Andrew Johnson: Everton had to battle to win ‘hardest game’

Jan 21 2008 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

ANDREW JOHNSON admits Everton had to battle to win “one of the hardest games” of their season when they overcame Wigan Athletic 2-1 yesterday.

The Everton striker opened the scoring at the JJB Stadium in the 39th minute when he capitalised on a horrendous error from the hapless Titus Bramble.

Everton added a second three minutes later as Wigan failed to clear a corner, the loose ball running on for Joleon Lescott to tap home at the far post.

Phil Jagielka’s own goal gave Wigan hope but the visitors held on to move into fourth place.

And Johnson said: “Wigan are a good team and this is a hard place to come and get a result.

“Physically this is one of the hardest games we’ll play but the important thing is that we got the three points and we’re sitting pretty in the league.

“For the goal I just chased it down and when the chance came I managed to put it away.”

Lescott added: “We knew it is was going to be tough game. Next we’ve got Chelsea at home and that is a massive game for us.

“I was pleased to score and it is vital this season that we don’t just rely on Andrew and we all chip in with goals where we can.”

Wigan manager Steve Bruce conceded his team were affected by Bramble’s mistake, which came towards the end of a half the Latics had dominated.

“I’m walking down the tunnel at half time thinking how can I really say anything?” said Bruce. “They’ve done everything we asked. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.

“We looked the better team for 40 minutes but we made a mistake that cost us the game, and I don’t think we had recovered from it for the second goal at the corner.

“If you make mistakes like that in the Premier League then you get punished. People don’t miss. Unfortunately for Titus, he has made a horrible mistake that has cost us badly.

“He’s been terrific since I walked through the door, even though he got my career here off to a bad start by giving that goal to Man City after 20 seconds.

“There’s nobody more disappointed than he is. But he must increase his concentration levels. Normally with age you get better as a defender, and let’s hope he does.”

Bruce joined Everton counterpart David Moyes in criticising the playing surface at the JJB.

“The pitch is giving us grave concerns,” he said. “It seems to have rained for six weeks since I got here. I felt sorry for both keepers, they are capable kickers but when they were clearing backpasses the ball was like a bouncing bomb on that pitch.”