Another poor display from the Latics saw the points make their way over the M62 back to Rotherham, Steve Evans’ side deserved their victory, the 2-1 score-line possibly flattered us a little as we were never in the game really and the Millers created the best openings.
Another comical goal just before half-time had the home fans venting their frustration as the players left the field for their cuppa, come full time that frustration had turned to anger and the Latics were roundly booed off the pitch.
After the game both bosses spoke to the media, let’s take a look at what they had to say:
Latics boss Malky Mackay – ‘I thought we lost a truly awful goal in the first half and that set us back after having two or three early forays on their goal
‘To lose that was a real blow just before half time.
‘It was a case of coming out in the second half and having a real go and we got ourselves back into the game with Ben’s good header but then we let ourselves down with the set-piece at the other end.
‘As far as I’m concerned, that’s a soft goal to lose with a header from the edge of the box and after that we were unfortunate because we lost Leon Barnett with a hamstring issue after we’ve brought our three subs on so we’re down to ten and then we have the two chances in the last five minutes where Marco roles their centre-back and, on any other day, sticks it in the back of the net.
‘After that, we hit the bar with Oriol Riera’s header in the last couple of minutes so today, you could probably say lady luck didn’t really smile on us.’
‘It’s just the way the ball is rolling at the moment; the mistake for the first goal and the injury to Leon sometimes these things happen, these days happen and it happened today’
‘There’s absolutely no doubt about the energy levels and the way the boys focused today in terms of the physicality but it’s more about cutting out the silly errors and being clinical at the other end and our team are not doing that at the moment and that’s why we are where we are in the league – that’s something that we have to change.
‘It’s about making sure we have the strength of character to come back from that and there is nothing else for it.’
Rotherham boss Steve Evans – ‘I thought Wigan started better than us, and for 10 minutes they caused us problems’
‘Once we sorted ourselves out we dominated for long spells.
‘If it’s based on good chances, Wigan could have scored a couple – but we could have had five or six today.
‘Credit to my players, they’re very young in the main but we are giving them the freedom to express themselves.’
‘I think Wigan have got the right manager and, despite what one or two want to say, I’ve known him all my life and he’s the opposite of what people are trying to portray’
‘He’s a true gentleman.’
Check out the latest PWU Podcast
Contents: Festive intro-ho-hos (0:00); Elton’s Bulging Sack – Watford review including Statman’s tour report (1:50), truly baffling false 9s (4:20), a salvageable situation? (7:20) and demotivation (10:20); Rovrum preview with Miller Paul Roberts (18:00) including Refwatch with an old Friend (19:40), Christmas Truce Fair (23:30), Revelling the clash (37:00) and predictions league (42:27);Fansites Forum fleeting foughts (44:44); what we want for Christmas including blatant promo for All Gone Latics 02 (50:00); Geoff Boycotts Leeds (52:00); And Finally? best games of the year (58:25)
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