Tuesday, February 9, 2010 Previous editions
Monday, November 30, 2009
WHAT a difference a week makes.
Seven short days ago, Wigan’s players awoke with the image of White Hart Lane’s scoreboard burned indelibly on their brain, while Sunderland’s arose with the taste of champagne in their mouths after beating Arsenal.
Today, the roles have been reversed thanks to a fully deserved victory for Roberto Martinez’s players over their former manager, Steve Bruce, as Hugo Rodallega’s goal ensured some face was saved.
"It was for everyone maybe the worst week of their careers," said Paul Scharner, the defender. "After Tottenham we wished we could have played the next day because it means you can forget your last game. It was very quiet the last week on the training pitch. Everyone was focused on doing their best.
"It was a tough week. We were in every day, we didn’t have a day off, and you can see it worked. It was a good response from the whole team. We fought the whole 90 minutes."
Titus Bramble admitted the players knew they had something to prove after the White Hart Lane debacle.
"It was embarrassing. We had to show a response and we did," said the centre-back as Wigan kept their first clean sheet since September 12.
"We defended a lot better and kept a clean sheet, which was pleasing for the whole team."
Sunderland, meanwhile, remain the archetypal enigma wrapped in a riddle. Imperious at home, where they have beaten Liverpool and Arsenal and made Chelsea sweat, Bruce’s team are limp on their travels.
They were prevented from getting a foothold in the game as Latics began with purpose.
Trinidad and Tobago striker Jason Scotland was unfortunate not to score his first goal for the club since his summer move from Championship side Swansea.
His low, curling first-half shot from Charles N’Zogbia’s cross beat goalkeeper Marton Fulop but rebounded off the post. But just when it seemed all their hard work would be good for only a point Hugo Rodallega, the striker Bruce signed for £5million in January to replace Emile Heskey, made the crucial breakthrough.
As he chased Scharner’s hopeful lob in the 76th minute defender Paulo da Silva came across to challenge but lost out to his slightly-built opponent.
While the Paraguay international was still picking himself off the floor, Rodallega coolly side-footed past Marton Fulop from a narrow angle.
"We have to look not just at this season, that’s one win in 17 games," said Bruce. "They are certainly not the team I am seeing at the Stadium of Light. It is a shadow of the team that played last week and unless that mentality changes then we will have to do something about it.
"We have let down 5,000 people who have travelled down four weeks before Christmas – in the first half in particular we didn’t have a kick of the ball. We don’t seem to play with the same vigour or determination away from home.
"It is deeply frustrating because if we didn’t have the ability it would be impossible to play against the big teams but we know we have the ability. We are a big club trying to go forward and the mentality must change.
"If it doesn’t then I’ll have to change the personnel, it’s as simple as that.
"I can’t keep putting up with [poor] performances away from home – considering what we can produce at home – I have to change that."
A dismal day for Sunderland was topped off when Darren Bent, their striker, alleged on his Twitter page that his mother had been racially abused by a Sunderland fan. The club and Northumbrian police have launched an inquiry.
REFEREE: Martin Atkinson (Yorkshire) 7: Controlled the game with authority and assurance.
MATCH RATING: *** A bizarre result, given the two teams’ results last week, and a reasonable game, too.
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