It was Wigan's Andy Liddell who was a constant menace to the Notts County defence and he scored two breathtaking goals.
As soon as I entered my usual seat in the Jimmy Sirrell Z block I realised that some of block at the top where the "Louder" Notts fans sit was sectioned off with tape and two stewards were stood there for the whole of the match, we will get more on this as it happens. But apparently there are two sides to the story. One is because the "Singers" in the Zed block were standing up and that is against F.A rules, so the stewards were there to make sure no fans stood up. The other is because where the Zed Block singers are there are some major holes in the walls so they had to tape it off, to prevent further damage.
The game started off with a two minute silence for the two Soham girls, Jessica and Holly. And the silence was respected by everyone in the stadium.
The transformation in terms of performance from the first half to second was huge. Bill Dearden went as far as saying "It's the best first half display this season". Notts did get off to a really good start. Chances were created mainly down the right hand side from the flying dutchman Marcel Cas who used his skill power and pace to tease and taunt the Wigan defence.
In the early stages of the game Cas played a clever one to with Mark Stallard and Cas' shot was pushed round the post for a corner.
Notts played some really good stuff in the first half, to be fair Cas was brilliant, It has to be one of his best games in a Notts County shirt. On one occasion he flicked a ball over a defenders head and turned to shoot into the hands of the goalkeeper. He must have struck fear into the Wigan left back Stephen McMillan.
The ball was passed around and Notts actually kept the ball and strung around a few nice passes. The fact is they were as good as Wigan in the first half, if not slightly better.
The real chance in the first half however came to the Latics and Pacey striker Nathan Ellington. Mike Flynn crossed in a beauty of a cross and the little striker rose well to head the ball against the woodwork. Notts got off likely just before the break.
At Half time it was Scoreless
In the second half Notts were a different team, where did all the passing from the back and through the midfield go to? Where did Cas go to? And why is Baraclough still playing for Notts?
Wigan must have been given a big kick up the backside by Manager Paul Jewell because they came out in the second half looking like League leaders, and come the end of the season Championship contenders as they were very strong in every area, and you couldn't notice any real weakness in any part of their team.
Notts simply ran out of fuel in the second half and they kept pumping balls up to the forwards all day long and Jason De Vos possibly the biggest defender in the Division just kept heading them away. His partner at the back - Ian Breckin kept winning every ball in the air against Mark Stallard aswell. And funnily enough Notts didn't think to keep it on the floor, in which the second half they did and they gave the Latics some real problems.
But the defenders just kept hitting balls up in the air, we failed to keep the ball in the second half and many people were saying "Oh dear, It's just back to the old routine I see". And to be fair in the second half it was. It was hugely disappointing.
It was Wigan though who were definitely the better team overall, they stepped up that level that was required and in the first half in spells and indeed in the second half you saw a championship contending side that were playing quick, counter attacking, slick passing and two touch football. It was very nice to see in spells.
Notts' defence has been very good this season so far, but once again, it was the midfield that failed to do what was required. We don't really have a constant playmaker, Caskey for me is too inconsistant and doesn't get time on thbe ball to play those balls that he likes to play. Bolland is still a boy and has alot to learn. I don't rate him as much as some people do, I think Notts need a real grinder in the midfield. A Jeff Whitley perhaps. Someone who can win the ball, play some good balls and get Notts some chances.
We also need a left winger, Baraclough is simply not good enough at this level, some would say at any level.
Back to the game now and Bill Dearden said "We had a blatent penalty decision turned down". This was when Craig Ireland went down in the box after flattered in the box. Mike Riley said get up. This led the Notts fans to chant "You Don't know what you're doing" and "Stand up if you hate Stewards"
The Latics continued to put the pressure on and it finally payed of for them an absoloutly brilliant run by Andy Liddell and the Notts defence failed to close him down, he ran and ran and ran and eventually he lobbed the Scottish goalkeeper Stuart Garden to give the League leaders the lead. It was a sensational goal that was most definitely coming.
The last nail in the coffin came from that man again Liddell after Notts failed to create chances. Liddell on 74 minutes recieved the ball from midfield, he immediately struck the ball beyond Garden to sow up the points for the visitors.
No real incidents came after this, apart from Notts continuously whipping balls up in the air and trying to salvage perhaps even a maraculous come back. But it was never going to happen.
Heffernan and Liburd came on but it was to little too late.
I feel it is time for a few new faces. And midfield is still the problem for me. Take a look at this fact... This is the amount of money Wigan played for there side today...
Filan___600,000___Blackburn
Jackson___Free___Norwich
De Vos___500,000___Dundee Utd
Breckin___Free___Chesterfield
McMillan___550,000___Motherwell
Green___300,000___Bolton
Dinning___750,000___Wolves
McCulloch___700,000___Motherwell
Liddell___350,000___Barnsley
Ellington___1,200,000___Bristol Rovers
Flynn___Free___Barry Town
Total___4,950,000
I am sure if we tallied Notts' squad value up, it would come to no way near that. As my friend Colin Slater would say "You have to compete off the field to compete on the field".
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The game started off with a two minute silence for the two Soham girls, Jessica and Holly. And the silence was respected by everyone in the stadium.
|
The transformation in terms of performance from the first half to second was huge. Bill Dearden went as far as saying "It's the best first half display this season". Notts did get off to a really good start. Chances were created mainly down the right hand side from the flying dutchman Marcel Cas who used his skill power and pace to tease and taunt the Wigan defence.
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Notts played some really good stuff in the first half, to be fair Cas was brilliant, It has to be one of his best games in a Notts County shirt. On one occasion he flicked a ball over a defenders head and turned to shoot into the hands of the goalkeeper. He must have struck fear into the Wigan left back Stephen McMillan.
The ball was passed around and Notts actually kept the ball and strung around a few nice passes. The fact is they were as good as Wigan in the first half, if not slightly better.
The real chance in the first half however came to the Latics and Pacey striker Nathan Ellington. Mike Flynn crossed in a beauty of a cross and the little striker rose well to head the ball against the woodwork. Notts got off likely just before the break.
At Half time it was Scoreless
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Wigan must have been given a big kick up the backside by Manager Paul Jewell because they came out in the second half looking like League leaders, and come the end of the season Championship contenders as they were very strong in every area, and you couldn't notice any real weakness in any part of their team.
Notts simply ran out of fuel in the second half and they kept pumping balls up to the forwards all day long and Jason De Vos possibly the biggest defender in the Division just kept heading them away. His partner at the back - Ian Breckin kept winning every ball in the air against Mark Stallard aswell. And funnily enough Notts didn't think to keep it on the floor, in which the second half they did and they gave the Latics some real problems.
But the defenders just kept hitting balls up in the air, we failed to keep the ball in the second half and many people were saying "Oh dear, It's just back to the old routine I see". And to be fair in the second half it was. It was hugely disappointing.
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Notts' defence has been very good this season so far, but once again, it was the midfield that failed to do what was required. We don't really have a constant playmaker, Caskey for me is too inconsistant and doesn't get time on thbe ball to play those balls that he likes to play. Bolland is still a boy and has alot to learn. I don't rate him as much as some people do, I think Notts need a real grinder in the midfield. A Jeff Whitley perhaps. Someone who can win the ball, play some good balls and get Notts some chances.
We also need a left winger, Baraclough is simply not good enough at this level, some would say at any level.
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The Latics continued to put the pressure on and it finally payed of for them an absoloutly brilliant run by Andy Liddell and the Notts defence failed to close him down, he ran and ran and ran and eventually he lobbed the Scottish goalkeeper Stuart Garden to give the League leaders the lead. It was a sensational goal that was most definitely coming.
|
No real incidents came after this, apart from Notts continuously whipping balls up in the air and trying to salvage perhaps even a maraculous come back. But it was never going to happen.
Heffernan and Liburd came on but it was to little too late.
I feel it is time for a few new faces. And midfield is still the problem for me. Take a look at this fact... This is the amount of money Wigan played for there side today...
|
Jackson___Free___Norwich
De Vos___500,000___Dundee Utd
Breckin___Free___Chesterfield
McMillan___550,000___Motherwell
Green___300,000___Bolton
Dinning___750,000___Wolves
McCulloch___700,000___Motherwell
Liddell___350,000___Barnsley
Ellington___1,200,000___Bristol Rovers
Flynn___Free___Barry Town
Total___4,950,000
I am sure if we tallied Notts' squad value up, it would come to no way near that. As my friend Colin Slater would say "You have to compete off the field to compete on the field".