Report by SJG

FOOTBALL LEAGUE CUP

SECOND ROUND- FIRST LEG

PRESTON NORTH END vs WIGAN ATHLETIC.

26^th August 1980

INJURY HIT LATICS DIG DEEP TO KEEP TIE IN THE BALANCE

A trip to Deepdale to play near neighbours Preston North End in the cup certainly whetted the appetite of the Wigan fans and a good following of around 3,000 made the short trip to cheer on their side.                                                   

Wigan made only one two changes to the Twelve that were on duty at Lincoln with Dave McMullan replacing Micky Quinn in the starting XI and Tony Quinn getting the nod as the substitute for the evening.           

Wigan battled well throughout as Preston, as one might expect given their league status, quickly took control of the midfield and dictated proceedings. Wigan, for long periods, relied on dogged and resolute defence.                                        

Wigans’ task was made all the harder when Curtis was forced to hobble off the field and the early introduction of Tony Quinn necessitated a reshuffle in the team formation. Wigans tackling was often on the rough side as they dug deep to try and hold the Lilywhites at bay, but when the defences were breached Preston still had to get past Brown who had an outstanding game against his former employers.                                            

On the half hour mark Brown got down well at his post to palm away a fierce drive by McGee and on the stroke of half time Brown back-peddled well to touch a looping header by Bell over the bar.                                                                                                              

Latics did enjoy the odd forage into the Preston half and Houghton, on two occasions forced Roy Tunks, in the Preston goal, into action. First, Houghton produced a lovely cross that Tunks was just able to collect above the leaping Hutchinson, and then Tunks had to be alert to scramble across his goal and save following a neat turn and shot by the Latics man.

Half Time; Preston North End 0-0 Wigan Athletic.

Wigans best chance arrived early in the second period as Houghton found time and space, but he fired wildly over from just inside the box.                                                   

The other main threat to the home side was Gore who warmed the hands of Tunks with a typically fearsome drive and when the keeper juggled the ball the alert Houghton almost snaffled the rebound. Ironically it was during Wigans best spell of the game that Preston finally broke the deadlock.

The goal arrived on 67 minutes when a floated free kick was headed on by Baxter and MCGEE was able to collect, find an inch of space and fire low past the helpless Brown from close-range.                                                                                                     

Wigan regrouped and with the home leg still to come a single goal defeat may yet be a good result on the night. It could have been better for Latics as they had a strong penalty shout when in the 76^th minute O’Riordan seemed to elbow Davids in the box, but the referee was unsighted and waved play on.                                                                                          

The later moments of the match descended into a niggly affair that saw Davids and Whittle booked (and Whittle may well consider himself fortunate not to have seen red.)

The final score may well have satisfied both sides as Preston hold the upper hand in the tie, but Wigan can expect a bumper crowd for the second leg to see the conclusion of this encounter, which is still, very much, in the balance.

Full Time; Preston North End 1-0 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; McGee (68).

Attendance; 8.073

Team; WIGAN—Brown (G); Curtis, Fretwell, Methven, Davids; Gore, Whittle, McMullan, Wright; Hutchinson, Houghton; SUBS; A. Quinn (for Curtis).

PRESTON NORTH END ---Tunks (G); Cameron, McAteer, Burns, Baxter; O’ Riordan, Bell, Coleman, McGee; Houston, Elliott SUBS; Doyle (for Elliott).

Referee; Mr. G. M. Tyson (Sunderland).