Report by SJG

FRIENDLY

WIGAN ATHLETIC   vs   BIRMINGHAM CITY

29^th July 1978 

CAUSE FOR OPTIMISM?

Wigan Athletic served notice on the Fourth Division that they have no intention of being pushovers.

Everything about Wigan Athletic, the great close-season work off the pitch, and the total commitment on it, suggests that the former Northern Premier League club mean business. Top flight outfit Birmingham City, who knocked Latics out of the F.A. Cup last season, paid them the compliment of fielding a full strength first team squad, with the exception of Trevor Francis, who was still in America.

Wigan were without new signings Kevin Smart and Ian Seddon and winger Micky Worswick who picked up knocks and were not considered for selection.

Latics, cheered on by a decent crowd of 5,019 basking in the sun, began well and put together a series of lively attacks that had Calderwood, Sbrigia and their fellow defenders at full stretch. A Purdie cross to the near post found Houghton who directed his first-time effort just over the bar.  Crompton won a free kick on the flank after a trip by Ainscow and the resulting set play saw Wright delivering an accurate cross which Houghton met with a powerful, but not well directed header.

Birmingham almost opened the scoring when Keith Bertschin (England U21 international) found space in the box but Hinnigan quickly moved in and produced a critical challenge to clear the danger. Even against this class of opposition the League’s new boys more than held their own and another fast raid by Purdie and Houghton saw Page produce a desperate clearance that fell to Gore, but his shot from 20 yards flew over the bar. Noel Ward in the Wigan backline showed his class with a perfect interception to foil the Blus when Givens the Eire international played an incisive ball out towards Bertschin.

Brum midfielder Emmanuel fired in a sharp shot but it was too high, then Corrigan, at the other end, showed quick feet to fire a low drive that flew wide.

On 44 minutes Corrigan pounced on a loose pass by the visitors and fired in a cross that Houghton met in the six-yard box but Montgomery produced a top class save to fingertip the effort over the bar.

Midfielder Fox then stung Browns fingers with a shot from fully 30-yards that was smuggled behind for a corner.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 0-0 Birmingham City.

Birmingham made four changes at the break and the second period began with close calls at both ends. Houghton looped a header over the diving Montgomery but the effort struck the bar before bouncing down onto the line and being hastily cleared.

Birmingham then went close when substitute McDonough rounded Brown and rolled the ball goalwards but Gillibrand got back to clear the effort off the line with a sliding save. On the hour mark, Latics then produced the shot of the match when Ian Purdie’s right foot dynamite shot from 15 yards had ‘winner’ written all over it until Birmingham’s Jim Montgomery made a wonder save. Frank Corrigan twice shot wide when well placed, Tommy Gore fired in an effort that passed only inches over the crossbar, and Peter Houghton contrived to shoot over from only six yards out, to record what was surely the ‘miss of the match’.  Later Houghton was very unlucky with a close-range header that passed right across the face of the goal with no-one able to apply a vital touch.

On chances created Wigan deserved to end the game as victors, with Birmingham’s best chance falling to Roy McDonough, the striker shot hard and true, but Brown was able to save with relative ease. The crowd enjoyed their day in the sun as their heroes went toe-to-toe with FA Cup winners and England U21 internationals as well as many other household names.

The game certainly gave the local enthusiasts cause for optimism and the talk, as the supporters’ headed home was of promotion in the first season.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 0-0 Birmingham City.

Attendance; 5,019

Team; WIGAN—Brown; Gore, Hinnigan, Ward, Gillibrand; Corrigan, Wright, Crompton, Purdie; Wilkie, Houghton; SUBS Not Used; Gay, Davids, Critchley

BIRMINGHAM---Montgomery; Page, Calderwood, Sbragia, Ainscow; Broadhurst, Barrowclough, Fox, Emmanuel; Bertschin, Givens; SUBS; Dillon, McDonough, Freeman, Dennis, Van Den Hawe;

Referee; Mr. J. Wrennall.  (Eccleston).

Next up for Wigan, as they prepare for the new season was a home game against S.P. Erkenschwick of West Germany