Wigan Athletic beat unlucky Preston North End
Wigan Athletic knocked Preston North End of the Championship out of the third round of the Carling Cup. The winning goal was scored by Charles N’Zogbia in the second minute of injury time.
Preston can consider themselves unlucky having led the match up until the 87th minute. Neither side started the game well. However, in the 22nd minute Irish international Keith Treacy scored from a 25 yard free kick. The goal gave Preston
something to hang on to and a renewed confidence after a poor start to their campaign.
Preston should have finished the game off but Paul Coutts hit the bar and the post in the first and second half. It appeared that Preston would hang on for a deserved victory, but in the 87th minute a wonderful solo goal from Jordi Gomez saw the
home team equalise.
The matched seemed destined for extra-time, but N’Zogbia scored a dramatic and late winner for the Latics. N’Zogbia provided a spark in the second half when he was introduced as a substitute. He made and scored the winning goal when he exchanged passes with
James McCarthy after Wigan broke on the counter attack. N’Zogbia powered his shot past Preston goalkeeper Andy Lonergan to seal an unlikely win.
N’Zogbia has been the subject of transfer speculation with the player stating his desire to move. He was Wigan’s player of the season last year.
Roberto Martinez was happy with his players and in particular with N’Zogbia saying, “It is quite clear the talent Charles has got. The way he has acted since the window has closed has been an example for everyone. In the second half I was very proud of a
group of players that care about gelling together.”
Preston can feel unlucky and their manager Darren Ferguson felt that individual errors and bad luck cost them the game. “I couldn’t really see a way of them getting through and they huffed and puffed. Both goals were stoppable. Individual mistakes cost us
the game. I’m not looking for excuses but we just aren’t getting any luck.”
Preston who are in the bottom half of the Championship will take the positives out of this match. They will consider themselves extremely unlucky and know that if they can perform in the same manner on a consistent basis that they will do well in the Championship.
Wigan and Martinez will be relieved after an indifferent start to the season. The manager will hope that this win will give them the confidence to start winning matches.
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