Latics 0-2 Notts County

First off a massive well played and congratulations must go to Notts County, they came with a game plan, did a job on us and are through to the 5th round and a nice little earner to hopefully ease their financial woes, they were simply fantastic, well done.

This game carried optimism for me, although in reality a cup run can harm your chances of Premier League survival I don`t care about that, I want my club to try and win the FA cup and faced with a home tie against a team from League 2 surely we had the chance of progression to the next round at least. When I heard the team news I dreaded the worst, Koumas and Gomez in midfield.

These two carry no fight, no passion and no idea. So it turned out.

We had chances, in the first half Jason Scotland once more found himself through one on one with a goalkeeper, once more he fluffed his lines and shot straight at Kasper Schmeichel in the Notts County goal.

Paul Scharner stole in at the far post and hit a volley on the swivel that was tame in the extreme and Schmeichel gathered with ease.

At the other end Notts County had a couple of chances and our new theatrical shot stopper produced his now customary heroics for the camera, Stojković appears to pause mid air when making saves and I swear he smiles for the camera.

Notts County had a corner, Stojković came, he was nowhere near, they nearly scored, before posing get the simple stuff right.

There wasn`t any real urgency in Latics play in the first half, it was all too comfortable, Koumas and Gomez strolled around as though it was a practice match and three times actually bumped in to each other.

The second half in all fairness started brightly and the Latics got about Notts County but that lasted for 5 or 6 minutes and we were back to the ways of the first half, Bramble was getting frustrated and he started to have a shocker, he was obviously trying too hard, his passing was all over the place.

Koumas and Diame were replaced by McCarthy and N`Zogbia on the hour and for the next 10 minutes the Latics were in the ascendancy and it looked like there was finally some fire in the belly of the players.

Against the run of play Notts County got a corner, Davies hit the ball into the Latics box and Hunt headed the visitors into the lead, typical Latics set piece defending. Three minutes later it was 2-0 when Gary Caldwell put through his own net, before the end it could have been more as the Latics simply fell apart.

Hugo was thrown on with 4 minutes remaining and never touched the ball.

So we are out of the cup and a little demoralised lets take something from the game: I hope that`s the last time I see Jason Koumas in a Latics kit, Jason Scotland has no confidence in front of goal so don`t play him, Jordi Gomez just hasn`t stepped up to the mark, again don`t play him, Paul Scharner has returned to the headless chicken mode, Stojković might be a good shot stopper but he is awful at corners and we are bad enough in that area, Mike Pollitt for next game please.

I stayed behind at the end of the game with quite a few others to applaud, I wasnt applauding the Latics, no they had trudged off, I was applauding Notts County, fantastic effort and they out fought and out thought us, a big well done and good luck for the next round.

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