2000–01 Wigan Athletic F.C. season explained

Club:	Wigan Athletic
Season:	2000–01
Manager:	Bruce Rioch (until 27 February 2001) Colin Greenall (caretaker until 4 April) Steve Bruce (from 4 April)
Chairman:	Dave Whelan
Stadium:	JJB Stadium
League:	Second Division
League Result:	6th (qualified for play-offs)
Cup1:	Play-offs
Cup1 Result:	Semi-finals
Cup2:	FA Cup
Cup2 Result:	Second round
Cup3:	League Cup
Cup3 Result:	Second round
Cup4:	Football League Trophy
Cup4 Result:	Second round
League Topscorer:	Simon Haworth (11)
Average Attendance:	6,774
Prevseason:	1999–2000
Nextseason:	2001–02

During the 2000–01 English football season, Wigan Athletic F.C. competed in the Football League Second Division.

Season summary

John Benson left after the end of the previous season, and former Arsenal manager Bruce Rioch was appointed in his place. Rioch had Wigan challenging for a play-off place but left in February; Wigan claimed that Rioch resigned, but Rioch insisted that he had been sacked. Former Manchester United player Steve Bruce took over and cemented Wigan's place in the top six, but they were knocked out of the play-offs by Reading in the semi-finals. Bruce then left to take charge of First Division Crystal Palace. Former Wigan striker Paul Jewell, who had previously led Bradford City to promotion to the Premier League but had failed to replicate the feat with Sheffield Wednesday, was appointed as his replacement.

Defender Arjan de Zeeuw was named Wigan's player of the season.

Transfers

In

No.	Player	Position	From	Fee	Date	Notes
10		FW		£350,000	4 August 2000	^[1]
19		MF		£450,000	November 2000	^[2]
20		DF		Free	November 2000
20		MF		£175,000	16 February 2001	^[3]
37		DF		£550,000	2 March 2001	^[4]
38		FW		£750,000	2 March 2001

Out

No.	Player	Position	To	Fee	Date	Notes
33		GK		Free	September 2000
20		MF		Free	October 2000
32		MF		Free	15 March 2001	^[5]
2		DF		Released	21 May 2001	^[6]
5		DF		Released	21 May 2001
11		MF		Released	21 May 2001
15		DF		Released	21 May 2001
16		MF		Released	21 May 2001
22		MF		Released	21 May 2001
23		MF		Released	21 May 2001
28	Francis McMahon	DF		Released	21 May 2001
36		MF		Released	21 May 2001
19		MF		Contract terminated	22 May 2001	^[7]

Loans in

No.	Player	Pos	From	Date	Duration	Notes
33		GK		November 2000	One month
29		MF		2 December 2000	One month	^[8]
33		GK		1 January 2001	Two months	^[9] ^[10]
32		FW		22 March 2001	End of season	^[11]
33		GK		March 2001	End of season

Loans out

League

See main article: 2000-01 Football League.

Results

Wigan Athletic's score comes first^[12]

Legend

Win

Draw

Loss

Game	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Scorers	Notes
1	12 August 2000	Swansea City	A	0–0	8,391
2	19 August 2000	Luton Town	H	2–1	6,518	McGibbon, Liddell
3	26 August 2000	Wrexham	A	3–1	5,271	Liddell, Haworth, de Zeeuw	^[13]
4	2 September 2000	Walsall	A	0–2	7,156		^[14]
5	9 September 2000	Colchester United	H	3–1	5,782	Haworth (3)	^[15]
6	12 September 2000	Peterborough United	H	1–0	4,798	Kilford
7	16 September 2000	Bristol Rovers	A	0–0	8,109
8	23 September 2000	Northampton Town	H	2–1	6,294	Haworth, Liddell
9	30 September 2000	Swindon Town	A	2–2	4,895	Haworth, Green
10	6 October 2000	Reading	H	1–1	7,021	Bradshaw
11	14 October 2000	Notts County	A	2–2	4,567	Roberts, Redfearn (pen)
12	17 October 2000	Bournemouth	A	0–0	3,035
13	21 October 2000	Port Vale	H	1–0	6,275	Liddell
14	24 October 2000	Oxford United	A	2–0	4,030	Green, Liddell	^[16]
15	28 October 2000	Bury	H	1–0	6,622	Kilford
16	4 November 2000	Rotherham United	A	1–1	6,192	Griffiths
17	7 November 2000	Millwall	H	1–0	5,822	Liddell	^[17]
18	11 November 2000	Cambridge United	H	2–1	6,537	Roberts, Wanless (own goal)	^[18]
19	25 November 2000	Bristol City	A	1–1	12,708	Carey (own goal)	^[19]
20	2 December 2000	Brentford	A	2–2	4,144	Ashcroft (2)
21	16 December 2000	Wycombe Wanderers	H	2–1	5,779	Haworth, Roberts
22	23 December 2000	Stoke City	H	1–1	8,957	Gunnarsson (own goal)	^[20]
23	26 December 2000	Oldham Athletic	A	1–2	7,750	Haworth	^[21]
24	30 December 2000	Luton Town	A	2–0	5,332	Haworth, Bidstrup
25	1 January 2001	Wrexham	H	0–0	6,515
26	6 January 2001	Swansea City	H	2–0	5,571	Liddell (2)	^[22]
27	13 January 2001	Millwall	A	1–3	15,317	Roberts	^[23]
28	20 January 2001	Oldham Athletic	H	3–1	8,274	Ashcroft, Redfearn (2)
29	27 January 2001	Stoke City	A	0–2	16,859
30	2 February 2001	Walsall	H	1–1	9,586	Ashcroft
31	10 February 2001	Colchester United	A	2–0	3,275	Bidstrup, Liddell	^[24]
32	17 February 2001	Bristol Rovers	H	0–0	7,271
33	20 February 2001	Peterborough United	A	0–2	4,111		^[25]
34	24 February 2001	Northampton Town	A	0–1	5,571
35	3 March 2001	Swindon Town	H	0–0	6,563		^[26]
36	6 March 2001	Notts County	H	1–1	5,021	Bradshaw (pen)	^[27]
37	9 March 2001	Reading	A	0–1	12,307		^[28]
38	17 March 2001	Bournemouth	H	1–1	5,878	McGibbon	^[29]
39	24 March 2001	Port Vale	A	0–0	5,017		^[30]
40	31 March 2001	Wycombe Wanderers	A	2–1	4,939	McCulloch, Beagrie	^[31]
41	7 April 2001	Brentford	H	1–3	6,502	Haworth	^[32]
42	14 April 2001	Oxford United	H	3–2	5,322	Haworth, Ashcroft (pen), McCulloch	^[33]
43	16 April 2001	Bury	A	1–0	4,915	Balmer	^[34]
44	21 April 2001	Rotherham United	H	0–2	8,836		^[35]
45	28 April 2001	Cambridge United	A	2–1	4,776	McCulloch, Bradshaw (pen)	^[36]
46	5 May 2001	Bristol City	H	0–0	10,048		^[37]

Second Division play-offs

!Round!!Date!!Opponent!!Venue!!Result!!Attendance!!Goalscorers!!Notes

Semi-final (1st leg)	13 May 2001	Reading	H	0–0	12,638		^[38]
Semi-final (2nd leg)	16 May 2001	Reading	A	1–2	22,034	Nicholls	^[39]
Wigan lost 1–2 on aggregate

Cups

FA Cup

See main article: 2000–01 FA Cup.

!Round!!Date!!Opponent!!Venue!!Result!!Attendance!!Goalscorers!!Notes

First	18 November 2000	Dorchester Town	H	3–1	3,883	Roberts, Bidstrup, McIvor (own goal)	^[40]
Second	12 December 2000	Notts County	H	1–1	3,886	Ashcroft	^[41]
Second (replay)	19 December 2000	Notts County	A	1–2 (a.e.t.)	3,349	Kilford	^[42]

League Cup

See main article: 2000–01 Football League Cup.

!Round!!Date!!Opponent!!Venue!!Result!!Attendance!!Goalscorers!!Notes

First (1st leg)	22 August 2000	Scunthorpe United	H	1–0	2,725	Roberts
First (2nd leg)	5 September 2000	Scunthorpe United	A	4–1	2,062	Sharp, Kilford, Haworth, Liddell	^[43]
Wigan won 5–1 on aggregate
Second (1st leg)	19 September 2000	Wimbledon	A	0–0	1,941		^[44]
Second (2nd leg)	26 September 2000	Wimbledon	H	1–2	5,387	Haworth	^[45]
Wigan lost 1–2 on aggregate

Football League Trophy

See main article: 2000-01 Football League Trophy.

!Round!!Date!!Opponent!!Venue!!Result!!Attendance!!Goalscorers!!Notes

First (Northern)	9 January 2001	Oldham Athletic	A	3–2 (a.e.t.)	2,551	McLaughlin, McLoughlin (2)	^[46]
Second (Northern)	30 January 2001	Walsall	A	1–2	3,436	Padula

Squad

Squad at end of season^[47]

Left club during season

Notes and References

1. Web site: Latics sign new striker. BBC Sport . 8 January 2023 . 4 August 2000.
2. Web site: November Transfers . The Telegraph . 8 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110718140154/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2996494/November-Transfers.html . 18 July 2011 . 6 December 2000.
3. Web site: Well's Brannan moves to Wigan . BBC Sport . 8 January 2023 . 16 February 2001.
4. Web site: Well duo sign for Wigan . BBC Sport . 8 January 2023 . 2 March 2001.
5. Web site: Redfearn set to join Halifax . Wigan Athletic A.F.C. . 9 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20010707085927/http://www.wiganlatics.co.uk/main/news/readoldnews.asp?artno=406 . 7 July 2001.
6. Web site: Press Release . Wigan Athletic A.F.C. . 21 May 2001 . 9 January 2023 . 11 July 2001 . https://web.archive.org/web/20010711054430/http://www.wiganlatics.co.uk/main/news/readoldnews.asp?artno=587.
7. Web site: Bidstrup returns Home . Wigan Athletic A.F.C. . 22 May 2001 . 9 January 2023 . 11 July 2001 . https://web.archive.org/web/20010711054828/http://www.wiganlatics.co.uk/main/news/readoldnews.asp?artno=588.
8. Web site: Winger's loan move to Wigan could prompt lucrative deal . Lancashire Telegraph . 8 January 2023 . 2 December 2000.
9. Web site: Marriott joins Wigan on loan . BBC Sport . 8 January 2023 . 1 January 2001.
10. Web site: Marsh put up for sale . BBC Sport . 8 January 2023 . 29 January 2001.
11. Web site: Greenall Speaks about Transfers . Wigan Athletic A.F.C. . 9 January 2023 . http://www.wiganlatics.co.uk/main/news/readoldnews.asp?artno=428 . 7 July 2001 . 22 March 2001.
12. Web site: Wigan Athletic results for the 2000-2001 season - Statto.com . 24 February 2013 . 14 February 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160214205213/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/wigan-athletic/2000-2001/results . dead .
13. Web site: Wrexham 1-3 Wigan . BBC Sport . 4 January 2023 . 26 August 2000.
14. Web site: Walsall 2-0 Wigan . BBC Sport . 4 January 2023 . 2 September 2000.
15. Web site: Wigan 3-1 Colchester . BBC Sport . 4 January 2023 . 9 September 2000.
16. Web site: Oxford 0-2 Wigan . BBC Sport . 4 January 2023 . 24 October 2000.
17. Web site: Wigan 1-0 Millwall . BBC Sport . 4 January 2023 . 7 November 2000.
18. Web site: Wigan 2-1 Cambridge . BBC Sport . 4 January 2023 . 11 November 2000.
19. Web site: Bristol City 1-1 Wigan . BBC Sport . 4 January 2023 . 25 November 2000.
20. Web site: Prestage . Mike . Gunnarsson's blunder rescues Wigan . The Guardian . 4 January 2023 . 24 December 2000.
21. Web site: Oldham Wigan . BBC Sport . 4 January 2023 . 26 December 2000.
22. Web site: Wigan 2-0 Swansea . BBC Sport . 4 January 2023 . 6 January 2001.
23. Web site: Cox . Gerry . Moody mauls Wigan . The Guardian . 4 January 2023 . 14 January 2001.
24. Web site: Colchester 0-2 Wigan . BBC Sport . 4 January 2023 . 10 February 2001.
25. Web site: Peterborough 2-0 Wigan . BBC Sport . 4 January 2023 . 20 February 2001.
26. Web site: Wigan 0-0 Swindon . BBC Sport . 4 January 2023 . 3 March 2001.
27. Web site: Full Time: Latics 1 - 1 Notts. County . Wigan Athletic A.F.C. . 9 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20010702054550/http://www.wiganlatics.co.uk/main/news/readoldnews.asp?artno=386 . 2 July 2001 . 6 March 2001.
28. Web site: Reading 1-0 Wigan . BBC Sport . 4 January 2023 . 9 March 2001.
29. Web site: Wigan 1-1 B'mouth . BBC Sport . 4 January 2023 . 17 March 2001.
30. Web site: Port Vale 0-0 Wigan . BBC Sport . 4 January 2023 . 24 March 2001.
31. Web site: Wycombe 1-2 Wigan . BBC Sport . 4 January 2023 . 31 March 2001.
32. Web site: Wigan 1-3 Brentford . BBC Sport . 4 January 2023 . 7 April 2001.
33. Web site: Wigan 3-2 Oxford . BBC Sport . 4 January 2023 . 14 April 2001.
34. Web site: Bury 0-1 Wigan . BBC Sport . 4 January 2023 . 16 April 2001.
35. Web site: Wigan 0-2 Rotherham . BBC Sport . 4 January 2023 . 21 April 2001.
36. Web site: Cambridge 1-2 Wigan . BBC Sport . 4 January 2023 . 28 April 2001.
37. Web site: Wigan 0-0 Bristol City . BBC Sport . 4 January 2023 . 5 May 2001.
38. Web site: Luckless Latics held by Reading . BBC Sport . 4 January 2023 . 13 May 2001.
39. Web site: Reading comeback thwarts Wigan . BBC Sport . 4 January 2023 . 16 May 2001.
40. Web site: Wigan 3-1 Dorchester . BBC Sport . 4 January 2023 . 18 November 2000.
41. Web site: Wigan 1-1 Notts County . BBC Sport . 4 January 2023 . 12 December 2000.
42. Web site: Notts County 2-1 Wigan (aet) . BBC Sport . 4 January 2023 . 19 December 2000.
43. Web site: Scunthorpe 1-4 Wigan (agg: 1-5) . BBC Sport . 4 January 2023 . 5 September 2000.
44. Web site: Wimbledon 0-0 Wigan . BBC Sport . 4 January 2023 . 19 September 2000.
45. Web site: Wigan 1-2 Wimbledon (Agg: 1-2) . BBC Sport . 4 January 2023 . 26 September 2000.
46. Web site: Oldham 2-3 Wigan . BBC Sport . 4 January 2023 . 9 January 2001.
47. Web site: FootballSquads - Wigan Athletic - 2000/01.