They never said it would be easy

‘They never said it was going to be easy’ …

Well some did, but if anyone was under the impression this season was going to be a walk in the park will have had their expectations well and truly tempered after Tuesday’s BSM Pizza Tropy match with Morecambe.

Let’s have it right, an EFL Trophy match featuring the second string during an International break does not make or break a season.

If it did a lot more than the paltry 1500 Wiganers in attendance on Tuesday night would have been there to witness it but all of that being said a defeat, and especially a defeat in the manner that Latics had on Tuesday was the last thing that was needed with a long ten days until the next match.

From a competition point of view – four points is usually enough to qualify, there’s two matches left to hit that total.

I got to my first league game of the season against Birmingham on Saturday and was wholly impressed by what I saw, without an off-side goal from a ridiculous referee and injury meaning we would play over half of the second-half with ten men I think we would have got all three points on Saturday.

Considering the Birmingham manager ran the length of the pitch to celebrate his sides 91^st minute winner I suspect he thought they weren’t going to get anything out of that match either.

Such is our season so far, bad luck combined with not really getting going. Tuesday night followed that well worn path that we saw against Charlton, Barnsley, Crawley and in parts Birmingham. Latics dominate the ball and the possession but struggle to create any real chances of note.

It needs to change and quickly otherwise a slow start to the season can quickly turn in to something more terminal.

What’s the answer? I’m not sure, and I’m hoping a clearly exasperated Shaun Maloney can find the answer. He mentioned in Tuesday’s post-match interview round that the players (Callum McManaman apart) had disrespected the competition and disrespected Morecambe.

Which with our slow start to the season you would be expecting those without much game time to be banging on the door but clearly not. There’s a real lack of experience in this side which is clearly showing now. Josh Stones had another frustrating night and I’d be looking to get him back on loan to Boundary Park to see if he can rediscover some of the confidence he showed last season.

Injuries have hit us badly at the start of the season, Jonny Smith who made a real difference in the latter stages of last season is still unavailable as is Tyrese Francois and Michael Olakigbe. They were the two big captures at the start of the summer so to be entering the middle of September without us seeing either one of them must be as frustrating for Shaun Maloney as it is for us.

Alongside that Joe Hugill hasn’t got going yet, hopefully his debut goal from the penalty spot last night can spur him on after the international break. Jensen Weir will provide some added competition in midfield but we’re still missing a couple of experienced heads – the likes of Jordan Jones and Josh Magennis.

What we’d have done to have someone like Magennis available last night – ironic considering the reaction his selection received last season.

We’re not at the write off the season stage yet – despite the noise but we’re desperate for some good news. Let’s hope for a clean bill of health ahead of Bristol and more importantly three points from the Memorial Ground.

Sean Livesey

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