Premier League - Ten-man City settle for point

Eurosport - Sun, 18 Oct 17:55:00 2009

Ten-man Manchester City missed out on the opportunity to go third in the Premier League when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium.

2009-10 Premier League Manchester City Pablo Zabaleta Alan Wiley (PA Photos) - 0

Charles N'Zogbia put Wigan ahead on the stroke of half-time only for Martin Petrov to restore parity soon after the restart and give City the platform to win their first game at the DW Stadium.

But those hopes were hit hard by Alan Wiley's decison to dismiss Pablo Zabaleta for a second bookable offence with 25 minutes remaining.

In the end, City had to settle for a point that sees them remain in fifth place, five points behind league leaders and local rivals Manchester United.

Wigan, who had previously beaten City in three out of the teams' four Premier League clashes at the DW, also stayed put in 13th place.

The first half proved to be a tight affair and, despite the wealth of talent at City's disposal, they failed to trouble Chris Kirkland in the Wigan goal for the opening 45 minutes.

The home side could take much of the credit for that, Steve Bruce's side playing high up the pitch and pressing City whenever the visitors were in possession.

Given the pressure they were put under, more often than not City lacked a final ball and only Shaun Wright-Phillips, back in his preferred right wing berth having moonlighted on the left for England, offered any kind of incisive forward play.

That lack of incision was largely mirrored at the other end and aside from a 38th minute Hugo Rodallega shot which Shay Given had to beat away, Wigan failed to trouble the Republic of Ireland keeper.

At least that rang true until the stroke of half-time, when Jason Scotland bustled his way through and N'Zogbia finished, only to see his strike disallowed for a foul on Gareth Barry.

Just a minute later, as the first-half crept into stoppage time, N'Zogbia struck again and this time the whistle sounded only to signal the opening goal. The Frenchman slid in to prod home after Given could only parry Rodallega's shot from a tight angle.

Wigan's lead was shortlived though as Petrov drew City back onto level terms less than two minutes into the second half. The Bulgarian winger received the ball from Tevez on the edge of the area before picking his spot and finding the bottom corner with a sweet left-footed shot.

The goals opened up the game and the second half was a far more entertaining spectacle than the opening 45 minutes as City came forward in search of a winner.

Chris Kirkland, who suffered an injury to his hand, was forced to save from Wright-Phillips and Barry before Zabaleta received his marching orders from referee Wiley on 65 minutes.

Wiley, back in action after incurring the wrath of Alex Ferguson before the international break, sparked furious reactions from City players, who felt a red card was harsh given his first booking before the break was given for an innocuous challenge on Maynor Figueroa.

The decision changed the shape of the game and Wigan took over the mantle of pushing for a winner.

Mohamed Diame nearly did moments later with a fierce drive that flew inches over the angle of post and bar while Hendry Thomas had a goal disallowed for offside on 73 minutes.

Rodallega tested Given with a quarter of an hour to go but City held firm as Wigan ultimately failed to capitalise on their numerical advantage.

Indeed, City could even have grabbed that elusive late winner with 10 minutes remaining after Wright-Phillips was bundled to the ground in the penalty box under the challenge of Figueroa. Referee Wiley waved play on, and City will have to wait until next season to register their first victory at the DW Stadium.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport

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  1. @dazmanutd baby, i'm very sorry but Edwards is one­ of the best bars in manchester if you enjoy­ r'n'b, hip hop and bashment music. The­ atmosphere is warm and fun. Edwards is a good man apart­ from two arsy bouncers that @#$% with the blonde curly­ hair and that tall arse on the door billy or something­ ARS*S but the rest of the door people are cool and the­ music is good!

    From Scouse-Baby, on Mon 19 Oct 11:46AM

  2. Defoe make a blunder now the press behaive as if they­ are not on the field that day,if it is a foreingner­ that tries that in premiership then the press will blow­ it out of propotion and also the FA will handle it as­ if the guy as killed somebody,all
    these things makes­ some footballer refuse to play in the premiership all­ because of tribalism.God will help you all.

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    From the real DAZMANUTD not the fake cloner, on Mon 19 Oct 9:30AM

  5. This is Defoe turn. An English player and there was no­­ noise about it. In his case we say that its part of­­ football that he reacted negatively. But when done by­­ Ade of Man City all the paper in England will make it­­ an headline news. Even though I condemn both action by­­ the players but Engish press blow Ade case out of­­ proportion and it hurts alot.

    From deji, on Mon 19 Oct 8:43AM

  6. Wot are they on about steve bruce for, ruins the­ credibilty of these blogs.

    From Shane, on Mon 19 Oct 8:38AM

  7. Wigan is Steve Bruce's side??? WTF!!!

    From rishan, on Mon 19 Oct 8:32AM

  8. oh sod off with that nonsense of voting -WHO CARES­

    Public opinion is fickle and the bastion of­ 'peoples parties' [commies]

    From paul g, on Mon 19 Oct 7:42AM

  9. Which team deserved to win?
    Wigan(thumbs upp)­
    M.City(thumbs down)

    From Tham, on Mon 19 Oct 7:27AM

  10. City on the pitch are all smiles and confident­ professional statures but... the tactics are­ ludicrously pathetic. Again the full backs are exposed­ due to being tucked into the centre halfs.

    Wolves,­ Man United, Arsenal, Villa, Fulham all highlighted the­ inadequacies of these piss poor tactics yet Hughes and­ his team are happy to have the blame apportioned­ [through the local radio stations and SKy (no monopoly,­ utter rubbish)] to Bridge, Richards, Zab and soon­ Sylvinho.

    Hughes and his backroom staff must be­ removed.

    From paul g, on Mon 19 Oct 7:18AM

  11. Wigan is Steve Bruce's side???
    How can they make­ such an unprofessional mistake??

    From tituswrloh, on Mon 19 Oct 7:06AM

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    From mun c, on Mon 19 Oct 5:26AM

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    From mun c, on Mon 19 Oct 5:25AM

  15. English Premier League -- This is what the 2nd tier­ football league were....

    From mun c, on Mon 19 Oct 5:25AM

  16. boring match...man city top 4???..my­ A.RSE!!!!...SPIT....

    From The Real Giggs11,A True Red Legend,Arise, on Mon 19 Oct 2:43AM

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  18. dont like telling people they are wrong but whoever­ wrote this article should note that steve bruce is the­ manager of sunderland these days some spanish bloke is­ in charge of wigan

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