Wigan Athletic 1-1 Blackburn: All Even Between Wigan And Rovers

Wigan v Blackburn: Line-ups and Stats
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It was a point apiece at the DW Stadium as Wigan and Blackburn played out a dull 1-1 draw.

Benni McCarthy had the visitors in front after half an hour, but Wigan came out fighting in the second half and a Hugo Rodallega header meant a share of the spoils.

The visitors started the brightest and were almost ahead within the first five minutes virtue of an own goal. Benni McCarthy managed to pull the ball back across goal, Hendry Thomas stuck out a leg and diverted the ball beyond his own goalkeeper, but it just went wide.

Next it was Blackburn who almost turned the ball into their own net, the ball deflecting off Christopher Samba, and Paul Robinson did well to get back and clear.

The game was taking its time to get going though, with Jordi Gomez’s deflected free-kick for the home side the best of the early chances, but half an hour in and the short deadlock was broken.

Keith Andrews played a free-kick into the area, which Ryan Nelson was able to head back across goal. Benni McCarthy was on hand to side foot the ball home and goal-shy Blackburn were in front.

A half chance from Paul Scharner two minutes later nearly leveled the scores, a header from twelve yards out wasn’t too far away.

Wigan should perhaps have equalized just on the stroke of half-time. A scramble in the box forced a save from Robinson and Pascal Chimbonda eventually cleared to keep Blackburn’s lead intact.

It had been a lackluster first half; however the hosts came out with all guns blazing in the second period with a string of early chances.

Charles N’Zogbia cut into the area in the 51st minute, found Jordi Gomez, but he delayed his shot and it was deflected wide for the corner which was to lead to the equalizer; Hugo Rodallega getting above his man and burying his header beyond Robinson.

Two minutes later and it was almost 2-1. Gomez was having an impact on the game and he again found the goalscorer Rodallega, who worked the ball well to Jason Scotland, but his effect was poor and Robinson had a comfortable save to make.

After that neither side looked likely to find a winner, until the game opened up in the latter stages.

Rodallega wasn’t too far away with a header in the 77th minute, but again Robinson was equal to it, before McCarthy went close with two chances in a minute.

First he put a shot just wide in the 81st minute, before an overhead kick forced Chris Kirkland into a fine save.

Kirkland though was almost the fall guy inside the last five minutes. He allowed a shot from Andrews to go wide, however it appeared he didn’t realize how close it was to going in and the shot nearly nestled into the corner.

Wigan added some late pressure with a series of corners as they bid for a winner, however a goal never looked likely and both sides had to share the points.

Andrew Southwick, Goal.com

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