‘That`s Why You`re Going Down!`

It was a good day for Wigan. Jason Koumas`s early red card (which should be rescinded if the Premier League have any sense) seemed to spur them on and it was the visitors who looked to have a man short for most of the first half. It was thirty-five minutes before Bolton had an attempt on goal, but by then they were behind to that rarity, an Emile Heskey volley that wasn`t a danger to passing pigeons.

‘That`s Why You`re Going Down,` chanted Wigan`s fans, and on the evidence of a performance lacking in both guts and guile it`s hard not to agree. The second half was slightly better from a Whites point of view. Kevin Nolan should have equalised, but shot straight at the ‘keeper and although Bolton had a reasonable shout for a handball on the line, it would have been academic if Kevin Davies had put some power behind his header.

While Bolton`s displayed more energy in the second period, their play was hopelessly one dimensional. Sammy Lee made mistakes as a manager, but his central premise, that the Whites couldn`t continue to get by playing hoof-ball, was correct and the price for the failure improve their play is now being paid.

This performance, coupled with the act of sending out the reserves in Lisbon means that Gary Megson has used up what was always a limited supply of goodwill. The Ginger Mourhino song has gone, and been replaced with a rousing chorus of There`s only one Ginger Tosser. Pitchforks have been sharpened ready for use on chairman Phil Gartside.

Today, Nolan has appealed for the backing of the fans. The team had that yesterday and in Portugal. The reward for that support was to be sold down the river twice in one week.