What a difference...

Walsh: saw Wigan bounce back

Will the real Wigan please stand up? They were just totally different to what you saw last week. They were energised, determined, driven and they really took the game straight to Sunderland.

Paul Walsh
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Wigan 1-0 Sunderland
Soccer Saturday analysis

That was the question posed by Paul Walsh after he watched Roberto Martinez's side claim a 1-0 victory at home to the Black Cats on Saturday.

Less than a week ago, Wigan were humiliated 9-1 by Tottenham at White Hart Lane - shortly after Sunderland had beaten title contenders Arsenal 1-0.

But the fortunes of both teams transformed this weekend - and Walsh was left perplexed by the turnaround.

He told Soccer Saturday: "In the first half Sunderland couldn't even get on the ball because Wigan just swarmed all over them, pressured them, took it off them, passed it and moved it better.

"Will the real Wigan please stand up? They were just totally different to what you saw last week.

"They were energised, determined, driven and they really took the game straight to Sunderland.

"Charles N'Zogbia was excellent playing off the right-hand side with Mohamed Diame and Hendry Thomas in the middle and Paul Scharner playing just in front.

"It was quite tight in the middle with Hugo Rodallega on the left who I didn't think really enjoyed playing there.

"At half time he went through the middle when Jason Scotland came off and he looked much more dangerous. With the energy of N'Zogbia they created more chances.

"Sunderland themselves were better in the second half because they went with two up front in Fraizer Campbell and Darren Bent.

"They seemed to get more of the ball, but I don't think in the whole game Sunderland made a great chance where you could say they should have scored.

"It just wasn't that good for them going forward. Reid and Richardson looked dangerous at times, but they were ordinary."

Test

After shipping eight goals in the second half at Tottenham, Walsh expected Wigan's defenders to be given another test by the Sunderland forwards.

But Walsh said they easily coped with the threat of Bent because Sunderland's midfielders failed to support him.

"I don't think they got tested that much," Walsh added.

"Maynor Figueroa was back at left-back, Emmerson Boyce and Titus Bramble dealt with most things, they were well protected in front by Diame and Thomas so Sunderland weren't able to get it into feet.

"When it was going into Bent you had one defender who could try and nick it in front and the insurance policy of another defender behind him.

"Sunderland weren't getting any players running beyond the striker to attract the other centre-half so there wasn't a lot going on in an attacking sense from Sunderland.

"I thought Wigan dealt with them quite easily."