Wigan 2 - 2 Stoke

Wigan   2 - 2   Stoke

Mohamed Diame holds off the challenge of Stoke's Jon Walters at the DW Stadium

By Julian Shea

Wigan twice came from behind to earn a pulsating draw with Stoke in miserable conditions at the DW Stadium.

Robert Huth's deflected free-kick put the Potters ahead, before Danny Collins's own goal put Wigan level.

Matthew Etherington restored Stoke's lead but Tom Cleverley's shot deflected in off Rory Delap to restore parity before half-time.

Both sides had chances in the second half, with Charles N'Zogbia's shot against the post the pick of the bunch.

Soggy conditions made for a slow start to the game and the opening exchanges were fairly tame until a minor flurry of activity leading up to the opening goal.

606: DEBATE Pulis needs to sort the defence out! Stokes Carribean dream

The visitors came close to opening the scoring when Delap caught the home defence napping with a pass into the path of Ricardo Fuller, but Wigan keeper Ali Al Habsi was quick off the mark to smother the shot.

Al Habsi's counterpart Asmir Begovic barely saw the ball in the opening period of the game but he was left counting his blessings that his first action was not picking the ball out of his net, after he collided with team-mate Danny Higginbotham at a corner, only for Wigan's Antolin Alcaraz to put his header off-target.

Pulis disappointed with leaky defence

A sluggish contest suddenly sparked to life, however, when Huth's low free-kick took a deflection off the defensive wall and rolled into the net, leaving Al Habsi with no chance.

The tempo of the game was increased by this first goal and it was then utterly transformed by three goals in 10 minutes.

First, Wigan levelled when, under pressure from Alcaraz, Stoke's Danny Collins deflected a Ben Watson free-kick into his own net - but the home fans had barely finished cheering when they found themselves 2-1 behind.

Wigan's Mohamed Diame was down on the ground injured but in the absence of any suggestion of stopping play, Stoke went on the attack with Kenwyne Jones doing well to keep the ball in play on the right, then picking out Fuller in a threatening position.

Fuller took the ball up to the touchline and from a tight angle laid the ball back into the path of Etherington, who had the simple task of scoring for the third weekend running.

Given their status as the Premier League's lowest scorers, Wigan could have been forgiven for losing heart after such a swift setback but they took the fight to Stoke and soon earned their reward - courtesy of another deflection.

Martinez encouraged by positive play

Begovic was left wrong-footed as Cleverley's shot from the edge of the box took a touch off Delap and went into the bottom corner.

The Bosnian goalkeeper was at his best shortly after the restart, however, producing a superb double save from Mauro Boselli, stretching high up to his right and then diving down low to his left to keep out two efforts from the Argentine striker.

This lit the fuse for an increasingly frantic second half.

Jon Walters should have done better for Stoke when he headed wide of the target from a Delap throw, and seconds later Al Habsi pulled off another excellent save when he got down low to his left to keep out Jones's goal-bound header.

Both sides had further chances to score, Wigan substitute Ronnie Stam being presented with one of the best when N'Zogbia's lay-off from the left found him in space but he sliced his shot wide.

Having switched wings, N'Zogbia then went agonisingly close to a goal of his own as he glided through the Stoke defence to produce a rasping shot across goal from a tight angle, only to see the ball rebound off the far post and out of danger.

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Wigan boss Roberto Martinez:

"We weren't too happy with the first half, we were missing the purpose that you need against a team as physical as Stoke but the way we finished was something to be proud of. We matched their physicality but were trying to be ourselves and make chances.

"We wanted to take the game early on but that anxiety puts you in a situation which doesn't allow you to relax, and the goals we conceded reflect that. The second half fills me with pride and another day we could have got the three points.

"The reaction was superb. We need to make sure we don't drop this level and then we'll get the rewards."

Stoke boss Tony Pulis:

"It was an open game, we're desperately disappointed with the two goals we conceded but we can't be greedy.

"The teams who have come up have done well so it's a much tighter, more compact league than last year - every point will count.

"To come away from home and make as many chances as we did shows we're trying to be positive. People get carried away, but we're bobbing along nicely, there's lots of spirit in the team which has always been the case, we've just added a bit more quality."

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Saturday, 4 December 2010

Barclays Premier League

Home Team	Score	Away Team	Time
Wigan	2-2	Stoke	FT
(HT 2-2)
Collins (og) 30 Delap (og) 40		Huth 18 Etherington 31

Wigan

• 26 Al Habsi
• 02 Gohouri
• 03 Alcaraz
• 13 S Caldwell
• 31 Figueroa yellow card (Stam 73)
• 06 Thomas
• 08 Watson
• 10 N'Zogbia
• 15 Cleverley
• 21 Diame
• 09 Boselli

Substitutes

• 12 Pollitt,
• 17 Boyce,
• 23 Stam,
• 39 Mustoe,
• 14 Gomez,
• 16 McArthur,
• 38 McManaman

Stoke

• 01 Begovic yellow card
• 03 Higginbotham
• 04 Huth
• 05 Collins
• 17 Shawcross yellow card
• 18 Whitehead
• 24 Delap
• 26 Etherington
• 09 Jones
• 10 Fuller (Tuncay 83)
• 19 Walters yellow card (Whelan 70)

Substitutes

• 29 Sorensen,
• 25 Faye,
• 30 Shotton,
• 06 Whelan,
• 15 Diao,
• 20 Tuncay,
• 07 Gudjohnsen

Ref: JonesAtt: 15,100

WIGAN

STOKE

Possession

• Wigan 52%
• Stoke 48%

Attempts on target

• Wigan 8
• Stoke 7

Attempts off target

• Wigan 7
• Stoke 4

Corners

• Wigan 5
• Stoke 4

Fouls

• Wigan 11
• Stoke 10

• Final Result
• 90:00+3:05 The referee brings the game to a close.
• Full Time
• 90:00+2:47 Defending throw-in by Danny Collins (Stoke).
• 90:00+2:28 Cross by Tom Cleverley (Wigan), clearance by Robert Huth (Stoke).
• 90:00+2:13 Attacking throw-in by Ronnie Stam (Wigan).
• 90:00+1:26 Defending throw-in by Steve Gohouri (Wigan).
• 90:00+0:22 Goal kick taken long by Asmir Begovic (Stoke).
• 89:35 Cross by Matthew Etherington (Stoke), header by Tuncay Sanli (Stoke) from centre of penalty area (12 yards), comfortable save (caught) by Ali Al Habsi (Wigan).
• 88:55 Defending throw-in by Danny Collins (Stoke).
• 88:31 Goal kick taken long by Ali Al Habsi (Wigan).
• 87:57 Inswinging corner from right by-line taken left-footed by Matthew Etherington (Stoke) to centre, header by Danny Higginbotham (Stoke) from centre of penalty area (6 yards), missed left.
• 87:24 Attacking throw-in by Rory Delap (Stoke).
• 86:39 Foul by Robert Huth (Stoke) on Steve Gohouri (Wigan). Free kick taken right-footed by Ali Al Habsi (Wigan) from own half, resulting in open play.
• 86:08 Attacking throw-in by Rory Delap (Stoke).
• 85:34 Defending throw-in by Robert Huth (Stoke).
• 84:42 Foul by Steve Gohouri (Wigan) on Dean Whitehead (Stoke). Free kick taken right-footed by Asmir Begovic (Stoke) from own half, resulting in open play.
• 84:26 Cross by Tuncay Sanli (Stoke), clearance by Antolin Alcaraz (Wigan).
• 83:45 Goal kick taken long by Asmir Begovic (Stoke).
• Correction - 83:30 Charles N'Zogbia takes a shot. Asmir Begovic makes a save.
• 83:30 Shot by Charles N'Zogbia (Wigan) left-footed from left side of penalty area (12 yards), save (parried) by Asmir Begovic (Stoke). Attacking throw-in by Tom Cleverley (Wigan).
• Correction - 82:16 Unfair challenge on Danny Collins by Ben Watson results in a free kick. Asmir Begovic restarts play with the free kick.
• Correction - 82:16 Substitution Tuncay Sanli replaces Ricardo Fuller.
• 82:16 Foul by Ben Watson (Wigan) on Danny Collins (Stoke). Free kick taken right-footed by Asmir Begovic (Stoke) from own half, resulting in open play.
• 82:16 Substitution Stoke substitution: Ricardo Fuller replaced by Tuncay Sanli (tactical).
• 81:06 Attacking throw-in by Rory Delap (Stoke). Goal kick taken long by Ali Al Habsi (Wigan).
• 80:19 Goal kick taken long by Asmir Begovic (Stoke).
• 78:17 Shot by Tom Cleverley (Wigan) right-footed from centre of penalty area (12 yards), blocked by Ryan Shawcross (Stoke). Outswinging corner from right by-line taken right-footed by Ben Watson (Wigan) to far post, header by Steven Caldwell (Wigan) from centre of penalty area (12 yards), missed right. Goal kick taken long by Asmir Begovic (Stoke).
• 77:02 Foul by Mohamed Diame (Wigan) on Dean Whitehead (Stoke). Free kick crossed right-footed by Glenn Whelan (Stoke) from right channel, clearance by Mohamed Diame (Wigan).
• 76:16 Cross by Charles N'Zogbia (Wigan), resulting in open play. Goal kick taken long by Asmir Begovic (Stoke).
• 75:48 Cross by Ronnie Stam (Wigan), clearance by Danny Higginbotham (Stoke).
• 74:12 Foul by Ricardo Fuller (Stoke) on Ben Watson (Wigan). Free kick taken right-footed by Ben Watson (Wigan) from own half, passed.
• 73:51 Goal kick taken short by Ali Al Habsi (Wigan).
• 73:14 Defending throw-in by Ronnie Stam (Wigan).
• 72:02 Foul by Tom Cleverley (Wigan) on Robert Huth (Stoke). Free kick taken right-footed by Asmir Begovic (Stoke) from own half, resulting in open play.
• 72:02 Substitution Wigan substitution: Maynor Figueroa replaced by Ronnie Stam (injury).
• 70:39 Defending throw-in by Robert Huth (Stoke).
• 69:44 Substitution Stoke substitution: Jonathan Walters replaced by Glenn Whelan (tactical).
• 68:49 Attacking throw-in by Danny Collins (Stoke).
• Correction - 67:11 The ball is delivered by Matthew Etherington, Jonathan Walters takes a shot. Ali Al Habsi makes a comfortable save.
• 67:11 Cross by Matthew Etherington (Stoke), header by Jonathan Walters (Stoke) from centre of penalty area (12 yards), comfortable save (caught) by Ali Al Habsi (Wigan).
• 65:41 Foul by Jonathan Walters (Stoke) on Maynor Figueroa (Wigan). Free kick taken left-footed by Antolin Alcaraz (Wigan) from own half, passed.
• 65:41 Booking Jonathan Walters (Stoke) booked for unsporting behaviour.
• 65:06 Attacking throw-in by Rory Delap (Stoke).
• 64:43 Defending throw-in by Danny Collins (Stoke).
• 64:04 Goal kick taken long by Asmir Begovic (Stoke).
• 63:15 Shot by Charles N'Zogbia (Wigan) left-footed from left channel (20 yards), blocked by Danny Collins (Stoke). Corner from left by-line taken short right-footed by Ben Watson (Wigan). Cross by Tom Cleverley (Wigan), clearance by Danny Collins (Stoke). Attacking throw-in by Steve Gohouri (Wigan).
• 62:43 Defending throw-in by Robert Huth (Stoke).
• 62:10 Cross by Charles N'Zogbia (Wigan), save (caught) by Asmir Begovic (Stoke).
• 60:43 Jonathan Walters (Stoke) caught offside. Free kick taken right-footed by Ali Al Habsi (Wigan) from own half, resulting in open play.
• 60:12 Attacking throw-in by Rory Delap (Stoke).
• 58:44 Foul by Maynor Figueroa (Wigan) on Jonathan Walters (Stoke). Free kick drilled right-footed by Robert Huth (Stoke) from right channel (25 yards), hit wall.
• 58:44 Booking Maynor Figueroa (Wigan) booked for unsporting behaviour.
• 58:22 Foul by Charles N'Zogbia (Wigan) on Danny Collins (Stoke). Free kick taken left-footed by Asmir Begovic (Stoke) from own half, resulting in open play.
• 57:29 Defending throw-in by Robert Huth (Stoke).
• Correction - 55:59 Booking Ricardo Fuller goes into the book for dissent.
• Correction - 55:59 Booking Ryan Shawcross booked for dissent.
• 55:59 Booking Ryan Shawcross (Stoke) booked for dissent.
• 55:51 Booking Booking for Ricardo Fuller for dissent.
• 54:46 Cross by Danny Collins (Stoke), shot by Dean Whitehead (Stoke) right-footed from right channel (18 yards), blocked by Steven Caldwell (Wigan). Foul by Ricardo Fuller (Stoke) on Steven Caldwell (Wigan). Free kick taken right-footed by Ali Al Habsi (Wigan) from own half, resulting in open play.
• 54:32 Header by Kenwyne Jones (Stoke) from centre of penalty area (6 yards), save (parried) by Ali Al Habsi (Wigan).
• 53:41 Goal kick taken short by Ali Al Habsi (Wigan).
• 53:14 Header by Jonathan Walters (Stoke) from left side of six-yard box (6 yards), missed left.
• 52:13 Attacking throw-in by Rory Delap (Stoke).
• 51:31 Defending throw-in by Robert Huth (Stoke).
• 50:49 Kenwyne Jones (Stoke) caught offside. Free kick taken right-footed by Steven Caldwell (Wigan) from own half, passed.
• 50:10 Goal kick taken long by Asmir Begovic (Stoke).
• 49:59 Shot by Ben Watson (Wigan) right-footed from left channel (25 yards), missed right.
• 49:37 Cross by Steve Gohouri (Wigan), clearance by Danny Higginbotham (Stoke).
• 49:09 Foul by Rory Delap (Stoke) on Hendry Thomas (Wigan). Free kick taken right-footed by Antolin Alcaraz (Wigan) from own half, passed.
• 48:19 Goal kick taken long by Ali Al Habsi (Wigan).
• 48:10 Shot by Dean Whitehead (Stoke) right-footed from left channel (20 yards), missed right.
• 47:31 Attacking throw-in by Rory Delap (Stoke).
• 47:26 Defending throw-in by Danny Collins (Stoke).
• 46:50 Shot by Mauro Boselli (Wigan) right-footed from left side of six-yard box (6 yards), save (parried) by Asmir Begovic (Stoke). Shot by Mauro Boselli (Wigan) right-footed from left side of six-yard box (6 yards), save (fumbled) by Asmir Begovic (Stoke).
• 46:10 Attacking throw-in by Danny Collins (Stoke).
• 45:54 Defending throw-in by Steve Gohouri (Wigan).
• 45:08 Attacking throw-in by Danny Collins (Stoke).
• 45:01 The game restarts for the second half.
• Half Time
• 45:00+3:19 The whistle is blown to end the first half.
• 45:00+3:05 Goal kick taken long by Asmir Begovic (Stoke).
• 45:00+2:48 Shot by Ben Watson (Wigan) right-footed from left channel (30 yards), missed right.
• 45:00+1:11 Cross by Mauro Boselli (Wigan), clearance by Robert Huth (Stoke). Inswinging corner from left by-line taken right-footed by Ben Watson (Wigan) to far post, foul by Steven Caldwell (Wigan) on Asmir Begovic (Stoke). Free kick taken right-footed by Asmir Begovic (Stoke) from own half, resulting in open play.
• 45:00+0:36 Cross by Matthew Etherington (Stoke), clearance by Antolin Alcaraz (Wigan).
• 44:35 Outswinging corner from left by-line taken left-footed by Matthew Etherington (Stoke) to near post, resulting in open play.
• 44:25 Cross by Matthew Etherington (Stoke), blocked by Ben Watson (Wigan).
• 42:51 Foul by Ricardo Fuller (Stoke) on Steven Caldwell (Wigan). Free kick taken right-footed by Ali Al Habsi (Wigan) from own half, resulting in open play.
• Correction - 41:49 Unfair challenge on Kenwyne Jones by Hendry Thomas results in a free kick. Free kick crossed by Robert Huth, clearance made by Steve Gohouri.
• 41:49 Foul by Hendry Thomas (Wigan) on Kenwyne Jones (Stoke). Free kick crossed right-footed by Robert Huth (Stoke) from left channel, clearance by Steve Gohouri (Wigan).
• 41:22 Goal kick taken long by Asmir Begovic (Stoke).
• 39:33 Shot by Tom Cleverley (Wigan) right-footed from left channel (20 yards), assist by Tom Cleverley (Wigan) from left channel.Blocked by Rory Delap (Stoke).
• 39:33 GOAL - Rory Delap:Wigan 2 - 2 Stoke Own goal by Rory Delap (Stoke) (bottom-left of goal) from own half (12 yards).Wigan 2-2 Stoke.
• 39:17 Attacking throw-in by Maynor Figueroa (Wigan).
• 38:32 Goal kick taken long by Asmir Begovic (Stoke).
• 38:14 Booking Asmir Begovic (Stoke) booked for time wasting.
• 37:30 Shot by Maynor Figueroa (Wigan) left-footed from left channel (30 yards), save (parried) by Asmir Begovic (Stoke). Shot by Mohamed Diame (Wigan) right-footed from left side of six-yard box (6 yards), missed left.
• 36:08 Goal kick taken long by Asmir Begovic (Stoke).
• 36:03 Cross by Steve Gohouri (Wigan), resulting in ball out of play.
• 34:50 Goal kick taken long by Asmir Begovic (Stoke).
• 33:57 Attacking throw-in by Maynor Figueroa (Wigan).
• 33:15 Attacking throw-in by Robert Huth (Stoke).
• 30:55 Assist (cross) by Ricardo Fuller (Stoke) from right side of penalty area.
• 30:55 GOAL - Matthew Etherington:Wigan 1 - 2 Stoke Goal by Matthew Etherington (Stoke) left-footed (bottom-left of goal) from centre of penalty area (6 yards).Wigan 1-2 Stoke.
• 30:44 Shot by Mauro Boselli (Wigan) left-footed from left channel (20 yards), save (caught) by Asmir Begovic (Stoke).
• 29:02 Assist (cross) by Ben Watson (Wigan) from left wing.
• 29:02 GOAL - Danny Collins:Wigan 1 - 1 Stoke Own goal by Danny Collins (Stoke) right-footed (bottom-left of goal) from own half (6 yards).Wigan 1-1 Stoke.
• 28:27 Foul by Robert Huth (Stoke) on Tom Cleverley (Wigan). Free kick crossed right-footed by Ben Watson (Wigan) from left wing, resulting in open play.
• 27:43 Defending throw-in by Maynor Figueroa (Wigan).
• 27:01 Outswinging corner from left by-line taken left-footed by Matthew Etherington (Stoke) to near post, foul by Jonathan Walters (Stoke) on Mohamed Diame (Wigan). Free kick taken right-footed by Ali Al Habsi (Wigan) from own half, passed.
• 26:49 Cross by Matthew Etherington (Stoke), blocked by Steve Gohouri (Wigan).
• 26:11 Goal kick taken long by Asmir Begovic (Stoke).
• 24:50 Foul by Dean Whitehead (Stoke) on Charles N'Zogbia (Wigan). Free kick taken right-footed by Ben Watson (Wigan) from left wing, header by Steve Gohouri (Wigan) from left side of six-yard box (6 yards), over the bar.
• 24:29 Attacking throw-in by Tom Cleverley (Wigan).
• 24:03 Attacking throw-in by Robert Huth (Stoke).
• 23:01 Goal kick taken long by Asmir Begovic (Stoke).
• 22:51 Shot by Tom Cleverley (Wigan) curled right-footed from right channel (25 yards), over the bar.
• 22:33 Cross by Maynor Figueroa (Wigan), clearance by Danny Collins (Stoke).
• 22:03 Cross by Steve Gohouri (Wigan), clearance by Robert Huth (Stoke).
• 21:42 Attacking throw-in by Steve Gohouri (Wigan).
• Correction - 20:57 Free kick awarded for a foul by Danny Collins on Charles N'Zogbia. Ali Al Habsi restarts play with the free kick.
• 20:57 Foul by Danny Collins (Stoke) on Charles N'Zogbia (Wigan). Free kick taken right-footed by Ali Al Habsi (Wigan) from own half, passed.
• 19:57 Defending throw-in by Maynor Figueroa (Wigan).
• 19:08 Attacking throw-in by Rory Delap (Stoke).
• 18:39 Attacking throw-in by Robert Huth (Stoke).
• 18:35 Defending throw-in by Robert Huth (Stoke).
• 17:28 Foul by Hendry Thomas (Wigan) on Ricardo Fuller (Stoke).
• 17:28 GOAL - Robert Huth:Wigan 0 - 1 Stoke Goal by Robert Huth (Stoke) right-footed (bottom-right of goal) from left channel (30 yards).Wigan 0-1 Stoke.
• 15:57 Goal kick taken long by Asmir Begovic (Stoke).
• 14:44 Inswinging corner from left by-line taken right-footed by Ben Watson (Wigan) to centre, clearance by Kenwyne Jones (Stoke). Outswinging corner from right by-line taken right-footed by Ben Watson (Wigan) to centre, header by Antolin Alcaraz (Wigan) from centre of penalty area (6 yards), over the bar.
• 13:52 Defending throw-in by Maynor Figueroa (Wigan).
• 13:07 Foul by Hendry Thomas (Wigan) on Dean Whitehead (Stoke). Free kick taken left-footed by Danny Higginbotham (Stoke) from own half, resulting in open play.
• 11:01 Attacking throw-in by Rory Delap (Stoke).
• 10:42 Shot by Ricardo Fuller (Stoke) right-footed from right side of six-yard box (6 yards), save (parried) by Ali Al Habsi (Wigan).
• 9:11 Cross by Jonathan Walters (Stoke), clearance by Steve Gohouri (Wigan).
• 8:54 Attacking throw-in by Danny Collins (Stoke).
• 7:57 Defending throw-in by Danny Collins (Stoke).
• 7:14 Ricardo Fuller (Stoke) caught offside. Free kick taken right-footed by Ali Al Habsi (Wigan) from own half, resulting in open play.
• 6:39 Inswinging corner from right by-line taken left-footed by Matthew Etherington (Stoke) to centre, clearance by Mohamed Diame (Wigan).
• 6:31 Cross by Jonathan Walters (Stoke), blocked by Ben Watson (Wigan).
• 5:37 Foul by Hendry Thomas (Wigan) on Kenwyne Jones (Stoke). Free kick taken left-footed by Danny Higginbotham (Stoke) from own half, resulting in open play.
• 5:02 Attacking throw-in by Maynor Figueroa (Wigan).
• 4:13 Handball by Mauro Boselli (Wigan). Free kick taken right-footed by Asmir Begovic (Stoke) from own half, resulting in open play.
• 3:35 Defending throw-in by Robert Huth (Stoke).
• 2:39 Defending throw-in by Danny Collins (Stoke).
• 2:22 Attacking throw-in by Steve Gohouri (Wigan).
• 2:00 Defending throw-in by Danny Collins (Stoke).
• 0:54 Goal kick taken long by Asmir Begovic (Stoke).
• 0:34 Attacking throw-in by Steve Gohouri (Wigan).
• 0:00 The referee starts the match.

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