Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

DERBY COUNTY   vs   WIGAN ATHLETIC

5^th August 2023

THE TOUGH START.

The opening game of the season could not have been a tougher assignment. A trip to pre-season promotion favourites Derby County at a packed Pride Park.   Derby had narrowly missed out on promotion in the previous season and could boast a strong support base, wealthy backers, an experienced team and a fabulous stadium.  It was clear that the young and largely in-experienced Latics side that took the field had a huge challenge if they were to make the journey home with the spoils.

Manager Shaun Maloney gave starts to four off-season signings with Leam Morrison, Matt Smith, Callum McManaman, and Sean Clare who was perhaps the most surprising name on the Latics team sheet given he hadn’t featured in any of Latics’ pre-season games. A boost none the less as he wore the number seven shirt and played as an ‘inverted right back’, which sees the full back push into midfield whilst in possession. Fellow new signings Kel Watts and James Balagizi made the bench. Sam Tickle was given the number one shirt and started in goal, whilst Callum Lang captained the side following the departure of James McClean on the eve of the big kick off, and Stephen Humphrys took the number eleven shirt.

Two minutes in and Latics had the first real chance of the game when a long diagonal pass by Hughes picked out Humphrys on the right flank. He fed the ball into Aasgaard who pulled the ball back across the box but no one could add the vital touch. The ball came in again a few seconds later but Wyke directed his header wide of the target. Wigan had settled well but Derby, roared on by 29,957 fans gradually grew into the game, and on seven minutes they created their first real opportunity. Mendez-Lang found space near the edge of the box and fired in a shot which was mis-hit but it found Collins inside the box and he diverted the ball goalwards and Tickle had to be alert to turn the effort around the post. From the resulting corner Bradley out muscled the defenders but his header was off target, when he really should have scored. Minutes later Forsyth fired wide from the edge of the box as Derby continued to threaten.

Latics, for their part, continued to try and play neat passing football and they always carried a threat on the break. On 14 minutes they had a good chance when McManaman skipped down the left wing and produced a whipped centre which Lang headed wide from 12 yards with Wyke possibly better placed.

Tickle was looking assured in the Latics goal and had to be alert to save from Max Bird, turning his shot wide with a diving save to his left. Then Hourihane had a shot but his effort was scuffed and easily cleared away.

The pace and power of Humphrys was evident in most of the Wigan forays and the speed of the Wigan raids on transition meant that Derby always had to be watchful in defence. Latics took the lead on 37 minutes, Bradley played a loose back pass and Wyke was able to race clear, the Derby defenders hurried back but despite the pressure WYKE was able to coolly round the keeper and fire home. The strong Latics contingent in the crowd (2,000 plus) went wild with delight as the ball nestled in the home net.

Derby seemed shell-shocked and a minute before the break it could, and should, of been two as Wyke played the ball in behind the County defence with a neat pass played with the outside of his foot and Lang found himself one on one with the keeper. However, the Wigan man rushed his shot and was denied by the on-rushing Wildsmith.

Half Time; Derby County 0-1 Wigan Athletic

The hosts started the second period on the front foot and almost scored straight after the restart when Forsyth got in at the back post following a free kick on the right and his cross come shot was intercepted by the ever-alert Tickle. On 56 minutes the hosts were level as another ball in from the right found its way to FORSYTH who volleyed home from 15 yards.

Derby now went in search of the winning goal as Latics became less and less of a threat going forward. Hughes nearly diverted a wicked cross into his own net, but Tickle was alive to the threat. On 70 minutes Tickle was called upon again to make an instinctive save with his legs to block a Collins’ effort, and Clare then threw his body in the way of another shot to block the goal-bound effort.

On 72 minutes County were hit with a classic sucker punch. Pearce and Aasgaard worked a bit of room near the corner flag on the left following a throw in and Pearce whipped in a teasing cross that the keeper misjudged and WYKE rose to head into an unguarded net.

Maloney brought on Adeeko, Scott Smith and Watts as he tried to shore up midfield and this seemed to reduce the penetration of the Derby attacks and whilst the home side continued to press for the leveller their attacks were now more frantic. They were able to force a string of corners but the young defenders coped manfully with the onslaught and their resolute defending saw Latics achieve a perfect start to the campaign. The manager was predictably delighted with his side.

Full Time; Derby County 1-2 Wigan Athletic

Attendance; 29,957.   

Scorers; Wyke (37), (72); Forsyth (56)

Teams; WIGAN (3-4-3) -- Tickle; Clare, Morrison, Hughes; Pearce, M Smith, Aasgaard, Lang; Humphrys, Wyke, McManaman; Subs; Adeeko, S Smith, Watts;

DERBY COUNTY (3-5-2)—Wildsmith; Bradley, Nelson, Cashin; Ward, Hourihane, K Smith, Bird, Forsyth; Collins, Mendez-Lang; Subs; Wilson, Elder, Washington, Thompson.

Referee; S. Oldham

The most optimistic Latics fans would probably not of dreamed of three points from the opening game.

The display was combative and the final result may have included a degree of good fortune, but if Latics can compete in games like these then there are realistic hopes of avoiding the horror of relegation. The youthful squad had shown that they were ready to step up to the higher level and the future suddenly looked brighter after a summer of soul searching and financial worry.

Next up for the Latics was a televised trip (Sky) to the glamour boys of the EFL. Wrexham