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Played
August 13, 2011 10:00 AM EDT
The DW Stadium — Wigan
Referee: S. Attwell
Attendance: 17454
August 13, 2011 10:00 AM EDT
The DW Stadium — Wigan
Referee: S. Attwell
Attendance: 17454
Top of the Match
Victor Moses
Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic
Wesley Hoolahan
Norwich City
Norwich City
Flop of the Match
Ritchie De Laet
Norwich City
Norwich City
Steve Morison
Norwich City
Norwich City
Goal.com Rating 
Fans' Rating Wigan Athletic 1-1 Norwich City: Goalkeeping blunder from Al-Habsi gives Canaries impressive away point on opening day
The Oman international spilled Steve Morison's effort into the feet of the impressive Wes Hoolahan after Ben Watson had given the hosts the lead from the penalty spot
By Jonathan Birchall at DW Stadium
Getty Images
Norwich City picked up an opening day point away to Wigan Athletic after drawing 0-0 in its first game back in the Premier League since 2005.
The hosts took the lead on the 21st minute through an unstoppable Ben Watson penalty after Franco Di Santo had been brought down by Ritchie De Laet. But, in an error-strewn first 45 minutes, Norwich fittingly made the most of an Ali Al-Habsi mistake to smash the ball home on the stoke of halftime.
Wigan took the lead when Ritchie De Laet acted tentatively on the left wing only to be robbed by Di Santo, and De Laet hauled down the advancing Latics man as he entered the area. There was little doubt that it was a penalty and Watson duly smashed it home to provide the home side with the breakthrough.
Norwich was gifted its equalizer on the stroke of halftime as Al-Habsi, Wigan's Player of the Season in 2010-11, spilled Steve Morison's effort into the feet of Hoolahan, who tucked the ball away to make Paul Lambert's halftime team talk far easier.
If De Laet had been the villain for the Canaries in the first half, he was to prove their savior early on in the second with a magnificent tackle to deny Victor Moses.
The young Wigan forward was having a magnificent opening day of the season and was nearly rewarded with a goal following a spellbinding run from the right, in which he weaved in and out of the Canaries defense only to be stopped by John Ruddy. With half an hour remaining, neither side looked happy to simply take the point and run.
Lambert's side was proving ever more threatening and as he brought on two wingers in Elliot Bennett and Anthony Pilkington with a quarter of an hour remaining, the Scot's intentions were clear. The game looked there for the taking as the hosts went on the retreat.
It was Wigan who nearly grabbed the points however through the phenomenal Moses, as the youngster blasted an effort into De Laet. However, as the away side looked over the precipice, it hung on to secure a valuable point to leave De Laet relieved and the Canaries fans singing.
The hosts took the lead on the 21st minute through an unstoppable Ben Watson penalty after Franco Di Santo had been brought down by Ritchie De Laet. But, in an error-strewn first 45 minutes, Norwich fittingly made the most of an Ali Al-Habsi mistake to smash the ball home on the stoke of halftime.
Wigan took the lead when Ritchie De Laet acted tentatively on the left wing only to be robbed by Di Santo, and De Laet hauled down the advancing Latics man as he entered the area. There was little doubt that it was a penalty and Watson duly smashed it home to provide the home side with the breakthrough.
Spot on | Ben Watson gives Wigan the lead following De Laet's foul on Di Santo
Norwich was gifted its equalizer on the stroke of halftime as Al-Habsi, Wigan's Player of the Season in 2010-11, spilled Steve Morison's effort into the feet of Hoolahan, who tucked the ball away to make Paul Lambert's halftime team talk far easier.
If De Laet had been the villain for the Canaries in the first half, he was to prove their savior early on in the second with a magnificent tackle to deny Victor Moses.
The young Wigan forward was having a magnificent opening day of the season and was nearly rewarded with a goal following a spellbinding run from the right, in which he weaved in and out of the Canaries defense only to be stopped by John Ruddy. With half an hour remaining, neither side looked happy to simply take the point and run.
Lambert's side was proving ever more threatening and as he brought on two wingers in Elliot Bennett and Anthony Pilkington with a quarter of an hour remaining, the Scot's intentions were clear. The game looked there for the taking as the hosts went on the retreat.
It was Wigan who nearly grabbed the points however through the phenomenal Moses, as the youngster blasted an effort into De Laet. However, as the away side looked over the precipice, it hung on to secure a valuable point to leave De Laet relieved and the Canaries fans singing.
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
Times In EDT
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Robin van Persie
Striker Arsenal |
30 | 2 |
|
Wayne Rooney
Striker Man United |
27 | 6 |
|
Kun Agüero
Striker Man City |
23 | 3 |
|
Aiyegbeni Yakubu
Striker Blackburn Rovers |
17 | 4 |
|
Emmanuel Adebayor
Striker Tottenham |
17 | 3 |