By Alan G
March 12 2006

About five minutes before kick off, some smelly bastard dropped one in my immediate vicinity. It was the stench of pure evil. Indeed, at regular intervals throughout the entire match, a fragrance like rotting flesh would permeate the atmosphere and I would think: He’s gone and shat himself that time.

I was determined that neither the phantom guffer, nor the know-it-all sat behind me, nor the row of meat-heads sat in front of me, would stop me trying to enjoy the pitiful attempt at football displayed by Sunderland and Wigan Athletic.

 

The game was lit up only briefly on eight minutes, when Nyron Nosworthy made a hash of a clearance, and Henri Camara turned on a sixpence to spin and volley spectacularly into the top corner.

 

From the on it was all Sunderland, but the quality in front of goal was lacking and they could not force an equalizer, meaning Kevin Ball’s first game in charge of the Black Cats ended in defeat.

Sunderland striker Elliott should have done better than shoot too close to Filan when he broke clear as his dipping volley was tipped over.

Rory Delap had a far-post shot blocked by Filan before Kyle thought he had equalised only to be flagged for offside.

Another Kyle shot was saved by an inspired Filan before Latics almost delivered a killer blow to their hosts on the stroke of half-time.

Lee McCulloch side-footed an inswinging Bullard free-kick towards goal and it took an instinctive dive at full-length by Sunderland keeper Kelvin Davis to palm his effort wide.

Latics didn’t allow Sunderland as much time on the ball after the break with chances for the home side becoming increasingly rare as the game progressed.

Stead had their best chance in injury-time when Whitehead's first-time shot was saved by Filan only for Stead to budle the ball wide of the post when it seemed easier to score.

The foul stench in my nostrils was made worse by the stinking Latics performance, indeed, we were very lucky to get anything out of this game at all.

 

All in all, you cannot complain about how our season has gone, but the celebrations after this match did seem a little muted.

 

Latics boss Paul Jewell:
"If it wasn't for our goalkeeper we could have been beaten. It was a really impressive performance by John. He made saves at vital time for us.

"We looked tired and the pitch wasn't good but we scrambled away and got three points.

"It would be wonderful to get into Europe but our only aim is to finish the season strongly. I don't want the season to peter out because it doesn't deserve that."

Sunderland: Davis, Nosworthy, Collins, Caldwell, McCartney, Whitehead, Leadbitter, Delap (Le Tallec 63), Arca (Lawrence 45), Kyle, Elliott (Stead 86).
Subs Not Used: Joe Murphy, Hoyte.

Booked: Kyle.

Latics: Filan, Chimbonda, Scharner, De Zeeuw, Baines, Teale (Thompson 58), Kavanagh (Ziegler 63), Bullard, McCulloch, Camara (Johansson 82), Roberts.
Subs Not Used: Walsh, Jackson.

Goal: Camara 8.

Att: 31,194

Referee: M Riley (Leeds).