Paul Jewell, manager of Premiership new boys Wigan Athletic, was not best pleased with “the lads” at half-time of their Carling Cup semi-final against Arsenal Reserves.
His team-talk, though unorthodox, seemed to do the trick, as the Latics went on to defeat the Franco-Hispanic alliance from the capital 1-0 with a goal by Austrian debutant Paul Scharner, hot off the North Sea ferry from Norwegian powerhouse Brann Bergen. No one saw the goal, though, as there was a power cut. Actually, I’m joking, the goal was scored after the floodlight failure, though still hardly anyone saw it, as Wigan’s rugby-league-loving denizens weren’t tempted to slip on their clogs and walk down t’ stadium and stayed away from the club’s biggest night in droves.
Anyway, can’t wait for the return leg at Highbury. What gen has Jewelly got on the players that he can use to fire them up at half-time if they can’t get up for the big one?