Wigan 1 Sunderland 0
30 Nov 2009 - 09:20:00
Wigan 1 Sunderland 0
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.
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.
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.
And this was certainly the case against the Latics.
Kieran Richardson does not need to pretend to be a Cristiano Ronaldo, a Wayne Rooney or a Ryan Giggs.
Being an ex-Man United star, he just needs to be himself and perform to the high standards set by his former club.
But the midfielder is as guilty as anyone for the team's fluctuating form.
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.
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.
Bruce was furious after the defeat against his former club at the DW Stadium.
Sunderland have now won only one, the season's curtainraiser at Bolton, in 17 away fixtures.
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.
I can't hide my disappointment at what I have just witnessed,
said the 48-year-old, who recently admitted that the England job would interest him in the future.
I feel as if I have let down 5,500 people who have travelled to the game.
If you can't perform in front of that then there must be something wrong. I'll have to address it.
It's got to be mentality and how do we change that mentality
Unless I get a level of performance then I ain't happy.
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!
Sunderland began with a 4- 5-1 formation, which was changed to a traditional 4-4-2 at half-time.
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.
I'll take some responsibility,
added Bruce. I might have changed the system, maybe I should have done.
But tactics and formations we've been looking too much into that.
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.
The tactical change did inject some purpose after the break but it was still the home side who created the better opportunities.
After going close several times, it was only a matter of time before Roberto Martinez's fired-up side found a way through.
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.
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.
Bruce, however, although clearly annoyed with his players, was still able to inject a sense of perspective after the defeat.
He said: I think I have got to remind myself of where the club was last year and how it nearly got relegated.
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.
If not they'll end up like Glover's Denis Law jersey in Kes in the wash!
Match facts Goal:
1-0: Rodallego (76, the striker seized on Da Silva's slip and hit from an acute angle)
Bookings: Turner (29m, foul),
Reid (79, dissent), Bent (dissent, 82)
Referee: Martin Atkinson (Halifax) An almost flawless game by the match official 9
Attendance: 20,447
Entertainment:
WIGAN (4-3-3):
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.
Subs (not used): Pollit, Cho, Koumas, Sinclair, Amaya, McCarthy
SUNDERLAND (4-5-1):
6 Fulop: Handling good but could have done better for the goal;
6 Bardsley: Another competent defensive display
5 Turner: Positioning suspect at times
5 Da Silva: Was strolling through the game until his costly slip
5 McCartney: Found N'- Zogbia a handful;
5 Malbranque: Neat and tidy but couldn't find an opening.
6 Cana: Competitive and probably edged the midfield battle
5 Henderson: Not as adventurous as in previous outings
4 Richardson: Still needs to take more responsibility
7 REID: Black Cats' best player again. Full of industry and creation;
4 Bent: Not at his best, clearly still not 100 per cent fit
Subs
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
MAN OF THE MATCH:
ANDY REID - It was a close call with Charles N'Zogbia and Hugo Rodallego both performing well.
But the Black Cats' playmaker never stopped running and trying to find an opening.
