Progress With Unity - The Unofficial Wigan Athletic Fan Podcast: February 2021

Thursday, 25 February 2021

Any Previous? - Peterborough United v Latics

Latics and the Posh have met 20 times down the years, we have certainly had the upper hand in those meetings with 10 wins to Peterborough’s 3.

The first meeting between the two clubs came back in 1970 in an FA cup 2nd round tie at Springfield Park, 17,180 spectators turned up to watch non-league Latics beat the Posh 2-1, with goals from Geoff Davis and a Jim Fleming penalty, to set up a 3rd round meeting against Manchester City away at Maine Road.

It was nine years before the two clubs met again, this time a Division 4 clash, Boxing Day 1979, when the Latics travelled to London Road and came back with another 2-1 victory, this time in front of a more modest 3,312 spectators.

The last meeting came at the DW Stadium on the 20^th October this season, Peterborough gaining all three points with a slender 0:1 victory courtesy of a 28^th minute Clarke-Harris goal.

Memorable Game – Peterborough 2:3 Latics

2015 and a Tuesday in late October, a long trip down to Peterborough was really worthwhile and paid dividends for the Latics, a dramatic game saw the Latics two up by half time with Yanic Wildschut (11) and Will Grigg (15) on target, but a 2^nd half comeback by the Posh, Oztumer (61), then Coulibaly (81) looked to have earned a point for the home side, only for Max Power to put Latics back in front and claim the points straight from the restart.

Match Highlights – Posh 2:3 Latics

Full Record v Peterborough United

Played – 20

Wins – 10

Drawn – 7

Lost – 3

Last Six Meetings

Competition	Date	Result
League 1	20 Oct 2020	Latics 0:1 Peterborough
League 1	13 Jan 2018	Latics 0:0 Peterborough
League 1	23 Sep 2017	Peterborough 3:2 Latics
League 1	05 Mar 2016	Latics 1:1 Peterborough
League 1	20 Oct 2015	Peterborough 2:3 Latics
League Division 2	08 Mar 2003	Peterborough 1:1 Latics

Wednesday, 24 February 2021

Meet The Ref - Peterborough United v Latics

Latics are away at top of the table, Peterborough United, on Saturday, the man charged with keeping law and order on the field of play will be Sheffield based referee, Tom Bramall.

Tom Bramall

Bramall was promoted to the EFL as recently as 2018/19 season, during the preseason build up for the 2019/20 campaign, Tom Bramall suffered a serious ACL injury which kept him sidelined until February 2020.

On his comeback he made a total of five appearances last season, issuing 7 yellows and 0 reds, before suspension of League 1 & League 2 due to the national lockdown.

This campaign Bramall has put in a good shift with 23 games so far, with nine of those games coming in League 1, including our 2:0 away defeat to Ipswich and Peterborough’s 2:0 away defeat to Crewe.

Tom Bramall Card Watch 2020/21

Games – 23

Yellows – 53

Reds – 4

Penalties Awarded - 3

Peterborough United v Wigan Athletic
Referee – Tom Bramall
Assistants – Joe Clarke and David Hunt
Fourth Official – Steve Wade

Tuesday, 23 February 2021

Meet The Ref - Bristol Rovers v Latics

Latics travel down to the West Country this evening to face Bristol Rovers in a League 1 relegation scrap, the man in charge of law and order on the field of play will be, Hastings referee, Carl Brook.

Carl Brook

The 45 year old is in his first season as a Football League ref, WHOAH! Hang on there, 45 and it’s his first season? Yes that is correct, he has been a referee for 30 seasons but only made the graduation this campaign.

Carl spent four campaigns on the National League as a Level 2A official before being promoted to the National List back in September.

He will be taking charge of both clubs for the first time, of his 19 games this season 3 have been in League 1, 12 in League 2 and 4 in the EFL Trophy.

Talking about finally making the grade in an interview with, Hastings In Focus, Carl Brook commented:

“You always have that drive to want to be a Football League referee and as much as I am 44 years old, I don’t feel it! I just kept on pushing and pushing and once I made it to a Level 3 referee you realise you’ve made that first big step.

“I enjoyed being a County League referee, but when you make that step from Level 4 to Level 3 you just realise, you have made a big step in the world of football.”

“I always referee with a smile on my face anyway, but I know I can walk out there and think this is what 30 years has been building up to so wow, what a privilege that is going to be.”

In his full time job, Carl is a Regional Director for a confectionery company.

Carl Brook Card Watch 2020/21

Games – 19

Yellows – 66

Reds – 2

Penalties Awarded - 8

Bristol Rovers v Wigan Athletic
Referee - Carl Brook
Assistants - Chris Husband and Andy Hendley
Fourth Official - Craig Hicks

Monday, 22 February 2021

Any Previous? Bristol Rovers v Latics

Latics and Bristol Rovers have only met four times in the last 20 years, not a lot of recent history between us, but we did have a fair few battles during our early years as a Football League club.

We have to go back to 29 Aug 1998 for the last time that the ‘Gas’ beat us, 3:2 at the Memorial Stadium, worryingly we have only won once away against Bristol Rovers, 5 September 1987, another 3:2 game but this time ending in our favour.

We have met a total of 27 times down the years, all league games and all in the third tier of English Football, we have received a few stuffing’s along the way, including a 0:5 home defeat and a 6-1 away loss, which was our record defeat in the league until a visit to White Hart Lane in November 2009.

We also have had some very memorable wins, a thrilling 4:3 at Springy in the 80s plus the infamous five red cards game which ended 3:0 to the Latics, an account of which can be found by clicking here .

Our last away meeting, 24 April 2018, ended up a 1:1 draw, Ryan Colclough scoring from distance to give us a share of the spoils.

Match Highlights – Bristol Rovers 1:1 Latics

Full Record v Bristol Rovers

Played – 27