Swans 0 Wigan 0

The day started with Cyril the Swan absailing down the wing stands floodlight and getting stuck inches from the floor, the signs weren’t great from the start. The game started quite well with both team willing to spread the ball around with pace, the game then started to disintegrate on 10 min after Sheridan went in strongly on O’Leary, causing O’Leary to react strongly. Sheridan was booked. The game was a midfield battle with little or no goal mouth action, with long periods of possession for both sides, with neither making use of it. Until on 30 min when a harassed Sheridan crossed a beautiful ball which perplexed Smith & Bound only for Redfearn shot to be well saved by Freestone. Then somehow referee DJ Gallaher failed to book O’Leary after he blatantly pulled down ex-scum Simon Howarth, but not even a foul was given. Just before half-time Wigan’s midfield General Nicholls was sent off after punching Steve Jones in the face after he thought Jones’ tackle on him was too strong. Jones was bleeding from his eye, but received treatment at half time to clean it up. The second half turned into a very negative affair, without Nicholls Wigan had settled for a draw and put every man behind the ball, except a very segregated Howarth. Swansea started to push forward but lacked any movement or decisive, the only chance came when a quick ball from Cusack released Price who was put through on goal, only to chip over with the keeper bearing down on him. Wigan then just soaked up the pressure with their organised defence not looking like conceding a goal after that. In fact it was Wigan who had the last good chance with their only real attack of the 2nd half, after Redfearn got tight on Howard got round and offered a simple chance to Liddel who blazzed over the bar. After that the game fizzled out, to nothing. The only positive thought that came out of the game, was suprisingly Tommy Mutton who had a great game when coming on as a substitute was not given a shooting chance but his approach play and passing was refreshing after some of the play from his team mates. Cusack is no striker, we need a goal scorer we will find as today that you get fewer chances in the 2nd Division, we struggled to take them last year and we won the league on defence, we can’t rely on defence this year as the quality of strikers will mean more goals conceaded. Only time will tell!