Rival bosses unanimous over ref

Ryan Taylor and John Filan stepped forward to help Wigan in their battle to beat the Barclays Premiership drop, while Alan Wiley stepped into the firing line of both Paul Jewell and Glenn Roeder.

Taylor’s first Wigan goal for 16 months was a stunning free-kick five minutes before the interval, while veteran goalkeeper Filan produced a number of fine saves to seal a 1-0 win.

The Australian’s best proved to be “the turning point”, according to Magpies boss Roeder as the 37-year-old beat away Nolberto Solano’s penalty half an hour in.

With Taylor then firmly putting his year of injury hell behind him with the winner, the Latics again moved six points clear of the drop zone.

Praising both Taylor and Filan, Wigan boss Jewell said: “John kept us in it with his penalty save, and two other outstanding saves as well.

“Considering that was only his second game of the season, he looks like he has never been away. His first was at Watford in midweek, which is a difficult place to go for a keeper, but he was excellent.

“As for Ryan, it’s ironic how football works out sometimes. He broke a metatarsal playing against Leeds in the FA Cup over a year ago, then worked exceptionally hard to regain his fitness, only to break his leg in the reserves at Newcastle last April.

“Just under a year later, he goes and scores a winning goal in the Premier League, so I’m really pleased for him.”

Unfortunately for Jewell, he had six players booked, incurring an automatic £25,000 (€37,300) fine to “take the shine off the result”.

After the events in the controversial defeat at Arsenal 15 days ago involving Phil Dowd, and with the FA last week deciding not to overturn Fitz Hall’s red card in the draw at Watford, Jewell has every reason to feel officialdom is against him.

“I think it was crazy that we had six players booked in a game between two honest teams,” added Jewell.

“To be fined £25,000 (€37,300) for that is a nonsense. It was a game that certainly did not warrant that many bookings.

“But every foul at the moment seems to be drawing a booking, and that cannot be right. We are not a dirty team.”

Leighton Baines and Lee McCulloch were two of the yellow-card recipients, and they will now miss the next home game against Fulham on March 17.

“That’s a blow for us,” remarked Jewell.

“If you look at our disciplinary record, we’ve had one sending off and not too many suspensions this season. So it’s disappointing we have lost two key players for a vital relegation game.

“At the moment, there is just no consistency, and that is the thing that people have been harping on about for years and years. I don’t know where we go from here.”

Even Roeder felt Wiley was “very petty” as captain Scott Parker and Nicky Butt were also cautioned, with the latter now ruled out for the game at Charlton on the 17th.

“I like to see a referee apply common sense, but I don’t think he (Wiley) did in this game,” remarked Roeder.

“He is a very experienced referee but I thought he was very petty. I was close to the situation when Nicky and Scott were booked, and neither of them have said anything that warrants a booking.

“They were unnecessary.”