In the words of Frankie Howard, ‘what a palaver!’
A game that the Latics should have had tucked up in bed by the hour mark, saw more carry on than, well, than a carry on movie, the biggest comedy howler came from referee Andre Mariner who was expertly playing the comic and allowing a David Hoilett goal to stand despite Morten Gamst Pedersen playing a corner kick to himself, this had Match of the Day pundits Alan Hanson and Alan Shearer rolling over with laughter at the inept official during their analysis of the game on the Saturday night footie show.
The game started with a comic twist, just one minute in Blackburn keeper Paul Robinson launched a goal-kick into the Latics half, the ball was headed on, firstly by David Dunn, then by Steven Nzonzi, Rovers striker Yakubu latched on to the ball leaving Gary Caldwell in his wake and fired past Al-Habsi to put the Latics behind in familiar fashion, early and poorly, when will we learn to deal with the basics?
Victor Moses was upended in the Blackburn area with Marriner three feet away, no penalty given.
On seven minutes though the Latics were level, Ronnie Stam made a cracking run down the right, his cross was headed out by the Blackburn defence, but only as far as Jordi Gomez on the edge of the box, the Spaniard hit a left footed half volley into the bottom near corner of the net leaving Robinson flat footed.
The Latics went in front on the half hour, Dave Jones swung over a corner which an unmarked Gary Caldwell met and planted a header past Robinson, 2-1.
The Blackburn players were handing out some rough treatment and David Dunn was lucky to receive just a yellow card for a vicious tackle from behind on James McCarthy.
Early in the second half Dunn got his red card though after he received his second yellow for a trip on Momo Diame and Blackburn were down to ten men.
Latics pushed and pressed to extend their lead but it was Blackburn who scored next to draw level from the controversial Pedersen corner
Crusat and Rodallega were brought on for Gomez and Sammon, with Crusat looking particularly dangerous every time he was on the ball, the Latics chased the game looking to retake the lead and with time running out it looked like they got their just rewards.
A free-kick from Gary Caldwell was met with the head of Rodallega who flicked the ball to Crusat, the little Spaniard controlled and then hit a toe poke which beat Robinson too easily, 88 minutes gone 3-2, surely that would be it.
Marriner found six minutes of injury time from somewhere and right at the death Blackburn were awarded a corner, up went Paul Robison, the ball was swung in, Dave Jones’ boot was high, Robinson got caught on the head, referee points to the spot, Latics hearts sank!
Yakubu stepped up to send Ali the wrong way nine minutes into stoppage time and the game ends 3-3, if it wasn’t so serious it would be funny.
Teams
Latics: Al-Habsi, Stam (McArthur, 90), Figueroa, Gohouri, Caldwell, Diame, Jones, McCarthy, Moses, Gomez (Crusat, 68), Sammon (Rodallega, 68)
Subs: Pollitt, Crusat, Watson, Maloney, Lopez
Blackburn: Robinson, Salgado (Henley, 45), Givet (Roberts, 90), Dann, Hanley, Dunn, Nzonzi, Pedersen, Hoilett, Rochina (Formica, 84), Yakubu
Subs: Bunn, Petrovic, Blackman, Goodwillie
Referee – Andre Marriner
Shocker from Marriner, still cant believe he let ‘the’ goal stand
Nice corner Morten
By permission of Bernard Platt/Wigan Athletic
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Still cant believe we didnt win that game!