Wigan Athletic - 2000 Memories - d_manga_fanatic

The 2000 memories series continues, celebrating the Latics hitting 2000 points as a league club in the recent game against Fulham, Vital member Darius Lee, better known as d_manga_fanatic to regulars on the site, tells us which game has been the most memorable to him, over to you Darius:


I have quiet a few favourite memories from the Latics, ranging from the last day battle at Sheffield United (which I feel I would not be able to do justice to as I couldn`t get to watch the game), securing the points for survival at Villa park 2 years ago and wins against Spurs and West Brom last season but the one I have chosen was the 5-3 win against Blackburn Rovers in the 2007/08 season, which to me, was the turning point of that season when we looked certain for relegation along side Derby County.


Wigan Athletic 5-3 Blackburn Rovers

Denny Landzaat opened the scoring after 10 minutes after a nice one touch pass from Marcus Bent, and was then followed by Bent's first goal of the afternoon just 2 minutes later. Blackburn then had the chance to pull one back from the penalty spot but Kirkland stood tall and denied Benni McCarthy with a low save to his right.

Wigan then had a third in the net on 37minutes after our resident mad cap Austrian headed in from a yard out after a thunderbolt of a free kick from Ryan Taylor. The points looked to be ours as long as we didn't self implode.

Blackburn then pulled a goal back out of nothing deep into the first half of injury time from a Santa Cruz volley, surprising everyone and well against the run of play. 'Surely this can't be the start of the comeback could it??' I thought to myself. We have to win this match after gaining a 3 goal lead.

The second half didn't start well with Blackburn getting to 3-2 after just 5mins, Santa Cruz again with the goal after Kirkland saved and he was left with a simple tap in. I thought it should have been ruled out for offside but the goal stood. Brett Emerton was then sent off for a second bookable offence for chasing down Ryan Taylor and bringing him down off the ball. However, this did not stop Blackburn from pulling level on 61mins, Santa Cruz completing a hat trick and leaving ample time for them to find a winner which I felt was coming, based on the way we had fallen apart.

It was not to be for it was our day, as Marcus Bent scored his second of the afternoon on 66mins after Antonio Valencia seized on a poor pass from Steven Warnock which rebounded off a Wigan player and crossed the ball across the box, leaving Bent with a simple finish.

Bent then completed his hat trick and confirmed the points with his third goal. Valencia passing a ball through for Julius Aghahowa who was easily a couple of yards offside. Aghahowa crossed the ball across the box and beating Freidel leaving Bent to tap into an open net.

An 8 goal thriller which included 2 hat tricks, a sending off and a team coming back from 3-0 down with Wigan winning, surely this is one of the most memorable games for the Latics.

Nice one Darius, it was a fantastic game and like you say, a turning point in that season.


Passed Articles - 2000 Memories:

Latics 3-0 Bristol Rovers - worbo link

Latics 3-1 Reading - Latixfan link



The Latics Hit 2000 Points Milestone

Wigan Athletic achieved their 2000th point as a league club in the 1-1 draw with Fulham

You must have some fantastic memories of games that we have achieved points in over the years, and you must have a favourite that sticks out, either from the mists of time like that first win against Rochdale or something more recent like breaking our hoodoo against Chelsea, why not jot them down and send them in and Vital Latics will publish them under the heading 2000 Memories.


Send your favourite match memories to 2000 Memories@vital











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