The Mellis free kick routine early on - what on earth was that??

Lined up just like at Rotherham last week and I thought.....hello, this could be good.
But no - our midfield "dynamos" Perks and Daws play tippy tappy and give the Wigan defender plenty of time to arrive on the scene so that there was about two feet in between Mellis striking it and the defender intercepting.

What is it with us and dead ball situations? I know that one worked at Rotherham but this was NOT Rotherham today. Basically we cannot take a decent corner or free kick and our throw ins invariably go backwards to a player who immediately passes back to the thrower who is then under pressure.

Even Steele was at it today with his ludicrous short passes to nearby defenders. Just about every time he put said defenders under pressure so their only option was to give it back or hoof it. Steele could have done that in the first place.

This element of our game needs serious attention. Other teams can manage to put in dangerous corners and free kicks but we very rarely do. I'm not sure why this is so.

 

It was identical to the Rotherham free kick but Mellis failed to get enough lift on it this time.

 

"Perks and Daws played tippy tappy"

Are you serious? They did exactly what they were supposed to and had a touch each. Mellis was just closed down straight away, probably because their defender wasn't 10 yards away when the ball was played.

 

different quality of defence to Rotherham,wigan defended like it should be done.

 

But my point is why is it necessary for both to have a touch. Why not try foxing the opposition for once with one player running across the ball, the other teeing up and then the shot (better still just hit it without anyone teeing it up). I know that defenders often steal some yards in these situations but we made it easy for him. one touch, two touch then Mellis shoots. The whole defence could have been on top of the ball by then