Friendly - Saturday 21st July 2001
St. Mirren

ST. MIRREN

1

  • Paul Ritchie 68
Wigan Athletic

2

WIGAN ATHLETIC

Wigan Athletic

2

  • Andy Liddell 19, pen
  • Ged Brannan 53

Report by SJG

Latics headed North to Scotland for a week-long training camp to get back to fitness after the summer break. Paul Jewell took the opportunity to look at a number of trialists and three games were arranged against local opposition.

FRIENDLY

ST. MIRREN vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

21st July 2001 

LATICS EASE BACK INTO THE FRAY.

A fine glancing header from Ged Brannan and a confident Liddell penalty saw Wigan return to action with a narrow win against their hosts St. Mirren, who grabbed a goal of their own in the second half to set up an exciting finale in what was a good run out for both sides.

Latics took the lead in the 19th minute when LIDDELL opened his account for the season from the penalty spot and that was to be the only goal in a first half that, as is often the case in pre-season, lacked that competitive edge to truly test the combatants.

Half Time; St Mirren 0-1 Wigan Athletic.

Both sides used a number of substitutes in the second period as the aim was clearly to improve squad fitness rather than gain the bragging rights that come from victory.  A quick play saw BRANNAN find space and time and he glanced home a second goal in the 53rd minute with a neat header.

The changes to the line ups did not help the pattern of play and RITCHIE pulled a goal back for the hosts to set up a more frantic finale which could easily have seen the Scottish side scoring again as they spurned a couple of very presentable chances in the closing stages.

Full Time; St. Mirren 1-2 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Liddell (19, pen), Brannan (53); Ritchie (68);

Attendance; 500

WIGAN ATHLETIC; Stillie; Nolan, Sharp, De Zeeuw, Tod; Brannan, Nicholls, Johnson, Kennedy; Roberts, Liddell; SUBS—McLoughlin (for Nicholls), Mclaughlin (for Kennedy), Mitchell (for Sharp), Green (for Nolan), Gallon (for Johnson);

ST. MIRREN; Roy; Robinson, Kerr, Turner, McLaughlin; Walker, Ritchie, Murray, McGarry; Bowman, Yardley; SUBS--- Rudden, McKenzie, Gillies, Quintango, Brown, McKnight, Scrimgour;

Referee; Mr. Colin Hardie.

Venue: St Mirren Park, Paisley

Attendance: 500

Kick Off: 15:00

Referee: Mr. Colin Hardie

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Wigan Athletic Football Club
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