Caldwell purring at five-star display
BURY manager David Flitcroft believes his side now need to focus on turning draws into victories after seeing his side’s goalless stalemate with local rivals Rochdale at Gigg Lane.
Rochdale goalkeeper Josh Lillis was in impressive form, pulling off numerous good saves to ensure Bury failed to score for the first time in the league this season and Flitcroft was full of praise for the 28-year old.
“We’ve spoken to them after the game and said how do we now turn that point into three,” he said.“That’s the most important part of our learning curve in League One.
“The last two weeks, certainly Wigan and today, of how we progress and turn one point into three.
“We all want that, we’re all fighting for that. It really is the next part of the progression that consistently we’re competing and getting three points.
“Rob Lainton has had one shot to save where the ball pea-rolled through to him, where Josh Lillis has had three or four very good saves.
“The one off Leon Clarke is top drawer. Leon is in there frustrated that he’s not converted that, it’s a fantastic ball by Danny Mayor.”
The first big chance of the game fell to the away side in the 11th minute as Peter Vincenti latched onto Lewis Alessandra’s cross, but it was straight at Bury goalkeeper Rob Lainton.
The Shakers responded well and could have been ahead shortly before the halftime whistle.
Leon Clarke and Tom Soares were both foiled at the back post by Lillis in quick succession as the Rochdale keeper kept his clean sheet intact.
Both goalkeepers were involved in the thick of the action in the second half with Lainton denying Vincenti again with another good save before Lillis pulled off the save of the game late on.
Mayor lofted the ball to the back post and Clarke rose above his marker and headed towards the top corner, only to see his effort tipped over by the impressive Lillis to ensure this north west derby ended in a goalless draw.
Rochdale manager Keith Hill believes there are things his side could have done better, but stated that he was encouraged with the clean sheet after Lillis’ impressive performance.
“I’m not too sure if it was defences on top or goalkeepers on top, it’s too soon after the game,” he said.
“I think any team could have won it in the end. Everything is marginal in football, you’re looking for the first goal and you’re looking not to concede the first goal. I’m encouraged by the clean sheet. There’s things we can do better though.
“There is a little bit of lack of confidence when composure is needed. I think we took a lot of good things in possession out of the Sheffield United game, but we’ve worked more defensively this week.
“In respects of the overall game, am I happy with the point? I suppose so, I don’t think there was an awful lot between the two sides.” GARY Caldwell praised his clinical Wigan Athletic side after they put Colchester United to the sword at the DW Stadium in a one-sided game.
The rampant Latics were 3-0 up inside 15 minutes and went on to record a comprehensive victory over the U’s, who slumped to a third successive defeat as their poor run continued.
A beaming Caldwell said:“I’m delighted.We had a big talk after the Bury game and the emphasis was on attacking threat and I thought we were outstanding from the first minute until last.
“We showed our quality - we played in the right areas and caused them all sorts of problems with our front players that we had on the pitch, along with the players we had on the bench and the impact that they can have.
“I think it could have been more than five – there’s still things we need to work on and that can only be good for the squad.”
Wigan were superb in the first half and ran Colchester ragged at times with some electric attacking play, to which the visitors had no answer.
They took a fifth-minute lead when Yanic Wildschut’s cross was parried by Colchester keeper Jamie Jones into the path of Donervon Daniels, who tapped in.
The Latics doubled their advantage soon after when Max Power’s longrange effort looped off Alex Gilbey and over the stranded Jones. And Daniels slotted low past Jones from close range to make it 3-0, in the 15th minute.
Wigan added a fourth six minutes before halftime when Will Grigg calmly slotted home from David Perkins’ assist.
The Latics were not as prolific in the second half but although Jussi Jaaskelainen denied Marvin Sordell, the Wigan keeper was largely untroubled.
Latics substitute Grant Holt drove wide before Grigg wrapped up their win with three minutes remaining when he finished delightfully from substitute Donald Love’s pass, as the hosts ran out comprehensive winners.
Colchester boss Tony Humes admitted his side failed to deal with their prolific hosts.
He said:“Wigan clicked but we didn’t deal with them as a team and that was the disappointing thing.
“We didn’t stop them playing when we had the opportunity to and we were a yard off the pace.
“We didn’t start well and when you’re playing against good players, you have to be at the top of your game and too many of our players weren’t.
“We have to work as hard as we can as a group to get back to the sort of form that saw us win four games in a row and it’s about sticking together as a team.”