Rate it!

8 votes

Titus Bramble scored a last-minute equaliser as Wigan Athletic drew 2-2 at Newcastle United in the Premier League.

The Latics led for most of the match through Ryan Taylor's early strike but Newcastle came back after the 55th-minute dismissal of Emmerson Boyce and thought they had won when Michael Owen and Obafemi Martins scored late goals.

But former Toon defender Bramble rose to head a last-gasp corner off Damien Duff (both pictured) and past Shay Given to give his side a point that manager Steve Bruce was convinced should have been three.

Until Boyce's controversial sending off, Wigan were in control of a game light on quality and chances.

They took the lead on three minutes, when Taylor chipped Given from the edge of the box with an audacious, looping effort curled by the outside of his right boot.

It was a special goal in a dull half of football, with Newcastle uninspired and hit by an injury to Joey Barton that saw him replaced on 17 minutes.

Otherwise, long-range efforts from Wilson Palacios and Olivier Kapo tested Given, while all the hosts had to show for the half was a 20-yard shot from Martins that forced a good Chris Kirkland save.

The second half started in a similar vein as Wigan bossed possession and Newcastle looked devoid of energy or ideas.

Boyce - who was booked in the first half for a foul on Jonas Gutierrez - received his marching orders when he was adjudged to have fouled Shola Ameobi near the corner flag, although replays suggested he won the ball.

The Wigan defender may be in hot water after failing to leave the field quickly, but the decision was harsh at best and poor at worst.

Initially Wigan's reduced workforce barely suffered.

While Newcastle had more of the ball, their guests created chances on the break and almost extended their lead through Antonio Valencia and several testing set-pieces.

Wigan were sorely missing the cutting-edge provided by Emile Heskey and Amr Zaki, both of whom were out injured. Henri Camara did a good job leading the line alone but there were rarely enough bodies in the box to convert the good chances created by Kapo, Valencia and Palacios.

Joe Kinnear's introduction of Owen midway through the second half almost reaped immediate dividends for Toon but the England striker somehow put the ball wide from close range after great work from Martins down the left.

Owen also forced a smart reflex save from Kirkland, this time with a header from another good Martins cross, but those two chances aside it was 10-man Wigan making all the play.

Soon afterwards a great run by Kapo freed Valencia, who slid the ball past Given and against the post, but it was Newcastle who got the next goal.

Ameobi picked the ball up on the edge of the box and drilled in a low shot that the otherwise-excellent Kirkland should have held onto.

But a bobble took it away from his grasp and the loose ball fell to Owen, who had a simple finish with 10 minutes left.

The Magpies pressed for a winner and seemed to have got it with a minute remaining when substitute Charlies N'Zogbia found Martins in the box and the Nigerian thrashed an unstoppable left-foot shot past Kirkland.

It was not to be for Newcastle as Bramble, much malinged in his time at St James' Park, had other ideas and the Latics earned a point that takes both sides out of the bottom three.

Reda Maher / Eurosport