Burnley 1-3 Wigan Athletic: Rodallega inspires Wigan to Turf Moor victory

 

Two goals from Hugo Rodallega and one from Emmerson Boyce saw Wigan Athletic become the first team this season to leave Turf Moor with all three points.

Steven Fletcher had put Burnley ahead with just four minutes on the clock but Rodallega struck back in bizarre fashion.

Burnley ‘keeper Brian Jensen came out to collect an innocuous ball only to slip and allow Rodallega to score into an empty net.

Rodallega doubled his tally in the second half before Boyce completed the scoring in the 75th minute.

Many people expect Burnley’s home form to be pivotal in their fight for Premier League survival.

Already this season the Clarets had beaten Manchester United on their way to a 100 per cent record at Turf Moor.

The confidence the team have at home was clear to see as they flew out of the traps against Wigan Athletic. A fourth minute strike by the home side came as they made easy work of slicing Wigan apart.

Robbie Blake strode down the left wing before sending a pin-point cross for Steven Fletcher to tap in at the back-post. The forward couldn’t miss if he tried and he certainly made it look like he was trying, cannoning the ball against the crossbar before seeing it bounce down behind the line.

However for all Burnley’s confidence, it took the visitors less than 10 minutes to level the score and they did so in a bizarre fashion.

Mario Melchiot played an nonthreatening through ball over the back four and as Burnley goalkeeper Brian Jensen came out to collect the ball, he slipped and Wigan forward Hugo Rodallega took full advantage to run the ball into the empty net.

Injury was added to insult for the Burnley stopper, however, when he was replaced by substitute ‘keeper Diego Penny after receiving treatment on his ankle.

The loss of Jensen, a fan’s favourite at Turf Moor, seemed to take the wind out of Burnley’s sails as Wigan started to take control of the match.

Rodallega attempted to double his tally with a strike from an outrageous distance that eventually trickled out for a throw-in after hitting strike partner Jason Scotland.

Both defenses put on a good display in the first half as they restricted their opposing attacks to minimal chances. Rodallega broke away for Wigan but the Burnley defense coped well with the striker and set up a counter, only for Wigan to prove their defensive worth and sniff out the chance.

A smart back heel from goalscorer Fletcher appeared to set Chris Eagles free in the box but Titus Bramble beat the winger to the ball and cleared any danger.

Penny got his first touches since joining the game just before half-time as he was first tested by a swerving effort from Jordi Gomez and then collected a loose pass from Scotland.

After the break Chris Eagles was back with the pace of the game and quicker than Charles N’Zogbia who he flew past at left-back only to disappoint the Turf Moor faithful with a finish that hit the side netting.

Wigan saw their first chance of the second half as Rodallega set up Scotland but the powerful forward was unable to apply the finish and Penny gratefully collected.

But moments later the strikers switched roles and Hugo Rodallega got his second goal of the game and his fifth of the season.

Scotland sent the ball to the edge of the box for Rodallega to finish with aplomb as his shot flew into the net off the inside of the post.

The Colombian striker and his team took control of proceedings as they laid siege to the Burnley goal. Rodallega was involved again as he played N’Zogbia into the box but the Frenchman couldn’t keep his shot on target.

Burnley looked sloppy as they attempted to wrestle possession away from Wigan and the inevitable happened as Clarke Carlisle’s lunge on Paul Scharner earned him nothing but a yellow card.

With just over twenty minutes to go, Owen Coyle made a change in formation, sacrificing Blake for David Nugent as his side switched to a 4-4-2 formation.

The change had the desired effect and Burnley started to pile pressure onto the visitors. Good work by Nugent down the left set up Eagles who wrongly attempted to control the ball rather than shoot first time. Tyrone Mears picked up the loose ball but his attempt was blocked and the ball was eventually cleared.

Nugent then found his own space in the box but had the ball snatched away from him just before he could pull the trigger.

But for all Burnley’s good work, it was Wigan who scored the decisive goal of the game when, with fifteen minutes left, Emmerson Boyce put the Latics safe. Scharner flicked on a corner that found Boyce just yards from goal who directed the ball into the net.

The Clarets attempted to strike back but a confident and accomplished Wigan defense saw their side to victory and ended Burnley's perfect home record.

David Kifford, Goal.com

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