Blackburn - 2 Wigan Ath - 1: Wigan Athletic are beginning to discover that a second season in the Premiership is almost as awkward as a second novel or a second hit single. They took to the top flight like ducks to water but their pragmatic manager Paul Jewell always warned that things might be a little uglier the second time around and so it is proving, although these are obviously early days and Wigan have a game in hand over most clubs.
They should really have won this Lancastrian derby, having taken the lead inside two minutes through Emile Heskey, and then missed a penalty in the second half when the substitute Blackburn goalkeeper Jason Brown, making his debut, saved Svetoslav Todorov's kick.
Brad Friedel, who went off at half-time with a groin strain, was back on the pitch in his suit, shirt and tie at the final whistle to embrace Brown who could hardly have had a more eventful first 45 minutes for the club, for he also saved particularly well from Paul Scharner.
Wigan, with only one previous win, and having been knocked out in the second round of the League Cup by Crewe, made the most perfect of beginnings. Emmerson Boyce attacked down the right and from his low cross Heskey struck an immediate and instinctive shot that gave Friedel no chance whatsoever.
With two minutes of added time at the end of the first half Wigan were attempting to waste as much time as possible from a corner, only to be caught by a classic counter with Jeffers and David Bentley exchanging passes for Bentley to score.
It was exactly what Wigan had not wanted and if Blackburn had been a little tired from their European exertions last Thursday against Salzburg, they understandably displayed no lack of energy in the second half.
Their winner was somewhat fortuitous. For it came from a long punt by Lucas Neill, deep in his own half, that was chased down by both McCarthy and the substitute Jason Roberts, playing against his old club. Kirkland rushed out, missed the ball, and Roberts supplied the touch for McCarthy to score the winner.
Guardian Service
