Wigan Athletic entertained Romanian side and Champion League qualifiers FC Timisoara in their latest pre-season game and once again Latics boss Roberto Martinez chose to completely re-shuffle his side at the start of each half to maximise the players fitness levels.
Chris Kirkland, Emerson Boyce and Erik Edman were named as starters in both games, Olivier Kapo who was taken off early on Monday injured didnt feature neither did Marlon King who has yet to play any part in the pre-season schedule.
The Romanians were ahead inside the first 11 minutes when a loose ball was fired home low past Chris Kirkland from the edge of the box.
7 minutes later matters got worse when Timisoara forward Bucur follows up his own shot that comes off the Latics bar to fire home low and hard, 2-0 and just 18 minutes gone.
Latics started to get into the game after this second goal and had three corners in quick succession and also Daniel De Ridder looking dangerous without actually testing the Timisoara keeper.
Latics first-half:
Kirkland; Melchiot, Boyce, Scharner, Edman; Cattermole, Thomas; de Ridder, Gomez, Koumas; Rodallega
Wigan started the second half with a totally different line-up
Latics second-half:
Kirkland; Boyce, Bramble, Figueroa, Edman; Brown, Cho; N’Zogbia, Cywka, Bouaouzan; Kupisz
Subs: Pollitt, Holt, Routledge
Kupisz made an immediate impact looking sharp and getting into the box just 2 minutes into the half but firing narrowly wide. Rachid Bouaouzan then skimmed the cross bar with a rasping shot from just inside the area on 53 minutes as the Latics looked to get amongst their opponents.
Timisoara came close late on with two efforts clearing the Latics bar and Joe Holt replaced Charles N`Zogbia to give the young midfield man a run out.
All in all a disappointing result but a worthwhile workout with Latics boss Roberto Martinez commenting on the importance of this game as a fitness exercise so fans shouldn’t be too disheartened with the score-line.
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