Wigan Athletic couldn’t capitalise on Lee Cattermole’s sending off early in the first half and after having enough chances to cruise this game, it took a late goal from Antolin Alcaraz to cancel out Gyan’s opener on 66 minutes.

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE – DW STADIUM – Saturday 11th September 2010
 

WIGAN ATHLETIC
Alcaraz 87

1-1
SUNDERLAND
Gyan 66

Latics shouldn’t be throwing away points like this, but somehow we couldn’t find that nerve settling goal that would open the flood gates against 10 man Sunderland, Lee Cattermole reminded us of why we actually don’t miss him that much.

Instead of taking our chances we gifted Gyan an goal and we had to wait until the death to grab an equaliser, no more than we deserved, but we need to find that killer instinct and finish teams off before the dark side start shout for Bobby’s head again.

It was frustrating to see us dominate for large periods of the game but not take advantage of it, but it would have been a travesty should we have got nothing out of this game.

The early exchanges were very scrappy and end to end even though there weren’t any clear cut opportunities, Latics efforts were from long range that didn’t really test the keeper.

Andre Mariner decided to get very card happy dishing out yellows to three players within 21 minutes, by the 22nd minute Lee Cattermole was having an early bath. The ex-Latics favourite reminded us of his temperament which over shadows his undoubted talent.

From the resulting free kick Hugo Rodallega clipped the crossbar and then the rout started, we camped ourselves in the Black Cats half and created quite a few chances. Rodallega again shot just wide when he should have at least hit the target.

Hendry Thomas was getting more into the game and he had an effort just clear the bar and then James McCarthy did the same, both know that they could have done better from just inside the area.

The next two chances saw Boselli and Rodallega drift offside when clean through on goal, the half ended with a great move breaking down as Emmerson Boyce was the next one not to time his run correctly and flagged offside.

The second half should have been a continuance of the first half, but Bruce gave his team a new game plan and sitting back and stifling our play was the line they took. Although we did get some joy, we never had the clinical finish that we strive for.

Ironically it was from our best chance of the half that Sunderland scored their goal. A cracking shot from Boselli went high over the bar, from the resulting goal kick N’Zogbia got hold of the ball trying a one two with Boyce that allowed Charlie to pull the trigger.

As he was doing so a crunching tackle saw the ball ricochet to Onuoha who hoofed it up field and Henderson legged it, crossed it and Gyan volleyed from 3 yards into the back of the net.

After a period of both teams cancelling each other out, Latics did start to get some joy again with N’Zogbia, Di Santo and Rodallega all making moves.

Boselli’s parting action was somehow managing not to score from 2 yards after Di Santo had put an inch perfect cross on his head with the open goal waiting for him.

We didn’t have to wait long though as Antolin Alcaraz headed home from a free kick after Di Santo was clattered by Mensah. The free kick was taken by Rodallega which the keeper punched out to Cleverley; his wayward shot was perfect for Alcaraz to head home.

There was a frantic few minutes afterwards which saw us threaten the Black Cats goal again and again, but the Sunderland keeper was on top form and managed to get them home with a point.

Roberto will be very frustrated at this result but at the same time happy that we managed to get something out of it. I feel at least ten points need to be earned out of the next 6 games, or we will be in a pretty bad way, but I feel as this team grows we will come good.

Report by Jason Taylor

Cockney Latic Man of the Match: Ronnie Stam
Referee: André Mariner (West Midlands)
Attendance: 15,844
LINE UP
WIGAN ATHLETIC SUNDERLAND
26 Ali Al Habsi 22 Simon Mignolet
17 Emmerson Boyce 19 Titus Bramble
3 Antolin Alcaraz 29 Anton Ferdinand
2 Steve Gohouri 27 Ahmed Elmohamady
31 Maynor Figueroa 15 Nedum Onuoha
23 Ronnie Stam 8 Steed Malbranque
27 Mohamed Diame 6 Lee Cattermole
4 James McCarthy 10 Jordan Henderson
6 Hendry Thomas 3 Kieran Richardson
20 Hugo Rodallega 11 Darren Bent
9 Mauro Boselli 17 Danny Welbeck
SUBS
1 Chris Kirkland 24 Trevor Carson
13 Steven Caldwell 5 John Mensah
15 Tom Cleverley 2 Phil Bardsley
8 Ben Watson 7 Boudewijn Zenden
15 Jordi Gomez 16 Cristian Riveros
14 Charles N’Zogbia 25 Jack Colback
7 Franco Di Santo 33 Asamoah Gyan
TIMELINE
11′ Yellow Card Hendry Thomas    
18′     Yellow Card Lee Cattermole
21′ Yellow Card Emmerson Boyce    
22′     Yellow Card Red Card Lee Cattermole
28 Yellow Card Steve Gohouri    
33′     Player Off Ahmed Elmohamady
Player On Cristian Riveros
44′     Yellow Card Danny Welbeck
46′     Player Off Danny Welbeck
Player On Asamoah Gyan
53′ Player Off Ronnie Stam
Player On Charles N’Zogbia
   
54′ Player Off Hendry Thomas
Player On Franco Di Santo
   
66′     Goal Asamoah Gyan
75′ Player Off Mauro Boselli
Player On Tom Cleverley
   
80′     Player Off Kieran Richardson
Player On John Mensah
87′ Goal Antolin Alcaraz    
90′ Yellow Card Mohammed Diame    

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