Wigan Athletic 1 Sunderland 1

WIGAN ATHLETIC
Alcaraz 87

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