Progress With Unity - The Unofficial Wigan Athletic Fan Podcast: January 2022

Monday, 31 January 2022

Any Previous? - Latics v Oxford United

Latics face Oxford United at the DW Stadium on Tuesday evening in a rearranged League One fixture, the two clubs haven’t met that often down the years, each meeting has been in the third tier of English football, we are just edging it at the moment but not a lot between the clubs in past results.

The first game came at Springfield Park, back in December 1982, a close game saw Oxford run out 0:1 winners.

Last campaign Oxford did the double over us, winning both games by the same score-line, 2:1, we have a chance to rectify that on Tuesday as we beat Oxford at the Kasam Stadium in December.

Last Time Out – Oxford United 2:3 Wigan Athletic

Back in mid December we travelled down to Oxfordshire and returned with three points, racing into a two goal first half lead, the Latics were pegged back to 2:2 by a determined Oxford, only for James McClean to pop up in the 86^th minute to bag the three points with a great strike.

Latics – Amos; Darwika, Whatmough, Watts, Bennett; Naylor, Power; Massey, Lang, McClean; Keane.

Highlights – Oxford 2:3 Latics

Oxford Current Form

The Us sit 6^th in League One, they have 49 points from 28 games.

Since our win at the Kasam in December, Oxford have played six League One games, they have lost two, drawn one and won three, two of which have been their last two games.

Oxford have won five and lost five of their thirteen away games so far this campaign. The latest coming on Saturday when they beat a very poor Gillingham 2:7, Cameron Brannagan scoring four penalties in the game.

One To Watch – Matty Taylor

Striker joined initially on loan from Bristol City in August 2019 and is the Us top goal scorer with 15 goals and 3 assists so far this season, he’s similar to Will Grigg in style of play and scored against the Latics in the reverse fixture at the Kasam.

The 31 year old striker has had 63 shots this season, with 27 on target, producing his 15 goals.

Full Record v Oxford United

Played – 13

Won – 7

Drawn – 1

Lost – 5

Last Six Meetings

Date	Competition	Result
18 Dec 2021	League 1	Oxford 2:3 Latics
14 Feb 2021	League 1	Oxford 2:1 Latics
21 Nov 2020	League 1	Latics 1:2 Oxford
17 Apr 2018	League 1	Latics 1:0 Oxford
23 Dec 2017	League 1	Oxford 0:7 Latics
14 Apr 2001	League 1	Latics 3:2 Oxford

Sunday, 30 January 2022

Meet The Ref - Latics v Oxford United

Latics face Oxford United at the DW Stadium on Tuesday evening, the referee for the game will be Consett official, Andrew Kitchen.

Andrew Kitchen

This is the 33 year olds first season on the National List, of his 19 games so far just six have come at League 1 level, subsequently it will be his first time in charge of a match involving either the Latics or Oxford United, though he was scheduled to referee the original Latics v Oxford game back in November which was postponed due to sickness and injury in the Us camp.

Kitchen started refereeing at the tender age of 14 when he gave up a dream of becoming a goalkeeper, he says the biggest influences on his career have been his mentor and coach, the experienced ref, David Webb and his very own ‘mam’ and her trusty car that would drive him to games and courses as he was starting out.

Andy Kitchen refereed last season’s National League playoff semi-final between Notts County and Torquay United and his first game in the Football League came on the opening day of this season as Salford and Leyton Orient played out a 1:1 draw at the Peninsula Stadium.

Kitchen’s last game was in League One on Saturday January 22^nd which ended Burton Albion 1:1 AFC Wimbledon, he issued two yellow cards, both to Burton players.

Andrew Kitchen Card Watch 2021/22

Games – 19

Yellows – 49

Reds – 2

Penalty Awards – 3

Wigan Athletic v Oxford United
Referee – Andrew Kitchen
Assistants – Joe Simpson and Richard Wigglesworth
Fourth Official – Matt Smith

Friday, 28 January 2022

Any Previous? - Cheltenham v Latics

Latics travel down to Whaddon Road on Saturday to face Cheltenham Town, this will be the fourth meeting between the two clubs as we look to complete a season double over them.

Our first meeting came on the opening day of the 2002/03 season, newly promoted Cheltenham faced a Latics side bursting with quality, a goal apiece from Andy Liddell (6) and Lee McCulloch (25) were enough to have the game sewn up by half-time as we ran out 0:2 winners.

Latics – John Filan, Ged Brannan, Jason De Vos, Matt Jackson, Peter Kennedy – Tony Dinning, Jason Jarrett, Gary Teale, Lee McCulloch – Andy Liddell, Nathan Ellington

A goalless draw in the return fixture at the DW Stadium kept us in pole position and 12 points clear at the top of what was then, League Division 2, as we cruised to the title ending the season on 100 points.

Last Time Out – Latics 2:0 Cheltenham Town

Earlier this season we met the Robins at the DW Stadium and produced a solid performance that delivered a comfortable 2:0 win, a goal in each half, Lang (8) and Wyke (46) on the score sheet, in fairness it could have been more but for some excellent saves by Scott Flinders.

Latics – Amos; Power, Whatmough, Watts, Darikwa; Naylor, Cousins; Lang, Keane, McClean; Wyke.

Highlights – Latics 2:0 Cheltenham

Cheltenham Current Form

The Robins sit 18^th in League One, they have 31 points from 27 games, currently on a run of 10 games without a win, nine in the league and one in the FA Cup, their last five points have come from a possible 27.

They have won five and drawn five of their fourteen home games so far this campaign.

One To Watch – Alfie May

Striker signed from Doncaster in January 2020 and the Robins top goal scorer with 10 goals so far this season, he’s been rewarded for some good performances with a two and a half year contract extension that he signed earlier this week.

The 28 year old has had 70 shots this season with 30 on target producing 10 goals.

Full Record v Cheltenham Town

Played – 3

Won – 2