Windass swoops to ease pain
WIGAN Athletic boss Paul Cook couldn’t hide his pride – and relief – after a victory over high-flying West Brom ended two weeks of agony.
The Latics had signed off for the international break with a dismal 4-0 drubbing at local rivals Preston, and had been counting the days before they could put things right.
And a fine performance saw them go toe-to-toe with one of the favourites for promotion.
“I was just pleased with the performance first and foremost,” said Cook.
“No matter how a game goes, as a manager you’re far more interested in how your team performs.
“On the back of our worst performance under me a fortnight ago, the lads have shown what they’re all about.
“That performance at Preston hurt them, it hurt me and it hurt the 4,000 travelling fans we had with us. But we’ve bounced back excel- lently.” West Brom started the brighter, and they might have led had Jay Rodriguez not planted a header straight at Christian Walton.
At the other end, Wigan threatened when Gary Roberts sent over a cross that only just eluded three team-mates.
Soon after, Windass found himself through, only to chip well wide of the far post.
Wigan thought they had won a penalty just before half-time when Nick Powell was tripped right on the edge of the box.
But referee Jeremy Simpson ruled it was an inch outside, and Powell lashed his effort into the Baggies wall.
Roberts fired just wide before the half-time whistle, and Wigan were almost made to pay for their profligacy at the start of the second period when Harvey Barnes raced into the box.
The youngster took a tumble and Simpson immediately blew his whistle – only to book the West Brom man for diving.
Windass was enjoying arguably his best game for Wigan, and he saw a shot brilliantly saved by Johnstone before he did break the deadlock 16 minutes from time.
The former Rangers man raced through the right channel before smashing a low shot into the bottom corner that Johnstone couldn’t get near.
Wigan continued to push and came close to doubling their lead as Roberts sent over a fine cross from the right, which had centre-back Chey Dunkley’s name all over it.
However, at the last second, Powell strained to get his head on to the ball, and succeeded in flicking it out for a goal-kick.
West Brom boss Darren Moore thought the game was going to peter out into a goalless draw before Windass struck, with the Baggies’ hopes of hitting back dashed by Jake Livermore’s dismissal for a second bookable offence.
“We’ve all seen the Championship long enough to know those sort of games are lying in wait for you,” Moore said.
“I just think you have to give Wigan credit for the way they played and their game-plan.
“We tried to come here and win a game, they tried to win the game, and the ball’s fallen to their lad once – and unfortunately it didn’t for us.”