Blackburn Rovers 2-1 Wigan Athletic: Nikola Kalinic Strike Sinks Latics

Blackburn Rovers 2-1 Wigan Athletic Line-ups/stats
Premier League Results/standings

Blackburn made three changes from the team that won their last league game. With Chris Samba suspended, Steven Reid on the subs bench and Benni McCarthy - on the brink of a move to West Ham - absent, Junior Hoilett, Morten Gamst Pedersen and El-Hadji Diouf all started. Wigan were almost identical to the side that won at Wolves, with the only change being Serbia's national goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic deputising for the injured Chris Kirkland.

Both teams were looking to gain vital points that would edge them away from a relegation zone that saw just five points separating seven teams prior to kick-off. And it was the home side who almost opened the scoring within the first five minutes.

Steven Nzonzi did well to keep the ball in on the wing and his low cross was met by Nikola Kalinic. The Croatian was surrounded by Wigan defenders but still managed to get his shot away and the ball cannoned off the post and then out of danger. Kalinic was having a bright opening and five minutes later went close again when his header went straight at Stojkovic.

Rovers early pressure soon told and Blackburn were ahead on the twenty minute mark. Debutant keeper Stojkovic’s attempted punch from Brett Emerton’s corner goes as only as far as Morten Gamst Pederson, who rifles a left-footed strike into the top corner with the Wigan goalkeeper way out of position. No more then Rovers deserve having bossed the opening exchanges.

Wigan were struggled to get into the game and didn’t register their first real chance until the half hour. Pascal Chimbonda  was penalised for a foul on Mohamed Diame 25 yards from goal, but Hugo Rodallega’s shot direct shot from the free-kick was comfortably saved by Paul Robinson. Diame then went close himself with a left-foot strike outside the box, however Robinson was equal once again. The visitors closed the half with more of the ball but Rovers deservedly went into the break with the lead.

Fifiteen minutes into the second half Wigan drew level with a first Latics goal for Gary Caldwell.  James McCarthy swung over a corner from the left and Caldwell showed good strength to muscle his way past his marker and head in the equaliser.

As both teams searched for a winner the game was getting scrappy, producing more niggles and free-kicks then goal-scoring opportunities. Chimbonda has a headed effort for Rovers deep in the six-yard box which went wide of the right-hand upright but it was the closest either side had come.

With a quarter of an hour left, it was Rovers who found the winner. Pedersen's corner was headed home calmly by Nikola Kalinic as three Wigan defenders stood rooted to the ground. Wigan tried to rally and brought on Jason Scotland but it wasn’t enough and Rovers went home with all three points.