Fulham 2 Wigan Athletic 1

Two defensive blunders cost Roberto Martinez’ side dearly and their battle to save their top flight status suffered a huge blow.

Jason Scotland’s first ever Premier League goal on 33 minutes had given Wigan the advantage as the two sides went in for the break and they looked good for a much needed victory.

However all their hard work from the opening period was well and truly undone moments after the restart when Paul Scharner made a calamitous mistake allowing himself to be dispossessed by Zoltan Gera.

The Hungarian international slid the ball across goal for Stefano Okaka, a half time replacement for David Elm, to flick the ball past Chris Kirkland with virtually his first touch of the ball.

The home side’s comeback was completed 11 minutes later when Brede Hangeland barged in, almost unopposed, to head home a Damien Duff corner for his first league goal of the campaign.

Fulham were looking slightly jaded, no surprise when you consider what has been asked of them so far this season and Wigan’s plan to take the game to their hosts seemed to be working in a first half that saw Mohamed Diame particularly impress in midfield and it came as little surprise when they took the lead through Scotland’s well taken goal.

Roy Hodgson’s side did have their chances to put their noses in front however but didn’t quite have that killer instinct in front of goal.

With Bobby Zamora rested David Elm was called upon to lead the front line and the Swede had a couple of decent chances early on but couldn’t find a way past Kirkland.

Fulham felt they had a valid shout for a penalty in the 18th minute following a challenge by Diame on Gera but referee Mark Clattenburg quite rightly ignored their appeals, a decision that didn’t go down well with the home fans.

A James McCarthy corner almost set up Scharner just before the half hour mark but his header fell just wide of the upright.

The Austrian saw another chance cleared off the line by Hangeland moments later after Mark Schwarzer had allowed the ball to fall at the Wigan defender’s feet.

The Fulham keeper was then called into action when he tipped a decent effort from Maynor Figueroa over the bar.

Wigan’s concerted pressure finally paid off three minutes later when Marcelo Moreno played on a Mario Melchiot cross allowing Jason Scotland to send a low drive into the bottom corner for his first ever top flight goal.

Kirkland needed to have his wits about him minutes before half time when a cross from Duff threatened to sneak in under the crossbar but the Wigan keeper was on hand to preserve his side’s half time advantage.

Hodgson’s decision to replace David Elm with on loan Roma striker Stefano Okaka instantly paid dividends when the 20-year-old got the feintest of touches on Gera’s low ball across the front of goal.

Wigan’s heads appeared to go down and Fulham began to dominate proceedings with the almost inevitable Hangeland match winner arriving shortly before the hour mark leaving Latics no closer to Premier Leage survival.