The DW Stadium, home of Wigan Athletic based in Greater Manchester and play their trade in the Championship. Nicknamed the “Latics” as they are called ‘Athletic’.
A milestone tonight for me as it’s my 500th live game!! I’m back in League action for Wigan Athletic vs Sheffield United live on Sky Sports on this warmer than usual Monday December night!
Work is done until the New Year for me!! It’s straight onto the M1 and along to the M62 onto the M60 and onto the A577 which sees me in the car park with just under 2 hours to go before kick off and that’s £5 for parking…
A short walk over to the ground and here we are! £29 for this Championship tie! Silly… And that is 44/92 for me. I must be one of the first people in here tonight! Better to be an early bird though and it certainly is a warm night here which is very unusual for a December and this close to Christmas.
The teams are out for their warm ups and the ground is starting to fill up slowly. A familiar face has just arrived in the same block as me! It’s Moto hopper Tim! Always great to see a familiar face even if it is rare at this level of the game!
Out come the teams!! Kolo Toure will take charge of his first Wigan game here tonight! But first before we kick off we pay tribute to Tom Flower, the man who was head of the Community trust and made it was it is today! A minutes applause for him! Rest easy, Tom. It’s time for the game, let’s hope Christmas comes early on the pitch tonight!!
Kick Off! Straight away and it’s an early chance for Wigan who get the ball to Will Keane who drives at goal, he gets to around 20 yards out and he let’s fly… Over! Bright start from the Latics!
“Blue White army!” Wigan fans banging the drum and in good voice so far! 7 minutes in and Sheffield United have a corner, it’s whipped in… John Egan is there… GOAL! It’s another set piece success for the Blades and they lead here in Greater Manchester! 0-1!
“Shoreham Boys we are here! Woah! Woah!” Now the travelling Blades are in fine voice! 25th minute and United come forward, it’s backheeled for James McAtee to run onto in the box on the left and he shoots… Keeper saves at his near post and it’s a corner, in it comes… One of the United players with his shirt off in all that… Wigan clear and break down the right, it’s played across the middle low… But United get it away.
36 minutes on the clock and Wigan’s James McClean finds himself free on the left wing and he drives into the box towards goal, he fizzes it across… United get there but it comes back for McClean to play it across again… All the way out for a goal kick. Wigan coming on stronger as the half goes on but the Blades will lead 1-0 at half time.
Second half, me and Moto hopper Tim have moved closer to the front for this half. 55th minute now and the ball is in the grasp of the Wigan keeper who rolls it out for Wigan to break forward… Or maybe not as it is given away and here come United again, it’s played to Billy Sharp who gets into the box on the left, he goes for goal… AND HE SCORES! Of course he does! Billy Sharp does what Billy Sharp does! Brilliant finish! The Blades have doubled their lead here! 0-2!
The Blades in fine voice here now once again!
63 minutes now and Wigan play down the right, some great work by Callum Lang there who plays it to Nathan Broadhead who plays it back to Lang in the box on the right who plays it across, it comes for a Wigan man and here comes the shot… It’s blocked but was it off a hand? Referee not interested and Wigan are furious! I’m not so sure.
2 minutes later and Wigan play down the left, they get into the box and it’s played across goal… Keeper gets a hand to it and it falls for Nathan Broadhead… Who finishes! Game on here!! 1-2!
“Blue white army!” Wigan fans are revived in the top stands again! 74th minute and Sheffield United have a free kick in a central position from around 25 yards out, Oliver Norwood steps up… Oooooh! It’s just over! So close!
84 minutes now and Wigan play down the right hand side, it’s played in low looking for Ashley Fletcher sliding in… Brilliant defending by United there! It is a corner, it’s played short, it’s crossed in… It comes nicely for the keeper.
We’re into Stoppage time here and can Wigan find the equaliser here? The Wigan keeper hits it long, it’s flicked on and headed to Max Power who chests it and shoots from distance… Well wide! Play goes on and the Wigan keeper has it now in the Sheffield United half and he’ll hit it long again, United win it back and break… The Referee blows for full time. It’s 3 points for the Blades and a poor start to life at Wigan for Kolo Toure…
FT: Wigan Athletic 1-2 Sheffield United
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 7/10 – Pretty good in here tonight! I thought the Blades were the better fan base on the night but Wigan weren’t too bad and I like the echo that the Stadium creates here.
- The Ground: 7/10 – It’s a good ground! A former Premier League ground but I think it’s at it’s level in the Championship.
- Expense: 7/10 – £29 for the ticket, £20 for fuel, £5 for parking, £3 for a pin badge and a bit extra for food and drink, was it worth it? It was a decent game in all fairness but not quite the best value for money.
- Overall Experience: 8/10 – I enjoyed tonight! A decent game and great to watch it with Moto hopper Tim! Game 500 was a good one!
29/40
Good summary of the game, sounded like a good atmosphere. I’m a blade and I thought we should’ve put the game to bed in the first 20 mins. fair play to Wigan they probably edged the second half and were unlucky not to get a point.