Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION THREE

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

17^th February 1990

IMPRESSIVE LATICS STILL LACK GOAL POWER.

Latics produced one of their best away performances of the season at St Andrews but still failed to come home with three points.

Steve Senior returned to the defence to add some experience and with Atherton, Johnson. Rimmer and Thompson all raising their game it was unfortunate that Wigan did not claim a win.

In torrential rain Birmingham began well but the Wigan defence stood firm and gradually the midfield began to dominate. Rimmer was, as usual, tigerish in the tackle and picked up a yellow for a rather over enthusiastic challenge on Gleghorn.

Wigan forced a 17^th minute corner and Alan Johnson, who had come forward for the set piece, glanced a header that was just a whisker wide of the target.

Wigans five-man midfield was working well but it left Daley to plough a lonely furrow in attack and while he was tireless in his efforts his flicks and touches rarely found a Wigan man.

On 40 minutes Pilling went close when he outpaced the Birmingham defence, and held off a strong challenge from Atkins before firing across the face of goal with the keeper scrambling.

Birmingham had to replace Overson shortly before half time after he collected a bad knock and Wigan nearly capitalised on the disruption to the home defence when Parkinson found space but Clarkson did well to recover and clear the danger.

Half Time; Birmingham City 0-0 Wigan Athletic.

Birmingham continued to be second best after the break and despite the probing passes of ex-Tic Kevin Langley, they failed to worry Phil Hughes in the Wigan goal.

Dave Thompson was a constant thorn in the Birmingham side with his darting forward runs and the only thing lacking for the Wigan side was that final goal scoring touch as crosses and shots failed to breach the home defence.

Manager Hamilton replaced the tiring Daley with Patterson in the final quarter in the hopes that fresh legs may provide that elusive goal, but what Patterson added by way of enthusiasm was lost as the centre half found the new role difficult to adapt to.

Full Time; Birmingham City 0-0 Wigan Athletic.

Attendance; 5,473

Teams; WIGAN (4-5-1) --- Hughes; Senior, Tankard, Atherton, Johnson; Rimmer, Pilling, D. Thompson, Carberry, Parkinson; Daley; Subs; --- Patterson (for Daley), Ward;

BIRMINGHAM CITY (4-4-2) --- Thomas; Clarkson, Frain, Overson, Matthewson; Atkins, Langley, Bailey, Madden; Gleghorn, Yates; Subs; --- Roberts (for Overson), Gordon (for Yates);

Referee; Mr M. Peirce (Hampshire)