Wigan Athletic ~ General Chat & Latest News

[Brasil]

Newcastle you freaking suck.

[Freddy Adu]

Christmas jeers for Allardyce as Wigan escape drop zone


Written by: AFP

	Newcastle were booed off the pitch by their own supporters after a 1-0 defeat by Wigan that piles the pressure back on to under-fire manager Sam Allardyce, seen here in November 2007.

WIGAN, England (AFP) - Newcastle were booed off the pitch by their own supporters after a 1-0 defeat by Wigan that piles the pressure back on to under-fire manager Sam Allardyce.

For the second successive season a superb free-kick by Ryan Taylor, just after the hour mark, settled the encounter as Wigan moved out of the relegation zone.

The win has capped a revival in Wigan's fortunes since Steve Bruce took over as manager last month, the Latics having now taken eight points from the five matches that the former Birmingham boss has been in charge.

But for Allardyce, who was reportedly close to the sack at the start of the month, there can only be fresh pressure with this dismal display coming in the wake of a home draw with bottom side Derby on Sunday.

Newcastle managed to conjure up only one shot on goal in the entire 90 minutes and they fully deserved to lose as a result of a free-kick conceded by Alan Smith, who had pulled down midfielder Michael Brown just outside the area.

Taylor, normally a right-sided defender but deployed on the left of midfield on Wednesday, stepped up to strike a dipping, right-foot shot over the wall and beyond the despairing dive of Newcastle keeper Shay Given.

It was only Taylor's second goal for the club -- the first also having come from a free-kick against Newcastle, in a 1-0 win back in February.

Wigan had enjoyed the only chance of the opening period, a long-range strike by Austrian midfielder Paul Scharner being held by Given after a deflection off Geremi.

Newcastle's only chance came seven minutes into the second half when Chris Kirkland was rushed into a clearance and sent the ball skywards.

Mark Viduka was waiting when it fell and the Australian striker sent an overhead kick goalkwards only to be denied by a goalline clearance by former Newcastle defender Titus Bramble.

[Freddy Adu]

Ever since Bruce tookover Wigan has been owning out there.

[Freddy Adu]

Allardyce furious over Toon troubles


Written by: AFP

	Newcastle were booed off the pitch by their own supporters after a 1-0 defeat by Wigan that piles the pressure back on to under-fire manager Sam Allardyce, seen here in November 2007.

WIGAN, England (AFP) - Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce launched a furious attack on his own players who were booed off the pitch for the second successive match after losing 1-0 to struggling Wigan on Wednesday.

The loss came in the wake of a 2-2 draw at home to bottom club Derby on Saturday and left the north-east club marooned in mid-table in the English Premier League.

With a few minutes remaining at the JJB Stadium on Wednesday, the majority of the 5,500 travelling Newcastle fans sang: "We're ***** and we're sick of it."

Allardyce agreed with his success-starved supporters.

"If I was them I would be singing what they sang because we're not good enough," said the manager.

"I know it's not good enough, so it doesn't take much for them to work out it's not good enough. They are not daft."

Allardyce laid the blame for the display squarely at the feet of his team.

"The level of form they have dropped to is unacceptable," he said.

"Everyone can have an off day, but our off days are really off. Right now the only pressure on us is what we are putting on ourselves because we are performing at that level.

"We are professional managers and players and we have to perform under pressure, whether it be good, bad or indifferent.

"We have to accept that pressure and use it as a positive, not a negative, not shrivel and die.

"You have to roll your sleeves up, wear your heart on your sleeve and go and fight because that is what gets you out of difficult situations."

Newcastle carved out just one chance when Mark Viduka's overhead kick early in the second half was cleared off the line by former Toon centre-back Titus Bramble.

Wigan then clinched a win to lift themselves out of the bottom three when Ryan Taylor curled home a 22-yard free-kick.