City 0 Wigan 1
March 3rd 2007 39,923
This was an abysmal display by City. One of the worst I can remember and now City really face the threat of relegation - dropping to 4th from bottom. Although 2 games in hand things do not look good as these matches are against Chelsea and Arsenal so in City's present form it will take a miracle to get any points from them. The trip to Dubai seems to have done more harm than good. I am beginning to doubt the ability of the manager to lift the players to a level to fight for survival in the Premiership. Attendance was up helped no doubt by the low prices for kids but this display will do little to entice supporters to rush to buy season tickets for next season. At least we get more games for our money in the Championship!.... and we might win the odd one!
City had new signing Mpenza on the bench. Vassell was still out injured.
You can see the covering and commitment by the Wigan players from the first whistle.
From the off Folan gave Distin a torrid time and after 9 minutes Wigan should have gone ahead. Folan beat Distin down the right and crossed.......
... for McCulloch to see his shot sail over the goal.
but 9 minutes later Wigan did take the lead following a free kick. Weaver seemed frozen to the spot as the ball looped to an unmarked Folan who had all the time in the world to head over Weaver.
A few minutes after the goal City were lucky to escape a penalty when Ball ( yellow carded) brought down Valencia just in the area but referee Webb gave a free kick just outside.
Wigan looked like the home side and after 27 minutes Weaver had to dive to push Mc McCulloch's shot past the post
Jihai Sun replaced Trabelsi just after the half hour - not long after the latter had been booked so we didn't know whether the change was tactical, injury or an urgent email from Chinese TV!
Moments later Richards almost scored from a corner so things were looking up ... a bit.
A Joey Barton corner was missed by Filan and saved on the line by Boyce on the goal line.
Two further City corners immediately after were cleared with some difficulty by Wigan
Richards is outnumbered in this attack
Filan manages to clear a corner
Samaras was replaced by Belgium international Emile Mpenza at half time and he was soon in action narrowly missing a Beasley cross after 50 minutes
Having been outplayed in the first half City upped the tempo a bit and here Filan foils Dunne
Mpenza certainly looked a better bet than Samaras up front
Mpenza did well to dispossess Boyce and set up Beasley for a shot but the Americans effort was blocked by Filan
Filan was in action again and collided with Mpenza as he saved after 21 minutes
Five minutes later there was another collision between Boyce and Dunne and it looked pretty bad for a minute or so
As the game drifted into extra time Richards was brought down at the edge of the area but Barton's free kick came to nothing - as usual and City's blue balloon was about to be burst as the deflated City supporters left the Stadium wondering whether we would still be in the Premiership next season. It was difficult to find any plus points in this listless dire performance. Ten goals at home in 14 games tells a sorry story. The only minor pluses were the return of Jihai Sun who tried hard on his return and the promising debut of Emile Mpenza. For once Distin looked out of sorts and the midfield of Barton and Ireland was almost non existent. Beasley had the odd good run but he should be doing this all the time not once a game.
Team
Weaver 5: Richards 6. Dunne 6, Distin 5, Ball 6: Trabelsi 5 (Sun 7) Barton 6, Ireland 5, Beasley 6: Samaras 4.5, ( Mpenza 7) Corradi 6
