Wigan Athletic 1 Watford 0 - Saturday 20th September 2003

Jewell celebrates milestone with win over Watford

Report by John Patrick Heeley

Paul Jewell celebrated his 100th league game as manager of Wigan Athletic with yet another victory taking the tally to 51 since he took over at the club just over two years ago.

His record is impressive to say the least but one look at the Division One table just goes to show how far the former striker has taken the club since his appointment.

The result against Watford, without a single point away from home so far this season, could have been more convincing but saying that, Latics were rarely troubled by Ray Lewington's side throughout the 90 minutes.

The last time Lewington visited the JJB Stadium his Brentford side ended Wigan's season long unbeaten run in March 2001 but with his latest club Watford he found a Latics side riding on the crest of a wave who weren't going to be so forthcoming.

Lee McCulloch's third goal of the season made sure of that and it could have been more but for long serving keeper Alec Chamberlain who denied Wigan on a number of occasions.

Jewell chose the same squad that had defeated West Brom earlier in the week to go top of the table with Tony Dinning again partnering Jimmy Bullard in the heart of midfield.

Geoff Horsfield and Nathan Ellington continued up front, leaving Neil Roberts and Mark Burchill, whose loan deal expires after the game, to sit on the bench.

Watford keeper Chamberlain was called into action in the 10th minute when he did well to keep out Nathan Ellington's low drive, diving at full stretch to push the ball around the post at the expense of a corner after The Duke had raced half the length of the pitch to get in his shot.

The resultant corner was headed behind by defender Sean Dyche for another corner kick, this time from the opposite side of the field. Jimmy Bullard swung in the kick and there was LEE McCULLOCH to send home with a stooping header from six yards out.

Ellington twice went close to doubling Wigan's lead within the next 10 minutes. With 13 minutes on the clock the Wigan striker hit a stormer of a shot from well outside of the area which appeared to be heading into the corner until Chamberlain managed to get a glove to it, again pushing the ball around the post for yet another corner.

Four minutes later he picked up a loose ball just outside of the box before waltzing his way past the Watford defence but his shot was this time denied by the thickness of the crossbar.

Watford tested Filan with a free kick in the 20th minute after Danny Webber had been upended just outside of the area but Lee Cook's effort, which crept around the wall, proved no problem for the Wigan keeper who easily collected.

However the Australian needed to be alert 4 minutes later when former Manchester United trainee Webber was set free by Cook down the left side of the area but Filan was on hand to push his near post shot around the post.

Geoff Horsfield went close to maintaining the goalscoring start to life in a Wigan shirt when Nicky Eaden won the ball from Webber on the Watford touchline. Eaden managed to send the ball into the middle of the area where new boy Horsfield was waiting to pounce but the former Birmingham City's shot was deflected behind by Dyche for a corner.

The second half continued in the same vain as the first with Wigan in control. McCulloch went close to adding to his earlier goal when he headed narrowily wide from a Peter Kennedy free kick with just over 5 minutes of the second half gone.

As the game passed the hour mark Liddell went close when Ian Breckin nodded a Bullard free kick onto him but the Wigan number 7's close range header landed over the bar.

Substitute Neil Roberts, on for the tiring Horsfield, saw a golden opportunity go begging after Ellington had sent him clear on goal but the Welsh striker's shot lacked power and Chamberlain comfortably saved with 13 minutes of the normal time remaining.

With such a slender lead there's always the chance of a sucker punch equaliser but Watford never really looked up for it and as their manager later described they looked content at simply keeping the score down.

The win keeps Wigan on top but West Ham's defeat at Gillingham gives them a two point cushion at the summit. Early days yet but it's certainly looking good!