Latics Dominate to Make a Point

Wigan Athletic drew 1-1 with Liverpool in a highly entertaining game at the DW Stadium and if truth be known the Latics edged the play and really deserved to have taken all three points from the match.

Martinez made one change from last weekends visit to Blackburn, with Steve Gohouri suspended Tom Cleverley came into the starting eleven and Ronnie Stam dropped to right back.

Liverpool actually started the game the brightest with Lucas testing Al-Habsi early on with a rasping drive that the Latics keeper pushed over the bar, on 7 minutes Gerrard picked the ball up in the midfield and found Torres with a good through ball.

The Spanish international and World Cup winner made no mistake; he took the ball in his stride and hit a low shot into the far corner of the net, 1-0 Liverpool.


Gerrard was next to test the Latics when he found himself on the penalty spot with a bouncing ball coming towards him, he hit it first time but it sailed over the bar.

This was the wakeup call for the Latics and they started to get into the game, Thomas was excellent breaking up play, N`Zogbia, though faced with three opponents every time he got the ball started to become more involved and run at Liverpool with pace.

The Latics midfield started to dominate play and it looked only a matter of time before the equaliser would come, shortly before half time N`Zogbia had a second goal in two games disallowed, this time Rodallega had drifted off-side in the build up and was rightly flagged off.

7 minutes into the second half and the Latics were level, Ronnie Stam, who was excellent all game, crossed a delightful ball into the box, low and hard, Reina at full stretch parried the ball out, waiting on the penalty spot was Rodallega and the Colombia international made no mistake, he smashed home a left footed shot for his 4th goal of the season.

Rodallega had a chance for his second of the game when he received an excellent through ball from Momo Diame that put him in the clear, unfortunately his first touch was heavy and this gave Reina and the recovering Carragher chance to get the ball clear.

Liverpool despite all Latics possession did have a chance late on, Gerrard found himself running clear and hit an early shot that crashed off the Latics bar.

So following on from a very good performance but not the result against Blackburn the Latics continue to show that they are much better than their current league position suggests.

Team Sheets
Latics: Al Habsi; Stam, G. Caldwell, Alcaraz, Figueroa; Thomas, Diame; N’Zogbia, Gomez (Moses, 69), Cleverley; Rodallega (Di Santo, 86)

Subs not used: Kirkland, Watson, Boselli, S. Caldwell, McArthur

Liverpool: Reina; Kelly, Carragher, Skrtel, Konchesky; Meireles (Shelvey, 46), Gerrard, Lucas, Maxi (Eccleston, 81); Kuyt (Poulsen, 73), Torres

Subs: Hansen, Jovanovic, Ngog, Spearing