CALDWELL: LATICS ARE GETTING IT
HAVING thrown away a three-goal lead in the reverse fixture, Wigan boss Gary Caldwell believes victory at Sheffield United is testament to his players’ willingness to learn.
Will Grigg’s penalty and Everton loanee Conor McAleny’s debut goal set Wigan on their way before the defence stood firm to ensure there would be no repeat of the Blades’ comeback.
Grigg even missed another penalty later in the second half, and Caldwell admitted it was one of his team’s best performances of the season, although the Scot was at pains to point out there was still plenty to learn from and improve on as the Latics continue their promotion push.
“It shows that we’ve learned,” Caldwell said. “Every time we’ve lost a game this season, or drawn, we’ve learned from the mistakes and that’s testament to the players taking things on board.
“The way we won it, the professionalism, the control, the understanding of the game – we showed we are a good team.
“Everything about the game I was happy with. There are obviously some areas of the game we can improve – and we will – but in terms of all-round performance, attack and defence, it was our best of the season.
“I was delighted with many aspects of the performance but we still want to improve so we’ll work on that.”
Chances were very limited in the first-half. Billy Sharp shot wide left-footed for the hosts on 11 minutes after finding space outside the area, then turned provider on 16 minutes, exchanging passes with Jose Baxter before the latter’s audacious chip from 20 yards dropped just wide.
Wigan saw plenty of the ball but created very little with it, instead content to pass across their back line under little pressure from the Blades’ frontmen.
Yanic Wildschut fired their best first-half chance well over the bar after Donervon Daniels’ cross.
Wigan were much more positive after the break, though not before Jussi Jaaskelainen had denied Sharp early on when the striker turned in the area.
At the other end, Grigg did well to hold up a long ball and feed McAleny, but George Long got a fingertip to his powerful strike to turn it over.
The game turned in the 52nd minute when Chris Basham slid in and clumsily brought Wildschut down in the area. Northern Ireland international Grigg stepped up and confidently placed the penalty high into the middle of the net.
And just two minutes later Wigan were two up, Max Power feeding McAleny who let the ball run across his body before firing low beyond Long from the edge of the box.
Wigan could have had another on 74 minutes, when Paul Coutts tripped Chris McCann in the area but this time Long guessed correctly to parry Grigg’s penalty clear.
Jay McEveley’s low effort across goal was backheeled off the line by McCann in stoppage time, but the boos rang out loud and clear from the home support on the final whistle.
Blades boss Nigel Adkins admitted it was individual errors which cost them. “It was a very close game. Neither keeper had very much to do,” he said. “The big turning point is the penalty.
“It was a poor decision from ourselves to make the challenge. The player’s gone through but has defenders around him – there’s no need to make the challenge and the referee had very little choice but to give the penalty.
“Then, very soon afterwards, from our throw-in we’ve cheaply given the ball away and the lad’s scored very well. It changes the complexion of the game.
“It’s just an individual poor decision that has ultimately cost us all three points.”