#afcb 1 v 0 #wafc

There was a nervous hush around Legends and the North Stand bar today. My "heart" prediction of a 2-1 win was easily the most optimistic put forward- 0-3 and 1-4 were more popular

I bought a 2012-2013 season DVD - my thinking that no matter what the result today, it would be a good drinking DVD- starting rubbish while sober crescendoing to a triumphant battering by the end - what could go wrong?

The game started well for AFCB with Grabban being sent through in the first minute. His low shot seemed to go under and through the keeper but that slight deflection slowed the ball down and it was cleared from the line

Bugger it !!!

I KNOW he's our top scorer but he HAS to improve his 1 on 1 scoring ratio - he's like a shy child not wanting the embarrassment of the crowd applause by "showing off" and actually scoring

Wigan had their first chance on 6 minutes when a poor Allsop clearance fell to McCarthy and his rasping strike from the edge of the box was tipped over by Rocky - more than making up for the initial mistake

The game then drifted for the next 30 minutes where both teams showed some great touches and interplay but neither seeming to have the guile to unlock the defences

Holt was winning plenty in the air but to be fair I was expecting more from an ex Premiership player. Wigan are nationally renowned for the quality of their pies, and he looked like he could vouch for ALL varieties

Grabban was put through again on 38 minutes but dithered too much again which allowed his (eventual) shot to be deflected for a corner.

Ironically from that corner Grabs tried a snapshot overhead kick - if only he'd show that keenness to shoot when there was an easier chance to be had

Fraser, Arter and MacDonald were all running themselves into the ground and Wigan were getting more and more frustrated as they were allowed no time on the ball

They even started arguing amongst themselves as passes started to go astray and they were penalised for the millionth time for being offside.

It was probably a surprise for the front men to be getting the ball so early all the time – what has happened to Wigan – it used to be all about the midfield but today it seemed the long hoof was the pass of choice – Coyle at his best, maybe….

Tackles were flying in and one such tackle had Pitman flat on his ar*e I'm the middle of the park. The crowd screamed for a foul as the Wigan defender turned with the ball and lazily passed it back to the keeper

Only one man was alive to this, the much maligned (by me, so far) Grabban, who latched onto it

I saw who it was and started unscrewing my flask - might as well take a drink while nothing was happening

I do feel sorry for the poor guy in front of me - I certainly wasn't expecting Grabban to show the poise of a Prima Ballerina and skip past the keeper to slot the ball home, and the guy in front of me wasn't expecting me to cough my tea all over him

Live and learn – we went into half time 1-0 up….against Wigan…the FA Cup holders….

The second half started and despite Wigan starting brightly, it was Grabban who again had the first chance

Yes, he took too long. Yes, he got tackled. But it was dawning on me, at least he was getting into these positions and the chances were coming his way – surely better than being anonymous for the game?

On 51 minutes a thunderous Harte shot (thank God he still has that) was spectacularly saved by Carson (worthy of a name check) but from this chance the ball looped up to Pitman inside the box, wearing his cloak of invisibility.

That’s the only reason I can think of why the Wigan defender ran through him so ridiculously – a penalty!!

Now I’m right behind the goal so out came the phone to record this momentous occasion

I saw Carson stand way to the right of the goal but surely Pitman was too wily for these types of mind games? Surely he knows what’s going on?

Like a colour blind child trying to do a Rubik’s cube, Brett ran in and hit the ball waste high into the left corner of the goal, the same left corner Carson had showed him, and was rushing into.

It was a great save but as far as mind games go, this one went to the ex-England keeper

I won’t bother posting it – it’s just too painful

Seven minutes later, Pitman had just regained the ball when he was felled by McManaman

It seemed a “sturdy” challenge but no more. Harte went rushing to the ref (which I don’t approve of) and a red card was shown. Not sure if it WAS all that dangerous but I’m not close enough to tell

Down to 10 men – the game’s ours, isn’t it ?

Clearly incensed by the sending off, Wigan stepped up a gear and through everything at the Bournemouth defence. Unlike last week, however, this time they were not to be beaten.

The team defended as a team and as if their lives depended on it, and despite some pressure from Wigan, Allsop could just sit and admire the defensive work, as he was not called into action

Pugh cleared a header off the line from a 68^th minute corner and that was by far the closest that Wigan came

On 84 minutes Thomas was fouled on the right hand side just outside the box and while all were milling around Pitman put the ball on the ground and chipped the ball into the top right hand corner of the goal

I say in to, but what actually happened is that Wigan’s man of the match Carson realised at the last minute what was going on, sprinted back into the goal and brilliantly pawed the ball away – a fantastic save

When the signal came up for 6 minutes extra time, there was an audible gasp.

Three minutes into that added time, Wigan were awarded a free kick just on the edge of the box.

As the whistle went, the rain came bucketing down the wind picked up and all went dark as the clouds rolled over Dean Court. I fully expected the 7 horsemen of the apocalypse to come cantering through the gates – this had to be Wigan’s moment

Instead, a tame shot was plunged into the wall and the rebound blocked, then cleared away

Full time 1-0

Summary – Wigan are one of the favourites to go up this season and rightly so. It was a shame that they have added a filthier edge to what was a shiny sword of attack but that dirtiness seemed to blunt them. Bournemouth matched them for fitness, desire, composure and most importantly, heart. This is a team that works for each other and sees any mistake as a team mistake – which they all want to put right

We had some lovely movement and some not so lovely static play but when we didn’t have the ball, we really worked to get it back. What we lacked was the ability to keep the ball under pressure – but I am sure that with exposure to this league, that will come

Star Man – MacDonald – Sheer class in the middle with the ability to break up the opposition’s play and turn defence into attack in a split second