Public Humiliation

Last updated : 06 November 2002 By
Whilst it is pretty much commonplace for Premiership teams to get knocked out by lower division sides in this competition these days, most have an excuse, namely that a mix of their reserve and youth teams are playing.

Not City though, no we go the whole hog and get humiliated with almost the best side Keegan can put out on the pitch and we do it in front of a national TV audience.

Make no mistake about it, this was a very bad result. Keegan had stated his intent to take the competition seriously and picked a side that contained only two changes from those that had won at West Bromwich, Wright-Phillips and Benarbia replacing Tiatto and Berkovic.

City were poor from the off and failed to produce anything at all in the first half. Wigan weren't much better but wanted the game more, they took the lead in the 35th minute and never looked back.

City huffed and puffed in the second but never really looked like scoring and it was perhaps indicative of their performance that their most dangerous effort on goal came from a free kick that everyone missed forcing the Wigan keeper into a fine save. Huckerby had a chance with the last attack of the match but wanted more time than that available and hit it straight at the defender.

What was more disturbing than the result though was the player's attitude and performance. Only Wright-Phillips did himself any justice, the rest were just shambolic. Benarbia, given the opportunity to win his place back, looked a pale shadow of last season's player of the year and perhaps needs a complete break from the first team.

On a bright note, the players do have a chance to redeem themselves immediately. The rags come to Maine Road on Saturday lunchtime and a long awaited victory in that one will mean Wigan is forgotten, a defeat doesn't bear thinking about after this showing.