Lie Dream of a
Casino Soul
Wigan 2 Burnley 1, AET, Auto Windscreens Shield, 7 December 1999
Report by Becko
2,085 spectators braved an icy cold night to
witness an entertaining game that the Clarets dominated for over 100 minutes. Ultimately
Burnley were beaten by a 'Golden Goal' scored by 17 year-old debutant Andrew Morris
against the run of play. A dozen or so similar long range efforts by both teams had failed
to test either keeper: eventually one was going to be on target.
Two visits to the JJB Stadium (neither an
original nor innovative game) in less than a fortnight mean I've seen football played from
three sides of the ground, and one of them isn't officially open yet. Organisation being a
dirty word to the Wigan Athletic management, there were approximately eleven more police
officers and stewards than Burnley fans huddled together at the top of the away end. The
same large tennis net which the police used at half time on 26th November was
evident from the kick off. It stretched from top to bottom three feet wide and did a good
job of keeping back the 150 Clarets fans from the main stand. Not that anybody would have
ventured in there. There were enough seats for everybody this time.
As for the match: excellent apart from the
result. In two 90 minute games we have more than matched Wigan in every department.
For this game Wigan made six changes. The
anticipated wide scale changes to the Burnley team didn't materialise. Branch replaced
Armstrong at leftback. Mellon and Cook were rested, the latter because he was on four
yellow cards and a suspension loomed for another booking, to be replaced by Johnrose and
Mullin, moved to central midfield. Weller played on the right and Alan Lee took over from
Andy Cooke.
The first half replicated the first half of ten
days earlier, Burnley making all the running and passing. Mullin had an effort cleared off
the line before a well rehearsed but poorly executed free kick found Thomas clearly three
yards offside to everyone in the line except the match officials. He delivered a fine
cross to the far post, where Alan Lee's stooping header put Burnley in front. In the 92nd
minute of the previous encounter, the same player's tame head back to the goalkeeper
effectively cost us two points, so it was important he laid that goal to rest, and took
his starting opportunity by scoring.
A run in the team and scoring goals breeds
confidence. There are very few players ho can come on in the 80th minute and
change a game, so when your chance comes to start a game it must be grabbed with both
hands!
This was Lee's best performance in a Burnley
shirt. Shortly after the goal, he beat three men, running into the box with the ball at
his feet. We will never know where the ball would have ended up as a killjoy Wigan
defender blocked his shot.
Just as Paul Crichton appeared to be getting
frostbite in our goalmouth, Simon Haworth shot from outside the box. The crossbar did its
job perfectly and presented an undeserved equaliser.
For the second consecutive match the referee
gave a dubious penalty against us. Branch and Johnrose were in close proximity to Liddall.
That's about it. Now, Crichton has his critics - unjustified in my view. How many goals
conceded have been down to him? Brentford at home? Well I don't know any goalkeepers who
stay rooted to their line for 90 minutes, do you? Incidentally, I never hear any of the
anti-Crichton crew complain when he clears sweeper like from the edge of the box. Funny
that! Anyway, he's not Marlon when it comes to penalties. He dived late the wrong way.
Regrettably, the post didn't save us this time, as it did against Wycombe. Interestingly,
this was Wigan's eighth penalty of the season. Unless I've miscounted, we've had one.
Let's hope the second half of the season evens this up.
The second half followed the same pattern as the
first: Burnley on top. Payton hit the bar when he should have scored. Lee hit the post
with a glancing header and made two or three surging runs, causing no end of problems for
Wigan. He was replaced after 75 minutes and earned my Man of the Match vote. (Isn't it
typical that apparently Lee injured knee ligaments in training and is now out for the
season after this wonderful game?)
In the 90th minute Burnley had three
chances to win. 1. A Davis header, too high. 2. A blatant penalty on Payton after a cross
by Little to feet, the striker turning the Wigan defender and having his legs whipped from
under him. 3. Weller at the far post, again found by Little (the only player able to cross
a ball and keep it in play; I know it was extremely windy but that didn't abate when
Little had the ball). Weller should have scored but he looks rusty and lacking in
confidence - not surprising, really - and Carroll smothered the shot well.
So, extra time but no penalties. Beaten, but
certainly able to take a lot of encouragement from the performance.
Team: Crichton,
West (Robertson), Branch, Thomas, Davis, Mullin, Johnrose, Little, Weller (Brass), Lee
(Cowan), Payton. Subs not used: Mawson and Shandran.
The
league game
