In or Out: Wigan at Home.

Sunday, 21st February; home.

We managed a walk around Walsall Arboretum this week. As David Cameron was whooshing around Europe trying to boost his “new Deal to reform the European Union”. The arboretum is, essentially what it says on the tin: a garden for trees, but is famous in my brain for the succession of autumn “Illuminations” (now cancelled). It has been largely refurbished, given a modern twist and is all the better for it. There is still the sense of space and tranquillity, still the large lake and, though the limestone rock is overrun by brambles and broken tumbled tree trunks the reflecting pool. What used to be the “nitty-gritty work area” and nursery is now a stylish café and visitor centre and the small stream still bubbles joyfully down the centre.

 

Cameron on the other hand has been having a hard time. His diplomatic scuttling has been at the beginning of a campaign that will end in a referendum here: about whether the UK stays in the EU or moves out. Sounds simple, but Dave the Cee has been wheeler-dealering to engineer new circumstances: with key points about sovereignty; the Eurozone; migrants and benefits and competitiveness. Tough talking going on and some close-to-the wire politics ended up with said P.M. announcing the referendum will be held in June of this year.

 

Watch this space.

Meanwhile – a lot more locally – another Dave – “Blind Dave” Heeley, the blind marathon runner who has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity is about to embark on his toughest challenge.

He is learning to swim so he can take part in the Escape From Alcatraz triathlon in June. Competitors have to swim one-and-a-half miles from Alcatraz island, home to the notorious American prison in San Francisco Bay. They then cycle for 18 miles, and run for a further eight.

 

In 2008 Mr Heeley ran seven marathons in seven days on seven continents.

Of his latest challenge, he said: “I am questioning my sanity.”

So am I: but God bless yer Dave!

In the local sports pages Walsall players have been attempting to rouse up some support, by giving us credit for cheering the team on: it’ll be interesting on Saturday: Wigan, last year in the Championship are going great guns, mounting a real charge and throwing money at players like there is no tomorrow.

Indeed, when I turn off the main road to park, there are few spaces left – and there are five big Wigan coaches and three minibuses parked like fat slugs. The somewhat-smug car park stewards have coned the away car park off and are gleefully turning hopeful drivers away.

Inside the ground the Wigan fans are crowded and noisy. The Walsall fans, so noisy on the road are just the opposite.

I outlandishly predict that Tom Bradshaw will score three, make way for Jordan Cook who will score a further goal – ad Jack, looking nervous tells me he will “farm all the crops” on the allotment over Easter if that happens.

Of course – it was never likely to.

And, as we kick off we are just pressed back and only their poor shooting skills and some stout defending (twenty year old Matt Preston in again as O’Connor is still injured) keeps us in the game. Wigan have one-time Saddler Will Grigg at number nine and he has a few chances, but misses.

Bradshaw, as always is doing his best; but on his own has little or no chance. These are quality defenders he is trying to upset and bamboozle and he has no support.

Goalkeeper Etheridge’s kicking is staying on the field but long punts are just going to Wigan defenders.

Sawyers, is again a little off the pace and locking horns with a player who bests him, both physically and psychologically – and Sawyers cannot get away from him.

Matt Preston breaks out of defence, stretching his legs, but the ball is given away and very quickly Wigan have scored. It is a class move and, honestly had been a long time coming.

 

The second half opened with us more on the attack: and eventually a free kick came back off a solid Wigan wall to Sam Mantom who drilled a fierce shot back past the keeper and into the net.

 

Suddenly we were toe to toe with the team that had dominated proceedings so far – that and looking for the winner. Seesaw football, until, right at the death an efficient Wigan attack saw them net the winner. Sam Mantom got a goal on his birthday: Adam Chambers was, once again magnificent in his five hundredth game of his career, but a bit of a stutter in our promotion hopes.

Next week we are at Burton, who are beginning to open up a bit of a gap at the top of the table.

But, as I sent to my sick-in-bed brother “we are still in it!”

And, dare I add, safe from relegation?

Position	Team	Played	Goal Difference	Points
1	Burton	30	17	63
2	Wigan	32	22	59
3	Gillingham	32	19	58
4	Walsall	31	16	57
5	Millwall	32	11	53
6	Coventry	31	22	52

Don’t ask, but suffice it to say I had fairly harassing day at New Cross hospital, Wolverhampton today. Quite unexpected on a warm day that began with a walk around Walsall Arboretum –interrupted by a phone call and then efficient and friendly paramedics, ambulance staff, A and E people (nurses, doctors and orderlies).

It ended well but one of the things helping me through the day – other than a text about a cheese sandwich – was the offer of a ride to Rochdale for my first game of the season. Cutting it fine – and finally on the outside of a simple (and simply delicious) cheese sandwich – made the rendezvous.

Some getting-together-again banter before setting out on what turned out to be a fairly tortuous journey. Accidents, traffic jams, diversions and red lights for road works. I am, foolishly left in charge of programming a – from what I can tell – state of the art sat nav (as if I would know!) … and eventually get it set – or we are heading for the Rochdale Rugby Stadium. Only time will tell.

There is a request to hold the birthday cake for the return journey and we see some floodlights shining across from the opposite said of a valley as we see Rochdale on signposts. Could it be?

Ends up it is. We jam the car in a tight, just-about-legal space in a one-way street and pile out, going back for the one who is left in the car, stymied by a child lock. We laugh, not sure if he sees the funny side.

We sample the pies inside: steak gets the thumbs up and my meat and potato is most welcome: just hot enough and peppery to perfection.

The Walsall faithful are in good numbers and better voice: in the side stand and we nab seats up at the top with a good view of a well-tended surface in a compact ground.

There is little that can be said for League positions this early in the season. But … we have made a much better start to this season, because it is possible to get left behind from the beginning … and this is what happened last year (we tell ourselves; adding that was then, this is now and nodding wisely). But we start both brightly and – yes, I am going to say it: cockily. Passing easily between players, short passes, long ones, finding a Walsall player. Looking good – and Rochdale seem bemused, ill prepared or just not warmed up. It doesn’t last of course. They soon start to close us down and the passes start to go astray; they are at home after all. But while we seem to pose little or no, neither do they: they seem content to break our play up, rather than following up and doing any harm. Bit of a stale stalemate really. A few chances. Kieron Morris is impressive, intelligently easing the ball away when the Rochdale keeper can’t hold it – Bradshaw cannot put the short pass into the net _ he’s good but not that good! Milan Lalkovic quieter and more easily subdued than I would have liked: he was stunning while here on loan with erratic and brilliant random spins, runs and passes. Everybody has an off day of course: maybe this is his?

Throughout it all there is the rolling thunder of chants and support from our left: not all making geographical sense, but all in a good cause and showing spirit and humour if not musical ability.

And the Rochdale challenges are (diplomatically speaking) strong, prompting no card-reaction from the referee. So, inevitably while we are able to ride these crisp, no-nonsense tackles our stronger players start to front up as well. Fair is fair and the contest equalises out.

 

Second half well under way and a couple of changes: Sawyers and Forde on for Flanagan and Lalkovic.

Rochdale have the ball in the net, but it is bravely –and properly – disallowed: off side prompted derision and mockery from my left. The Rochdale fans go quiet again (“Your support is worse than ours” is the next chant and “Worse than a library, it’s even worse than a library!”)

Adam Chambers has been so busy, covering a lot of the field: the man furthest forward, winning last ditch tackles and shepherding the ball. O’Connor, playing at centre half is strong; his one mistake heading back to an agile goalkeeper who had come out for the ball (and had to sprint back and punch it out). He is an acrobat this Neil Etheridge, busy, stretching and leaping, getting bowled over a couple of times. But also, so far, resilient.

We go ahead marvellously after Taylor starts a move and gets into the box to hammer the goal in.

Some fans around me want us to calm the game down, keep the ball, but we continue to press forwards. Not at all like last season when we sat, mistakenly, on one goal leads and had the game snatched away. Not this season. Sam Mantom gets his second goal in two games (he dedicated the goal last game to his great grandfather) with a powerful, deflected shot.

It is only really then that Rochdale look like a threat going forwards, throwing four men up and taking no prisoners in physical tussles. It is noticeable though that it takes their players longer to get up after the ball has gone. Lack of fitness, ability, commitment or pride?

They do get a consolation goal, but we turn away, with the floodlights lighting up the foliage of sycamore trees and head back to the car for some of that cake!

In international sports news former Olympic athlete and present Tory politician Seb (now Lord) Coe has been elected as President of the International Amateur Athletics Federation). The sport is currently beset – as cycling was a couple of years ago – with allegations, rumours and attention on drug taking to enhance performance. He faces an interesting (Chinese curse: may you live in interesting times) few years.

More locally Worcester will be hosting the international Women’s Wheelchair Basketball finals and, in a bid to understand, the press releases say, the problems faced by wheelchair users the Mayor of Worcester took to the streets today in a wheelchair. If it is a gimmick it is a good one – and just maybe some good will come of it. Good luck to all taking part.

Meanwhile for all that these are the earliest of early days Saddlers are third in the table and a have a home game against top-of-the-table Coventry City coming up. Saturday!