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Played
December 31, 2011 3:00 PM GMT
Britannia Stadium — Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
Referee:‬ M. Oliver‎
Attendance:‬ 26595‎
 
77′ (PG) Jonathan Walters
Victor Moses 45′
Ben Watson 87′ (PG)
Top of the Match
Cameron Jerome
Cameron Jerome
Stoke City
Jonathan Walters
Jonathan Walters
Stoke City
Flop of the Match
Gary Caldwell
Gary Caldwell
Wigan Athletic
W. Palacios
W. Palacios
Stoke City

Stoke City 2-2 Wigan Athletic: Late Watson penalty salvages point after dramatic finish at Britannia Stadium

Roberto Martinez's side edge closer to escaping the relegation zone following the draw, while Tony Pulis' charges end the year in eighth

By Sam Bisby at the Britannia Stadium

EPL,Ben Watson,Stoke City v Wigan Athletic
Getty Images
Ben Watson's penalty three minutes from time secured a dramatic late point for Wigan Athletic at Stoke City.

Victor Moses had given Roberto Martinez's side the lead on the stroke of half-time but a solid response from the hosts after the break, which saw Jonathan Walters and Cameron Jerome net, ended in vain as Watson's equaliser keeps Wigan's hopes of escaping the relegation zone alive.

The first 10 minutes of the game was all about the battle for possession, but it was Wigan that found the most success with their share of the ball as both Jordi Gomez and Hugo Rodallega forced saves out of Thomas Sorensen.

Rodallega again terrorised Stoke’s goal as the striker raced through the hosts' failed offside trap but his lofted effort over Sorensen was cleared by the well-placed Ryan Shawcross.

The Colombia international continued his influence and the striker's persistence assisted Moses for the game's opener after a driven pass across goal was met at the near post by the 21-year-old, who poked the ball past Sorensen.


                             Tight affair | Wigan's Diame tries to shrug off Shawcross

Stoke saw enough of the ball after half-time to get their best chance of the game so far, as Rory Delap launched the ball into the Wigan box from the touchline for Robert Huth to get his head to, but the German could only nod the ball onto the post and into the hands of Al-Habsi.

Stoke eventually took the initiative following Jerome's introduction. A long throw into the area by Delap saw the striker’s header handled on the line by Gary Caldwell. Walters converted the resulting penalty to pull the hosts level.

A break for the Potters moments later saw the ball headed in the path of Jerome who slotted home the ball past Al Habsi and into the far corner.

However, at the other end, Wigan were handed the second penalty of the afternoon and substitute Watson powered the ball past Sorensen to bring the score back to equal terms in a flurry of action.

The draw has left Stoke eighth in the Premier League, while Wigan are in 18th, two points behind QPR.

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Stoke City

29
Thomas Sørensen
Goalkeeper
2.5
4
Robert Huth
Defender
3.0
17
Ryan Shawcross
Defender
3.0
28
Andy Wilkinson
Defender
49′
2.5
12
Marc Wilson
Midfielder
2.5
16
Jermaine Pennant
Midfielder
3.0
24
Rory Delap
Midfielder
49′
3.0
26
2.5
40
W. Palacios
Midfielder
2.5
19
3.0
25
Peter Crouch
Striker
2.5

Wigan Athletic

3.0
26
Ali Al Habsi
Goalkeeper
3.0
3
2.0
5
Gary Caldwell
Defender
76′
3.0
23
Ronnie Stam
Defender
41′
3.0
31
Maynor Figueroa
Defender
3.0
4
James McCarthy
Midfielder
3.5
11
Victor Moses
Striker
29′ 45′
3.0
14
Jordi Gómez
Midfielder
78′
3.0
19
David Jones
Midfielder
86′
2.5
21
Mohamed Diame
Midfielder
3.0
20

Substitutes

1
Asmir Begovic
Goalkeeper
-
20
Matthew Upson
Defender
-
30
Ryan Shotton
Defender
49′ 85′
2.5
15
Salif Diao
Midfielder
-
18
Dean Whitehead
Midfielder
-
9
Kenwyne Jones
Striker
93′
-
33
3.5

Substitutes

-
12
Mike Pollitt
Goalkeeper
2.5
2
Steve Gohouri
Defender
78′
-
7
Crusat
Midfielder
3.0
8
Ben Watson
Midfielder
86′ 87′
-
16
James McArthur
Midfielder
-
9
-
18
Conor Sammon
Striker

Coach/Manager

-
Tony Pulis
Coach
-

Coach/Manager

 
  • Goal
  • Own Goal
  • Penalty
  • Penalty Missed
  • Yellow Card
  • Assist
  • Penalty Save
  • Penalty Shootout Goal
  • Penalty Shootout Miss
  • Yellow Card / Red Card
  • Red Card
  • Substitution IN
  • Substitution OUT
  • Injury
  • Goal.com Rating
  • Goal.com Man of the Match
  • Goal.com Flop of the Match
  • Top & Flop Global Ranking
  • Fans' Man of the Match
  • Fans' Flop of the Match
Results
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Robin van Persie Robin van Persie
Striker
Arsenal
30 2
Wayne Rooney Wayne Rooney
Striker
Manchester United
27 6
Kun Agüero Kun Agüero
Striker
Manchester City
23 3
Aiyegbeni Yakubu Aiyegbeni Yakubu
Striker
Blackburn
17 4
Emmanuel Adebayor Emmanuel Adebayor
Striker
Tottenham
17 3