All Square – WBA 2-2 Latics

Wigan Athletic picked up a point at the Hawthorns last night when three were there for the taking, poor finishing once again being the bane of the Latics

The game started very brightly for Martinez`s men, Hugo Rodallega had an opportunity after just 14 seconds when he tried to lob West Brom keeper Boaz Myhill but a defender managed to block the effort and it went out for a corner.

West Brom couldn`t get hold of the ball for the first 5 minutes of the game, but on five minutes they did, a long ball from Jerome Thomas sent Peter Odemwingie racing clear of Steve Gohouri and the Russian born Nigeria international slipped the ball under the out rushing Ali Al-Habsi to put the Baggies ahead against the run of play.

There was no panic in the Latics and following a little flurry from West Brom, Wigan started to take control of the game again with Charles N`Zogbia absolutely superb and running the Baggies defence ragged.

James McCarthy makes a big difference to the way Latics play when he is in the team and the influential youngster started to dictate the midfield

On 20 minutes the Latics were level, Charles N`Zogbia skipping inside from the right was tripped on the edge of the box, Charlie dusted himself down and took the free-kick curling his effort in at the far post.

Latics stepped up the pace and drove at West Brom with N`Zogbia going close and being a constant threat, but the goal that was threatening came from another set play.

On 43 minutes Maynor Figueroa was up ended on the left, just outside the West Brom penalty box, up stepped Ben Watson and he drove a quality free-kick into the net from 20 yards.

After the half-time interval Latics had chances to put the game to bed, Franco Di Santo was clean through and stabbed his effort at Myhill, the ball rebounded to Rodallega who skied over with the goal at his mercy.

Rodallega then had an opportunity cutting in from the left, but blasted over, why does he always go for the power instead of finesse? N`Zogbia had an effort that was well held by Myhill but then West Brom started to come back into the game.

James McCarthy was struggling to keep up with play after his long absence and had to be replaced on 62 minutes and the Latics seemed to lose the midfield battle when the young Scotsman went off.

West Brom hit the post twice and Al-Habsi made a great save as the Baggies pressed for the equaliser. When Maynor Figueroa had to leave the field injured and Steve Gohouri switched to left back a lot of defensive cohesion was lost.

Marc-Antoine Fortune snatched the leveller for West Brom with just 10 minutes left when he headed home a Jerome Thomas cross from six yards out, Latics will feel hard done by to concede late in the game but on reflection perhaps a fair result

Teams
West Brom: Myhill; Jara, Cech, Olsson, Scharner, Thomas, Vela, Brunt, Mulumbu, Cox, Odemwingie

Subs: Carson, Shorey, Morrison, Reid, Tchoyi, Fortune, Tamas

Latics: Al Habsi; Boyce, G. Caldwell, Gohouri, Figueroa; Diame, McCarthy; N’Zogbia, Watson, Rodallega; Di Santo

Subs: Pollitt, Stam, S. Caldwell, Gomez, Moses, McArthur, Thomas