Let's talk about the Wigan Athletic game

[selby]

  A trip across the Pennines next up against a side that are unbeaten at home in the league winning two and drawing one of their three previous home games .
  On Saturday they got a credible draw against Lincoln 2-2 with Mullin and Wright scoring their goals. Mullin especially can be a pain in our backside given the room and time to work and will definitely need to be tightly watched to nullify the danger.
  Michael Skubala the Lincoln manager pointed out their physicality at the end of the game a game he admitted they mostly dominated so a hard competitive game can be expected.
  Against Bradford we had everything go for us, the tactics spot on the players all on their game including the substitutes  were bang on it and we kept our shape throughout the game very well, as near to the complete performance as we can expect, and we might need a similar effort against a strong Wigan side looking to be coming into form under the management of Ryan Lowe.
  The one thing outstanding in every match this season is our fitness rate and consequently the amount of ground our midfield especially  cover during a game off the ball, and the number of challengers they make for the ball, something I thought went a long way to upsetting Bradford's rhythm going forward to the extent their wide players were looking for a challenge when collecting the ball, a great big well done from me.
  So a lot to look forward to, what team selection?  which no doubt will be set as much by tactics as performance the way we have the odd surprise now when in the past we have stuck with a winning team.
  And if everyone is fit,  which with what now must be a really punishing fitness regime the way we have played has certainly paid off but will effect the odd player in training now and again.
  We could take a sizable following, Are you going?
  Can we keep our run going? which add the finish to last season is very impressive.
  Will bigger fish start to look enviously at our management team?
  Lots to discuss, lots to look forward to, and are we building something special again, please have your say

[roversdude]

No reason we can’t keep our run going. Although O’Riordan acquitted himself well I’d like to see him back in the middle and a recognised right back playing (depending on availability of course). Other than that same starting team for me. No reason we can’t get a result there I’ll be there.

[moses]

Would you drop McGrath or Pearson to accommodate O’Riordan in the middle, if Sterry/Nixon was back?
I would stick with Pearson and O’Riordan at centre half, personally but make sure O’Riordan was on Mullin a race.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Well, we've played Mansfield, Port Vale, Rotherham and Bradford who we'd expect to be in our face and physical but to quote an independent observer, the latter two have 'barely laid a glove on us'

I think whatever game plan McCann comes up with, the players seem much more adept at executing it, whereas even last season, especially the first half, there were periods when they seemed to lose their way. More confidence now, whoever takes to the pitch will do their jobs.

[Upton Rover]

In form Billy is going to get them,

[ncRover]

Saydee suspended for them fortunately.

V good player.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

In form Billy is going to get them,

Chicken slayer to pie eater!

[Chris Black come back]

Wigan are unbeaten at home in their last 6 games, keeping 3 clean sheets in the process.

[roversdude]

Anyone remember the battle on the pitch at their old ground

[GazLaz]

Wigan are unbeaten at home in their last 6 games, keeping 3 clean sheets in the process.

Wigan are decent. This is another tough game. They will be knocking on the door of the top 6 come May.

[IDM]

Maybe other clubs’ fans see us in the same light.?

[Fal]

Not good reading in our recent games...

Haven't won at Wigan in a league fixture since 1986 (we won in the LDV in 2002)
They have currently beaten us home and away in the last 3 seasons where we were in the same league.
Our last league win over them was in April 2016 when we won 3-1 with 2 goals from Butler and 1 from Andy Williams.

Anyhow, all runs come to an end and we will put it right this Saturday!

[Reg of the Rovers]

Scoring first is key, we'd have won at Huddersfield if we could have taken one or more of our early chances and made our dominance count while we were well on top. It felt like we put that right on Saturday where we were ruthless first half, more of that and I think we win.

Just feels nice to be back at this level, competing well, every game has something extra to look forward to - really enjoying this season.

[IDM]

We won’t win every game this season even if we do end up challenging for promotion.

A win, loss and a draw in the next three games leaves us on 20 points from 10 games.  Whilst I always hope we can win, that points haul would still be mightily impressive.

[turnbull for england]

Not good reading in our recent games...

Haven't won at Wigan in a league fixture since 1986 (we won in the LDV in 2002)
They have currently beaten us home and away in the last 3 seasons where we were in the same league.
Our last league win over them was in April 2016 when we won 3-1 with 2 goals from Butler and 1 from Andy Williams.

Anyhow, all runs come to an end and we will put it right this Saturday!

 What ever happens it will

A) be dryer than the LDV game
B)  not as bad as when we played as they where getting going up the leagues under Martinez and it was done and dusted in first 15

[besty]

Does anyone know whether I be able to buy tickets on the day ?

TIA

[drfchound]

Not good reading in our recent games...

Haven't won at Wigan in a league fixture since 1986 (we won in the LDV in 2002)
They have currently beaten us home and away in the last 3 seasons where we were in the same league.
Our last league win over them was in April 2016 when we won 3-1 with 2 goals from Butler and 1 from Andy Williams.

Anyhow, all runs come to an end and we will put it right this Saturday!

Hey, you are stealing my lines with that last one mate.

[RugbyRover]

Does anyone know whether I be able to buy tickets on the day ?

TIA

I believe no tickets are being sold on match day. Rovers stop selling tickets at 1 o clock on Friday.

[besty]

Thanks
Just ordered etickets guess the £20 note at turnstiles is a thing of the past 

[DonnyBazR0ver]

We've been a little pre-occupied with the Spurs game, but we have the bread and butter of the league tomorrow.

According to McCann, only Gotts is unavailable so plenty of options to choose from. Full concentration required and it would be great to follow up the Bradford win with another 3 points.

There'll be more eyes on the tasty Bradford v Huddersfield game, plus Stockport v Cardiff. It's not beyond imagination, we could be top of the league come 5pm Saturday.

[Pintolager]

Going with my mate on the train tomorrow and looking forward to it. I'm sure it will be a tough game, but Wigan seem to concede a few goals as well as score. Confidence is high and if we can play how we know we can, then I think we can sneak a win.

Have faith. 1-0 to the Rovers

[Jimmydee]

It’s ‘keep the faith’ when you are in Wigan.
I like the pre match and half time Northern soul music at that ground.
Yes, the pies are nice too.

[Monolith No. 9]

It’s ‘keep the faith’ when you are in Wigan.
I like the pre match and half time Northern soul music at that ground.
Yes, the pies are nice too.

Just had lunch with a lifelong Wigan fan who is hoping for a point. Although he thinks they’ve improved this season he is convinced that their back line is prone to error and thinks that the DRFC he saw in the first 45 minutes last Saturday would be their worst nightmare. He reckons plenty of Wigan fans have clocked that with Molyneaux, Bailey and Sharp we’ve got players that can turn games and they fear those 3. Also they aren’t confident given the fact Saydee is missing.

[In the box]

Lo-Tutala Is having a poor game .

[Reg of the Rovers]

Lo-Tutala Is having a poor game .

Shocking for both goals, plus the Bradford goal last week. Can’t have a rush of blood every week, it’ll cost us in this league. Lawlor been quality when he’s played, might be time for a rest for Tim.

[In the box]

Lo-Tutala Is having a poor game .

Shocking for both goals, plus the Bradford goal last week. Can’t have a rush of blood every week, it’ll cost us in this league. Lawlor been quality when he’s played, might be time for a rest for Tim.
[/
. It’s mistakes that cost games and he’s started to make a few . Defenders will start to drop back if he looks iffy !!

[selby]

  First goal the wide player had at least ten yards to knock the ball in no closing down to stop the cross at all, a player slid in and got a deflection  that might have gone in if TLT got a hand to, the second was a good punch clear  to the edge of the box, where again a player eighteen yards out had the freedom of the pitch.
  A defender rushed in to block a shot across the front of Smith their player who dummied a quick shot and dragged it back, a great bit of skill and then picked his spot as defenders stood back.
  Hardly the keepers fault, poor closing down and positional play by outfield players if anything.
  Thought Molly was brought down in the area just before they scored, if he wasn't I would like to know what he was doing falling on the floor when about to shoot.

[In the box]

  First goal the wide player had at least ten yards to knock the ball in no closing down to stop the cross at all, a player slid in and got a deflection  that might have gone in if TLT got a hand to, the second was a good punch clear  to the edge of the box, where again a player eighteen yards out had the freedom of the pitch.
  A defender rushed in to block a shot across the front of Smith their player who dummied a quick shot and dragged it back, a great bit of skill and then picked his spot as defenders stood back.
  Hardly the keepers fault, poor closing down and positional play by outfield players if anything.

This is our bad day at the office day .. not one of the players look like there up for it ..

[tingleyrover]

That was absolute dross. Garbage. Not one player worth the shirt.

[Avsuptem]

Watching it on the box it was a clear as daylight stone wall.penalty, the defender hooked Molly's trailing foot and it was clearly inside the area. Astonishing that it was not given.
It might have been an entirely different game if we had gone one nil up but, that said, Wigan were the better side today.