes a joke, not fit to manage in the blue square
jerseyman
Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 11:58 AMWiganJay What planet are you living on We need another 25 points this season that is 8 wins and a draw if you can do the maths. Where is this side going to pick up 8 wins ????we try a passsing game with players who cant keep the ball cant give accurate passes and because of their lack of control often get the ball taken off them Martinez is trying to play £20 miilion football with £200 footballers The manager is taking Wigan back into obscurity becuase he will not admit that his tactics are wrong with the players he has
Stuart T
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 12:34 AMWhat we need is someone like Ben Watson to learn how to pass like Danny Murphy and his defence splitting passes, so that Rody can run on to them, instead of this stop when you get to the edge of the area and then pass backwards, so and so....
elven
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 02:01 PM@ Ontario: "Latics biggest problem is that the central defenders aren't all that comforatble on the ball."...... I'd say that Latics biggest problem is that they haven't got a strategy or the player to score goals...... no chance of either success or playing entertaining football without scoring goals!
ontario
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 01:31 PMmona said The tactic of keeping the score down until the last 15 minutes doesn't work Ontario wondered Really? It worked for Sunderland the other day didn't it? Latics biggest problem is that the central defenders aren't all that comforatble on the ball. Playing out of the back is best for teams where the defenders are extremelly comfortable in possession. Except for Figgy, the defenders don't do well under pressure... The game Monday wasn't a bad effort. Man C are supposed to be amongst the top 5 or 6 in the entire world. To be in near the end with a chance for a tie was a great effort. To say, it was only because of Habsi? Buddy, its his job to make saves. He made 5 Hart made 2. I think the only thing different would be perhaps to use Mcmannam at wing back instead of Crusat.... The only embaressing thing was that Caldwell made a scene showing up Stam after he clearly kicked the ball out.... He's past best date, as much as he tries with every ounce. Don't need strikers so much as a more capable central defender and captain than caldwell. He's good in the air, but his feet are lacking touch and speed.
mona
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 09:54 PMThe best form of defence is attack. City never got out of third gear. Why should they, when they could see we weren't a threat .In their previous match Savic was torn apart. He must have had all his birthdays at once last night. The tactic of keeping the score down until the last 15 minutes doesn't work. Look at the league table. City were beatable as is every team in the premier league. If we had lost 4-3 and given it a go nobody could complain.The simple fact is we couldn't do it at Swindon so what chance do we stand in the Championship let alone the Premier League.
Stuart T
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 05:12 PMSome of your comments are sad, as the players were trying very hard to contain City, I think most are disappointed because we cant score. Be proud.
Big-Neil
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 04:39 PMWe need to get a vibe back at the club, and that means attacking more directly, not all the time, but at least try it every now and then. Whelan gets a lot of stick from fans I have never once complained, and this isn't really complaint, as it may already be happening, but we need to buyborrow a striker and play to win a match at home. I understand the defensive formation away (although not at Swindon!!!), but we need to go for it more at home, if not just to get the crowd behind us, and entering the ground. To my shame I've only seen two home matches this season (due to living in Oxford I may add), but when i look at paying over a hundred quid (including petrol) I think twice and not bother. Why should I to be honest, when I've not got much to cheer if I do come up? That's sad state of affairs as I've always done it in the past, I've just lost the belief in seeing an attacking match. Not a#&ed if we win, just want to see us give it a go!
mona
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 04:22 PMThat performance typified where we are at as a club. It reflects a chairman that has budgeted for championship or lower football for the last 3 seasons. A manager who is under no pressure what so ever, except to prove that the much acclaimed reserve team is the team of the future. Plus a team of players who know that the club are totally lacking in ambition. Nobody came out of that game with any credit, with the exception of El Habsi. Why did it take 70 minutes to create a real chance ( let’s try McCarthy in a more forward role ) and to get some umph into the game. Every time Stam plays at full back he fails (having put in some cracking performances at wing back). There must have been a better choice than Crusat to play a defensive role!! Moses must learn to pass the ball, worst game i’ve seen him play. The decision to keep Rodallega until the end of the season makes sense, nobody else will take him. Does Mr Whelan not understand why he can’t fill the stadium and the chances of getting live matches are pretty slim? On another night it could have been a mauling. Bereft, appalling and without ambition.
flyer
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 03:45 PMSorry but if that was good football well i think i should stop watchin it,latics could not pass,had the ball took of there feet so many times,city played bad but latics where worse,I saw people leaving the ground at half time and yes people say they going down for the last few years but even die hard latics fan are saying down this year
Jack's dad
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 03:31 PMOn the face of it, 0-1 against City wasn't a bad result but we have to get it into perspective. For Hart's excel,lent save, Ali made at least 4 and we hardly ever looked like scoring. We're the League's lowest scorers and have won just one game at home and that was in August so shouldn't really have to ask 'where were the crowds'? QPR, low scorers themselves, are a more direct team but as poor as we are at taking their chances. We desperately need 3 points and we won't get them passing laboriously, playing square, packing the midfield and not being able to defend set pieces. I'm not sure what the best attacking formation is but we rarely try to find out until the last `15 minutes - when it's too late.
Tizwaz25
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 01:26 PMAgree with Big Neil. But we were so poor in the first half. No forward momentum at all. Happy to play sideways. Good teams will let you do that until you make a mistake and give them the ball, and that happened loads. Without Al Habsi, would have been 4-0 down at half-time. Hart had 1 save to make all match. Gutless Gomez again showed his consistency......consistently lazy and fragile on the ball. But the midfield always fail to move the ball forward quickly....I think "incapable of" is more accurate. Look how quickly City moved the ball when in possession!! Once again, can't defend fast swinging crosses. How many goals have we conceded like that?? Just a recipe for relegation.....by Easter as well!! Won't have to worry about United on Easter Monday.
Big-Neil
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 12:12 PMBob's got to start with the finishing formation against QPR. We looked as though we might even get near the penalty box at times with wingers and a striker. In all seriousness I think we have to go a put the opposition under pressure instead of us trying to absorb it. Did you see zabaleta trying to deal with Rod when we mixed up occasionally and humped it up to him. Why don't we mix and match our play to keep the oppostion on their toes? We need the same desire from the last 45 mins from the start and for 90 mins against QPR, and beyond to have a chance.
bubblesbombom
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 11:34 AM'Premiership your having a laugh'
Stuart T
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 10:58 AMGreat Game for 90 minutes, I agree with all but not Morpheus!
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