Hallowe'en horror show

York City were left desolate by their worst performance of the season confirming their heaviest defeat for nine months.

That previous humiliation was also in Lancashire, to the north at Burnley, where the Minstermen were mauled 7-2. But at least a then cavalier City side managed to worry their hosts and create chances.

There was precious little evidence of Springfield Park zest from the men in blood-red garb.

On the night when souls are supposed to roam the earth City were stuck in zombie-zone, phantoms of how they've performed away this term, coming to life only after the game was effectively dead and buried.

And a nightmare scenario now faces the misfiring men from York. Three consecutive away games have yielded not a single point, while conceding ten goals.

And there's revived Reading to go to in just over 48 hours time.

In their defence the rearguard had been stripped of Wayne Hall through injury and Tony Barras through suspension. But that did not explain the timidity with which they allowed pass-masters Wigan to dominate.

From the outset City were flummoxed by the Latics' tactical switch in which they fielded all three strikers, nine-goal leading marksman Stuart Barlow supplementing £1million duo Simon Haworth and Andy Liddell.

City, expected to plump for a back five, kept faith with 4-4-2. But it was flaw-flaw-too.

City were as unbalanced in a swaying first-half as David Mellor's 606 radio programme. Action belonged almost exclusively to the hosts, little heard from the callers.

Wigan's zip-swift raids, prompted by the long-distance passing of captain Carl Bradshaw, rippled across the turf.

Twice tackles of the last-ditch variety rescued the Minstermen - Andy McMillan rapping the crossbar as he slid towards his own net, the mighty Mark Tinkler whipping the ball away from Barlow's feet as he closed in on Bobby Mimms.

City were struggling to get any foothold on the spongy surface, though their most likely avenue for success was Gordon Connelly.

When fed by Neil Tolson, the winger flashed a low cross back, Tolson thumping the ball a yard over from 15 yards.

But that was a rare incursion. City were plainly unable to get possession and when they did it was surrendered cheaper than a £1 novelty shop at the seaside.

The only surprise about Wigan's opening goal was that it took so long to arrive. Barlow's skimmed shot eluded Mimms, the ball ricocheting off Barry Jones' knee the defender's second own goal in as many matches.

A short-corner soon after and Colin Greenall's bald pate applied the finishing touch to Paul Rogers' cross.

To restore some sort of balance debutant Rory Prendergast was withdrawn at half-time, the youngster meriting sympathy as the supply to him was anorexic.

Scott Jordan's introduction coincided with City's brightest spell, Martin Garratt setting about Scott Green down the left. But the flare of promise was doused by Wigan's third, fortuitous goal.

The rampaging Bradshaw left Connelly in his wake and when his long-range shot deflected off Tinkler, Simon Haworth somehow swished the ball under Mimms for the third goal. A certain home radio reporter was now dreaming of big money having placed a £1 bet on odds of 100-1 on Wigan winning 5-0.

That City would not score was strengthened when, with Richard Cresswell's first sight of goal, he was denied by Wigan 'keeper Roy Carroll.

Home debutant Andy Liddell carved the visitors apart with a breath-taking break borne out of City pressure. Ushering a pass to Haworth, Liddell lashed his cunning back-heel high into the rigging.

Six minutes from time and four became five, Haworth nodding in from almost on the goal-line after Mimms saved a close-range shot from substitute David Lee.

Neither Tinkler, whose resistance in defence was leonine, nor Jordan, whose sweet passing at least kept City's midfield engine running, deserved to be on the end of a five-goal flattening.

But City are sagging. The crest of confidence from profitable swaggers to Burnley, Walsall, Fulham and Blackpool has vanished quicker than any spectre.

Unless they quickly get it back they will not have a ghost of a chance of halting the rot.

York City Intermediates game against Darlington was called off.

Counting cost of away-day blues

FEAR and loathing left York City boss Alan Little a downcast figure at Springfield Park.

City's 5-0 defeat signalled an alarming about-turn in away form in which the Minstermen have lost their last three on the road-shows.

Prior to that depressing run City had only lost one of their previous five games on their travels and that on the opening day of the season.

Little sadly acknowledged the Wigan woe as City's worst performance of the season, attributing it to an unwarranted and unwelcome dread from his charges.

"We started with fear and that's down to the players," he insisted.

"I tried to give them confidence to beat this team and I believed we could with the players we had out there.

"But we never began well. We allowed Wigan to boss the game.

"We stood off and then we were 2-0 down. We had a go back at them, but by then it was too late. We never had a go when it mattered."

City were initially going to field a wing-back formation, but went back to an orthodox flat back four when it was discovered that Wigan's tricky winger David Lee was not going to start the match.

"It still believe that was the best way to play against a front three like Wigan had. But you cannot start in fear and allow a team to dictate like we did."

His only consolation was the second-half recovery in which a crop of City players showed an increased desire to win. "We gave it a go, even if it was too late."

But he conceded the pressure was on to extract a good result from Wednesday night's re-arranged trip to buoyant Reading.

Said Little: "People will now be saying what's going on with York City. But we've got to dig in there. We know these players can do it. They've shown that already this season.

"But we have got to get a good performance and get a good result."

Player-coach Neil Thompson, who returned to action after a three-week absence through injury, agreed that City had been too negative from the start.

"We never put enough pressure on Wigan and they took control," he said.

"We also defended badly and I would put my hand up for two or three of the goals. Wigan are a good side, but we never got to grips with the movement of their front three."

Match Notes:

5min: City let-off as Andy McMillan's sliding interception screws the ball against the crossbar.

13min: Well-timed tackle from Mark Tinkler quells danger from Stuart Barlow.

19min: Gordon Connelly link with Neil Tolson ends with the latter lashing a 15-yard drive over the bar.

31min: Barlow's low shot beats Mimms and is turned in by the luckless Barry Jones. 1-0.

36min: A short corner routine unpicks City, Colin Greenall heading in Paul Rogers' cross. 2-0.

47min: Tolson vainly claims a penalty as his standing foot is clipped by Gareth Griffiths. Referee John Kirkby says no.

56min: Carl Bradshaw's shot squirts off Tinkler for Simon Haworth to screw an angled drive past Mimms. 3-0.

70min: Jones' downward header from Tinkler's flick is City's first test for Wigan goalkeeper Roy Carroll.

73min: Richard Cresswell put through but his low shot finds Carroll alert.

75min: Liddell's one-two with Haworth slices open the City defence, Liddell hoisting the ball high into the net. 4-0.

84min: Substitute David Lee's touch frim Bradshaw's deep cross is parried by Mimms, but the unmarked Haworth nods the ball home. 5-0.

Stats:

Half time:Wigan 2, York City 0

Shots on target: Wigan 10, York City 2

Corner kicks: Wigan 6, York City 3

Corner kicks: Wigan 6, York City 3

Weather: Mild, just like City

Tap and Spile Man of the Match:

Mark Tinkler. Despite the five-goal caning Tinkler was superb. But for his covering and challenges the defeat may have been much heavier.

Fans panel 1998-99

'Was that City's worst of the season?'

Gary Duncanson, 17

Yes. We didn't play at all. I didn't think anybody performed at all.The defence was awful, evey goal was terrible. There were four or five players stood around doing nothing. It was embarrassing.

Julian Holden, 32

Jointly with Preston and Colchester. It seemed as if all the extra spark and enthusiasm from the last few games had gone. They are a footballing side which we are supposed to play better against so to get beat like that was embarrassing.

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