Benson not happy despite victory at Madejski

Report by Dave Seddon - Wigan Evening Post

Just under a year ago Wigan Athletic became the first club to win a football league match at the impressive £35 million Madejski Stadium.

Eleven months on, the Latics were again playing party poopers with another victory in the first game in charge for the home side's new manager Alan Pardew.

Two late goals in each half sealing maximum points as John Benson's side maintained their best ever start to a football league campaign.

Far from being pleased, the manager described "the first half as awful, the second half diabolical in our worst away performance of the season."

While setting such a high standard John Benson admitted "that far better teams would have punished us on that display."

The Berkshire side with just one victory since the opening match of the season started brightly as they tried to impress their new boss.

Following their first corner of the match, captain Phil Parkinson's volley was held by Roy Carroll on the line, after the Latics' defence somehow allowed Darren Caskey's cross to find the centre half.

Three minutes later, the Chorley born defender turned provider, headed down a Caskey free kick to the feet of Nicky Forster, whose volley was again well held by Carroll.

It was not until the 24th minute that Latics managed to find their first strike on goal.

Returning after a months absence through injury, Pat McGibbon in for the suspended Kevin Sharp was the quickest to react to a silent Haworth near post kick on from Carl Bradshaw.

His goalbound effort was pushed up by the Royals' keeper Phil Whitehead with defender Andy Bernal on the line to head the ball over.

Back from international duty with the Northern Ireland U21 side, Carroll was again at his best, diving low to his left to stop a Nicky Forster header from another Caskey free kick.

It was against the run of play that Latics took the lead on 41 minutes.

A neat interchange of passes involving Ian Kilford and Michael O'Neill saw the ball find it's way to captain Bradshaw on the right.

His deep cross to the far post was met by Stuart Barlow, the Latics' leading scorer stealing ahead of his marker to head home his 11th goal of the campaign.

Straight from the restart, Caskey fired in a 30 yard shot which Carroll tipped over the bar.

On the stroke of half time, Andy Liddell was inches away from doubling the lead. His overhead kick from a Darren Sheridan corner deflected wide of the nets.

The second half started with Latics quite happy to sit back and rely on the counter attack.

Andy Barnel tested Carroll with a header from a corner while Lee Hodges' 30 yarder was straight into the body of the Latics' keeper.

Roberto Martinez was introduced into the action on the hour mark in place of Simon Haworth.

The Spanish midfielder not known for his defensive duties set up Stuart Barlow within two minutes of his introduction.

Winning a 50-50 ball his pass found Ian Kilford, whose inside ball found Stuart Barlow as it opened up the home defence. On a one on one with the keeper, Barlow somehow managed to find his legs.

That miss thankfully was not to prove costly, Martin Williams heading against the crossbar on the 73rd minute.

With that chance went Reading's last real hope and after that they faded badly. The only surprise was that it took until the last minute for Latics to seal victory.

Carroll's long clearance found it's way to Barlow, whose run into the box saw him upended by keeper Whitehead.

Captain Carl Bradshaw calmly slotted a resulting penalty home for his second of the season which preserves Latics' unbeaten start.