Anyone else see a pattern emerging? I think it’s important that we have decent home form as those are the games which most Latics fans turn up to see, even though we have been less than convincing at times. Yet away from home, we seem to be somewhat disjointed and are struggling to either play on the counter or put sustained pressure on until we are chasing a game.

Of course we could have taken something from the game by the seaside. Twice the crossbar was troubled, Nick Powell missed a gilt edged chance early on and we had an effort cleared off the line. But then so did Blackpool, plus they had numerous other chances and of course if we assume that the penalty was a correct decision then Scott Carson could have quite feasibly seen red.

The Tangerines seem to be in really solid form despite a large player overhaul and reasonably new manager in situ themselves so it was a bit disappointing but then nobody ever said it was going to be simple. It’s much easier not to have to dwell on the ifs and buts when we have collected some points and let’s not even get into the debate as to whether that was the best line up and substitutions on Saturday.

Nevertheless, I am immensely looking forward to Thursday night at the DW even though the atmosphere may not be the best with only a handful of fans making the long haul from Tatarstan. They may not have been the most attractive name in the Pot A bag but on the pitch they are no slouches and regular European tournament participants.

They’re probably one of those teams who would have been dubbed a “crack East European outfit” in days gone by and we will have to be at our very best to get anything out of the game but the obvious prize is that it would put us in a strong position in the group. Not quite pole position but on the front grid nudging ahead of Waregem and Maribor. And to borrow the title of an old Undertones hit, a win would mean the Post can run the “My Perfect Kazan” headline on Friday morning.

First published in the Wigan Evening Post 12th Man column on Wednesday 23rd October 2013

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