Source: Northern_Echo
Wigan 1 Sunderland 0
Wigan 1 Sunderland 0[LNB] SUNDERLAND defender George McCartney made it known last week that manager Steve Bruce liked to join in training games pretending to be a different Manchester United player in every session.[LNB] Bruce's actions evoked memories of the classic Ken Loach movie Kes, where a barbaric PE teacher, played superbly by Brian Glover, took on the persona of Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and George Best. It is just a pity so few of McCartney's teammates did not employ their manager's United mentality on their visit to Wigan.[LNB] Too many players underperformed, yet again. It is a familiar pattern, where convincing home wins over Liverpool and Arsenal have been followed by a below par performance against the likes of Birmingham and Burnley.[LNB] And this was certainly the case against the Latics.[LNB] Kieran Richardson does not need to pretend to be a Cristiano Ronaldo, a Wayne Rooney or a Ryan Giggs.[LNB] Being an ex-Man United star, he just needs to be himself and perform to the high standards set by his former club.[LNB] But the midfielder is as guilty as anyone for the team's fluctuating form.[LNB] It's not as if he was any worse than his colleagues, it's just that you expect a bit more from such a talented player.[LNB] Sunderland fans have only seen fleeting glimpses of the form which brought him eight England caps. And at Wigan he was one of several going through the motions.[LNB] Bruce was furious after the defeat against his former club at the DW Stadium.[LNB] Sunderland have now won only one, the season's curtainraiser at Bolton, in 17 away fixtures.[LNB] And although the boss did not name names, he made it clear to those who continue to under-perform that they will be shipped out of the Stadium of Light.[LNB] I can't hide my disappointment at what I have just witnessed,[LNB] said the 48-year-old, who recently admitted that the England job would interest him in the future.[LNB] I feel as if I have let down 5,500 people who have travelled to the game.[LNB] If you can't perform in front of that then there must be something wrong. I'll have to address it.[LNB] It's got to be mentality and how do we change that mentality[LNB] Unless I get a level of performance then I ain't happy.[LNB] I'd rather have someone with less ability in a team, and know they have turned up and given their all. I can't say that (against Wigan). I've seen it now four times in a matter of four weeks![LNB] Sunderland began with a 4- 5-1 formation, which was changed to a traditional 4-4-2 at half-time.[LNB] Bruce dismissed suggestions tactics were to blame for the loss after, rightly, pointing out the 4-5-1 system had worked perfectly at home to Arsenal last week.[LNB] I'll take some responsibility,[LNB] added Bruce. I might have changed the system, maybe I should have done.[LNB] But tactics and formations we've been looking too much into that.[LNB] We have got to have a bit of bottle and pride about us, have a bit of endeavour. It wasn't the team I saw last week that's for sure, so I'll have to change something.[LNB] The tactical change did inject some purpose after the break but it was still the home side who created the better opportunities.[LNB] After going close several times, it was only a matter of time before Roberto Martinez's fired-up side found a way through.[LNB] It came when Paulo Da Silva lost his footing and the impressive Hugo Rodallego, a supposedly dodgy Bruce signing, fired home from an acute angle in the 76th minute.[LNB] Andy Reid was typically industrious and creative but he was one of only a few who could hold their heads up after the game, while Darren Bent put in an uncharacteristic lacklustre display.[LNB] Bruce, however, although clearly annoyed with his players, was still able to inject a sense of perspective after the defeat.[LNB] He said: I think I have got to remind myself of where the club was last year and how it nearly got relegated.[LNB] This may make frustrating reading for fans because, they know if their team can arrest their wretched away form, they have a real chance of playing against Europe's elite next term.[LNB] If not they'll end up like Glover's Denis Law jersey in Kes in the wash![LNB] Match facts Goal:[LNB] 1-0: Rodallego (76, the striker seized on Da Silva's slip and hit from an acute angle)[LNB] Bookings: Turner (29m, foul),[LNB] Reid (79, dissent), Bent (dissent, 82)[LNB] Referee: Martin Atkinson (Halifax) An almost flawless game by the match official 9[LNB] Attendance: 20,447[LNB] Entertainment: [LNB] WIGAN (4-3-3):[LNB] Kirkland 6; Melchiot 5, Bramble 7, Boyce 7, Figueroa 7; Thomas 6, Diame 6, Sharner 6; N'ZOGBIA 7, Scotland 5 (Gomez 55), Rodallega 7.[LNB] Subs (not used): Pollit, Cho, Koumas, Sinclair, Amaya, McCarthy[LNB] SUNDERLAND (4-5-1):[LNB] 6 Fulop: Handling good but could have done better for the goal;[LNB] 6 Bardsley: Another competent defensive display[LNB] 5 Turner: Positioning suspect at times[LNB] 5 Da Silva: Was strolling through the game until his costly slip[LNB] 5 McCartney: Found N'- Zogbia a handful;[LNB] 5 Malbranque: Neat and tidy but couldn't find an opening.[LNB] 6 Cana: Competitive and probably edged the midfield battle[LNB] 5 Henderson: Not as adventurous as in previous outings[LNB] 4 Richardson: Still needs to take more responsibility[LNB] 7 REID: Black Cats' best player again. Full of industry and creation;[LNB] 4 Bent: Not at his best, clearly still not 100 per cent fit[LNB] Subs[LNB] Campbell (for Malbranque 45): Worked the line but unable to get any change from Bramble and Boyce 5 Zenden (for McCartney 84) Healy (for Da Silva 84) (not used): Carson, Mensah, Ferdinand, Nosworthy[LNB] MAN OF THE MATCH:[LNB] ANDY REID - It was a close call with Charles N'Zogbia and Hugo Rodallego both performing well.[LNB] But the Black Cats' playmaker never stopped running and trying to find an opening.[LNB]
