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Penalty prize for battlers

13/ 8/2008

IT was a case of ‘second time lucky’ for Lee Hughes as Latics found their way into the next round of the Carling Cup with a penalty shoot-out victory at Rochdale.

Having seen a first-half penalty saved by Sam Russell, the striker made amends to send Latics through 4-1 at Spotland on Tuesday night.

John Sheridan’s side had been forced to do things the hard way following Craig Davies’ idiotic red card just before half-time.

Hughes and Tom Kennedy had been involved in an incident, and just as referee Colin Webster was sorting it out, Davies needlessly got involved with Nathan Stanton and received a red card for his troubles.

His dismissal put Latics on the back foot against their near neighbours who, for all their possession, only seriously tested Mark Crossley on a couple of occasions.

Having made three changes to the side which defeated Millwall last Saturday, Sheridan saw his team have the better of the early possession.

Davies should have opened the scoring, only to head straight at Russell from six yards, Deane Smalley glanced Neal Eardley’s cross off target, while Chris Taylor fired weakly at the keeper.

Hughes blew Latics’ best chance midway through the half when, following Rory McArdle’s foul on Smalley, he saw Russell dive to his right to push his penalty away. That seemed to galvanise the hosts who came into the game more with Kennedy and Adam Rundle a lively pairing down the left-hand side.

Kennedy forced Crossley to push away a free kick, Rundle’s cross was too far ahead of Jon Shaw, while Chris Dagnall saw a shot blocked. Despite having the numerical advantage in the second half, Rochdale were unable to forge many clear chances on goal.

Their best opportunity came when Crossley saved from Dagnall, repeating the feat to deny substitute Adam Le Fondre with five minutes left.

With the rain teeming down, extra time saw Russell push Eardley’s effort over the bar, while Hughes’ driven cross eluded Lewis Alessandra.

Facing the lottery of penalties, Sheridan brought on his usual spot kick taker Andy Liddell, only to find he was not required.

Eardley, Chris Taylor and Danny Whitaker were successful for Latics, and once Dagnall and Le Fondre had missed their kicks, Hughes beat Russell to apply the coup de grace.