Wigan Athletic were unlucky not to have taken all three points in what was an entertaining encounter with Champions League quarter-finalists Tottenham Hotspur at the DW Stadium.
The Latics justifiably felt they should have had a penalty in the first half, Victor Moses took the ball into the Spurs box and was caught from behind by Assou-Ekotto, the clash of legs was undoubtedly accidental, but Moses was impeded and if the incident had occurred anywhere else on the field then match referee Andre Marriner would have been blowing his whistle for a free-kick.
The game started with a good pace about it and Spurs had the first effort when Pavlyuchenko had an effort from distance that went wide, Jenas also tested Al-Habsi in the Latics goal, his effort was gathered at the second attempt by the Latics keeper with Defoe rushing in.
At the other end Cleverley, Moses and McCarthy saw shots go wide and Hugo Rodallega hit an audacious effort from just inside the Latics half having spotted Spurs keeper Gomes way off his line, unfortunately Rodallega`s shot was way off as well.
The Latics finished the first half the stronger team and started the second in the same fashion.
Cleverley hit a great curling shot from 15 yards that Gomes just managed to finger tip around the post, Rodallega was unlucky when he found the ball at his feet 3 yards out, as he fired for what looked a certain goal Dawson and Bassong flung their bodies in the way, Bassong getting an excellent block and the ball rebounded away from danger.
Spurs brought on Crouch and Lennon but with Latics defenders Alcaraz and Caldwell on top of their games the two England internationals made little impact.
With the game running out substitute Conor Sammon was slipped in by Cleverley, Latics new signing hit a first time shot under pressure from two Spurs defenders but Gomes was equal to it and parried with his legs
Moments later Latics had a free kick 20 yards out, Ben Watson hit a fizzing effort that went agonisingly over the bar. Right at the death Sammon fired a low cross along the six yard box that fellow substitute Franco Di Santo couldn`t quite get to.
All in all one point is better than none but it could have been three, now where have we heard that before?
Sammon goes close
By permission of Bernard Platt/Wigan Athletic
Teams
Latics: Al Habsi; Boyce, G. Caldwell, Figueroa; Watson, McCarthy; Moses, N’Zogbia (Di Santo, 85), Cleverley; Rodallega (Diame, 85)
Subs: Pollitt, Gohouri, Gomez, Sammon, Stam
Spurs: Gomes; Corluka, Dawson, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto; Van Der Vaart (Lennon, 68), Jenas, Sandro, Modric (Kranjcar, 86); Pavlyuchenko, Defoe (Crouch, 57)
Subs: Cudicini, Huddlestone, Rose, Pienaar
I thought it was a very enjoyable game, frustrating that we didnt get the three points but there’s still a way to go yet
Well played, Wigan definitely had the better of things, not sure about the “entertaining encounter” bit ;). Both teams looked a little bit clue less in the final third yesterday and a draw was probably fair enough imo
Cheers Phartman87, I enjoyed it but agree the final third was a bit lacking