Recent results in the league hadn’t gone our way and we entered the game against Everton on the back of three straight losses. Everton on the other hand had started the season well. What developed at the DW was a terrific game full of action and goals.
After receiving the red card at Sunderland, Gomez found himself dipped to the bench to make way for the returning Di Santo.
Wigan came out strong and the deadlock was broken 10 minutes in when Maloney crossed for Kone to head in from close range. The Ivorian was in the right place at the right time and gave Tim Howard no chance to grab his third goal of the campaign.
But the lead didn’t last long, 70 seconds in fact, and the Toffees were back level. Steven Pienar’s miss hit cross got more than a slice of luck, and fell nicely to the in form Jelavic who headed home.
However, Wigan were determined not to let this effect them, and they worked hard to get their second goal. They enjoyed long periods of possession and Maloney, Di Santo and Kone looked dangerous up front. Their link up play was exceptional and they challenged Howard’s goal in front of the travelling Everton fans.
It was only a matter of time before Wigan got their noses back in front and this came via the returning Argentine. Kone was the master of the goal as he got on the end of the ball, worked his way into box, evading a challenge from the Everton defender. Kone recovered excellently and got to the byline and pulled the ball back to Di Santo who smashed a powerful shot past Howard.
Tempers became flared on the field as Fellaini led with his arm and planted his elbow into Figueroa’s face. A reckless challenge and Fellaini could consider himself lucky to have not been leaving the field early.
Half time and Wigan were on top but David Moyes’ men came out strongly in the second half to dominate play.
Numerous chances came Everton’s way, but the Latics held strong with some good defending and excellent saves from Al Habsi. On the 85th minutes though Everton were awarded a penalty. Former Latic Leighton Baines stepped forward and smashed into the top corner.
Maloney had a great chance to win the game in injury time. He found himself in the box with a chance to shoot, however he could have squared it to either McCarthy or McArthur who were both storming into the box and would have had a tap in, but the Scotland international elected to shoot himself, the ball took a deflection off Coleman’s outstretched arm, looping over the bar for a corenr.
All in all it was a great game to watch, goals and chances galore. A point each was probably deserved and the right result. Both teams were fighting and scrapping for every ball, the Latics were better in the first half but Everton came out on top in the second. 2-2 was probably a fair result.
David McGrath
Teams
Latics – Al Habsi, Boyce, Ramis, Caldwell, Figueroa, Beausejour, McCarthy, McArthur, Maloney, Kone, Di Santo (McManaman 84)
Unused Subs – Pollitt, Jones, Watson, Gomez, Boselli, Miyaichi
Everton – Howard, Coleman, Baines, Heitinga (Distin 45), Jagielka, Neville (Anichebe 81), Osman, Pienaar, Fellaini, Mirallas (Naismith 90+3), Jelavic
Unused Subs – Mucha, Oviedo, Gueye, Duffy
Latics and Proud
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Entertaining game but disappointing to concede another late goal to them