Jewell slams slapstick Wigan

Wigan manager Paul Jewell hit out at his players for conceding the "rank bad goals" at Reading that have left the Latics still teetering on the brink of the Barclays Premiership relegation zone.

Reading's 3-2 success at the Madejski Stadium was achieved thanks to goals from Ivar Ingimarsson, Shane Long and Leroy Lita after Emile Heskey had fired the visitors ahead in only the third minute.

Denny Landzaat pulled one back in stoppage time but there was no time left to prevent a club record ninth successive defeat and Jewell said: "For half an hour we were excellent. But then we gave our customary Fred Karno goal away and when that happens it is always difficult."

He added: "That happened twice - we gave another rubbish goal away and we were up against it.

"The first one was a cheap goal. We finished the half well but gave a daft goal away in the second half.

"The confidence we showed in the first half you wouldn't think we were down at the bottom of the table. But as soon as we come under a little bit of pressure at the moment we concede. We are not conceding good goals, we are conceding bad goals - rank bad goals."

Jewell was convinced Lita's clincher should have been ruled out because substitute Dave Kitson was offside.

He said: "Kitson was offside when he went in with the keeper. That's not why we lost the game but it's a factor because we ended up getting another goal back. That killed the game effectively."

Reading manager Steve Coppell admitted his side had been fortunate on that occasion, especially as Lita had also been offside in the build up.

He said: "I didn't see it but we aren't going to hand it back are we? There is a grey area at the moment and a certain element distrust of officials because I'm not sure it is clear to them."