Martinez baffled by Wigan misses

Roberto Martinez admitted finishing off chances was the last problem he expected as Wigan crashed out of the League Cup to Bradford.

Last Updated: 31/10/12 at 15:52    Bet with SkyBet  Premier League To Finish Bottom 12/13 Finish Bottom: Wigan 80/1

Martinez: Impressed with Bradford

Martinez: Impressed with Bradford

Latics went into the last-16 tie having beaten Nottingham Forest 4-1 away in the second round and then West Ham by the same scoreline at Upton Park in round three.

Many would have backed Wigan to get at least another four goals at home last night against npower League Two Bradford, the lowest-ranked team left in the competition, and Wigan created a host of opportunities.

They were unable to convert any of them over 90 minutes or during extra-time, though, and having held on for the 0-0 draw, a spirited Bantams side then went on to win the subsequent penalty shoot-out 4-2 and book a place in the quarter-finals.

Latics midfielders Shaun Maloney and Jordi Gomez failed to put away their spot-kicks, and Martinez said: "We are disappointed because we were really looking forward to the fourth round of the Capital One Cup.

"We have had two very good performances away from home where we have been clinical and scoring many goals.

"The last thing I expected was that if we created chances we would miss them. That leaves a feeling of frustration and disappointment."

Martinez made nine changes to his first XI from Saturday's Premier League win over West Ham, handing first club starts to midfielders Fraser Fyvie, 19, and Danny Redmond, 21.

Another 21-year-old, forward Callum McManaman, was also included and Martinez thought the trio fared relatively well, although he did sense that as time went on without Wigan scoring, some of the players who had come into the team were beginning to feel the pressure of expectation.

"I thought the younger players had a massive role in the game and in many ways, we did everything we had to," Martinez said.

"Bradford had to defend really well. I thought they worked extremely hard and were disciplined and well-organised.

"But you have to score early.

"I think we had two or three good opportunities early on, and possibly with the one where Mauro (Boselli) gets in front of the goalkeeper, if we had scored that goal it could have been a very comfortable win.

"But we missed that chance, and it became a bit of a feeling that the players really wanted to do well because it was their time to impress and be important on the pitch.

"It then became a harder job."

Bradford manager Phil Parkinson paid tribute to the club's supporters for the way they had helped drive the team on.

"I have to say that the support we had was great," Parkinson said.

"When you have tired legs out there, it kind of gives you that extra impetus to keep going and you could sense that with the players - a few of them were cramping up, but the supporters just urged the lads on and got that extra bit out of them.

"It is so important, and I said to the lads afterwards that the supporters we had there are the reason we are all at Bradford City."

Bet with SkyBet  Premier League To Finish Bottom 12/13 Finish Bottom: Wigan 80/1

Football365 Facebook Fan Page

The Football365 fan page is a great place to meet like minded people, have football related discussions and make new friends.

Related News

Sky Bet

    • Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds

Most Commented

Readers' Comments

I

m curious as to what image Real Madrid are trying to re-establish as I always thought their pre-Jose image was one of a bunch of a classless bullies tapping up whoever they wanted while living it large on borrowed money they're never going to pay back.

john matrix
Perez Will Spend Big To Forget Jose...

A

t the start of the season, after the RVP transfer, I confidently claimed that Arsenal would finish above United. I now regret it immensely.

Fuzzy_Dunlop
Reflecting On The F365 Pre-Season Predictions

D

aniel Storey generally did very well, going against the City won it last year so they're bound to win it this time grain. As for John Nicholson, I wouldn't trust him to predict correctly what day of the week it will be tomorrow.

Griff
Reflecting On The F365 Pre-Season Predictions

Footer 365

Bastian Schweinsteiger aiming to treat Wembley to footballing perfection

Bayern Munich's Bastian Schweinsteiger aims to treat Wembley to footballing perfection in the Champions League final.

Pardew to remain at the helm

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew will remain in charge at St James' Park after holding talks about his future with owner Mike Ashley.

LB: Toffees won't come unstuck

Leighton Baines insists the upheaval of losing manager David Moyes to Manchester United after 11 years in charge will not derail Everton.

Mail Box

More Scared Of Losing AVB Than Bale...

We thought we would have to resort to another mailbox about maths but we've had some grand opinions about Man United, Newcastle, Tottenham and more. Oh and maths...

An Ode To Rafa And Loads More Mails...

We have one Chelsea fan who recognises the job done by Rafa Benitez while there's maths from Liverpool, Newcastle and Manchester. And Shawcross to Arsenal? Nah...

© 2013 British Sky Broadcasting Ltd. All Rights Reserved