More questions
than answers
Wigan delivered
the result and performance that Paul Jewell demanded as Ipswich were kept
waiting for their first league win of the season.
Victory came courtesy of Nathan Ellington's second goal in as many matches
- although there was an element of luck in the decisive strike, which took
a wicked deflection past Ipswich goalkeeper Kelvin Davis.
That Ipswich held out for almost an hour owed much to Davis' alertness, not
to mention the appearance of the assistant referee's flag as Andy Liddell's
effort was ruled out for offside in the first half.
Ipswich can have few complaints with the defeat, which is sure to leave manager
Joe Royle with more questions than answers as he attempts to arrest a four-game
winless streak in the league.
Jimmy Bullard was the architect behind Wigan's attacking thrusts. He brought
a smart save out of Davis in the 14th minute, shortly after Davis had turned
away Ian Breckin's stooping header from a Bullard corner.
Ellington tested Davis with a powerful drive, the goalkeeper's parry at least
sparing Jermaine Wright's blushes for a horribly wayward pass.
It needed a goal-line clearance from Fabian Wilnis, following another testing
Bullard corner, to preserve the status quo as Wigan's dominance continued,
although Drissa Diallo went close with a header across the face of goal late
in the first half.
Davis needed to be alert to deny the influential Bullard and livewire Ellington,
the latter of whom failed to generate sufficient power with his header.
The goal that Wigan's play warranted arrived in the 57th minute, Ellington
hooking the ball home via an Ipswich body after Jason Jarrett's cross was not
cleared.
Ipswich went close to grabbing an immediate equaliser as Pablo Counago, a
half-time replacement for Darren Bent, rounded Filan before having his goalbound
shot cleared by Breckin.
Peter Kennedy and Bullard continued to pepper Davis' goal, while Marcus Bent's
lack of composure inside the six-yard box cost Ipswich arguably their best
chance to level matters.
BBC
Ellington (57)
Ellington
Burchill (77)
McMillan (39)
