Just about matched them first half

Although it was obvious they were a very good side. But we were actually on top for the ten minutes before they scored their first. Second half they ripped us a new arsehole from the first minute to the last. Don't try to kid yourself that the sending off made any difference to the result. It didn't.

Could Flitcroft had done anything different? Yes, but I doubt it would have made any difference, they were just much better than us. Best side I've seen down at Oakwell for a long time, in all departments, and we won't be coming up against that kind of quality very often this season.

I'm sure there'll be much made of the sending off, but for me if you make silly challenges you put yourself in a position where the referee has to make a decision. Don't jump in like that and you won't get sent off. Anyway, that wasn't what pissed me off about the referees performance.

First half their number 8 cynically brings down Mellis. Ref talks to him for two minutes but declines to book him. Two minutes later he makes another cynical challenge. This time the ref brings over the Wigan captain, talks to him for two minutes but still doesn't make a booking. So that lad is allowed three fouls before a card will be brought out. Then the fcuker goes on and scores.

Skip to the second half, Cranie tries to jump out of a challenge but catches the opposition player. His first foul of the match. Never been spoken to by the ref before. Booked.

Don't tell me there isn't one rule for some and another rule for others.

 

Agree.

1st goal....

Handball on the sideline 10 seconds later its in the net.

Like you say wouldn't have made much difference eventually but first goal was vital in a match like this. Although we didn't create much either

 

I made exactly the same points at the game. The ref didn't cost us the game but he was unacceptably poor.

 

As was the West Stand liner. But what else is new?

 

Yup

Was just about to post the same.
Bugger it, I've got some Nazis to fight. Can't let Herr Hitler get his hands on the Holy Grail!

 

Totally agree mate. It is this type of inconsistency that really really ****s me off.

 

Spot on.

I don't think referees are bent - I just think they are really really ****, and over-awed as human beings by footballers that have played in the Premier League. I always wonder how they go home after games, sit and relax, then reflect and think they did a good job.

 

V accurate version of today's events.

 

They're consistently b*llocks.

Credit to Wigan, though. They made it look easy. They dominated the midfield and didn't give us any time on the ball. Grant Holt, as usual, was a pain in the backside.

It's disappointing to see us lose heavily on the opening day, and to see one of our better signings have a debut like he did, but it's only one game. We'll move on. Hopefully the fans that turned out today will continue to turn out too, it was good to see Oakwell looking like that again.

 

Wigan were a bit of class and a lot of premier league gamesmanship. Nicking ten yards at every freekick and throw in, hands up for everything when we were attacking and hounding the ref over a slow motion semi-rash challenge from Jennings, where he won the loose ball and the player ran into him.

We played some great stuff in the first half. The goal knocked the wind out of us a bit, then they caved us in second half. I would like to have seen what difference Jennings might have made, he was certainly trying to hard. Needs to hang out with the cool kids, Goldie and Mellis.

A disappointing result of course, but plenty of that gusto from last season still there and no little flair either. As said above, we may already have played the best team in the league.