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Hugo Rodallega celebrates after scoring Wigan’s vital late goal
Hugo Rodallega’s late header hauled Wigan back from the brink of Premier League relegation as Stoke tumbled to a third successive defeat.
With 13 minutes remaining of an excruciatingly tense encounter, Rodallega headed into the top corner from Charles N’Zogbia’s far-post cross.
Stoke had earlier dominated, with Latics keeper Ali Al Habsi obliged to pull off a string of impressive saves.
But an improved second-half showing earned Wigan a famous victory.
On an afternoon of exhausting uncertainty, Wigan knew from the outset that victory would not guarantee survival, just as defeat would not necessarily consign them to the Championship.
The turbulence was relentless as the visitors overcame a desperately nervous start before gradually edging their way to safety in the face of stern resistance from Stoke and an incessant wave of twists and turns elsewhere.
Tension is natural when your fate is not in your own hands, although you would hardly have deduced as much from the smiling countenance of visiting manager Roberto Martinez as he disembarked from the team coach.
The drawn features of the players who followed behind him told a different story, however and, as kick-off neared, so too did those of Martinez.
As goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi prayed, his manager paced the touchline, his brow contorted under the weight of the occasion.
Both responses looked justified when Antolin Alcaraz almost sold Al Habsi short with a weak back-pass within moments of the first whistle.
With Kenwyne Jones looming, the Wigan keeper rushed out to spare his skipper’s blushes, but it was the cue for a sustained barrage of pressure from Stoke.
Predictably, Rory Delap’s trademark long throws were a particular source of consternation to the visiting defence.
Hearts were in Wigan mouths when Jones headed goalwards from one such missile, but Jonathan Walters, who was clearly offside, applied a needless touch from a couple of yards out and was correctly penalised.
The linesman’s flag did nothing to deter the vociferous home support. ‘We’re sending you down,’ they crowed. And as Al Habsi beat away efforts from Jones and Jermaine Pennant, and Emerson Boyce hacked another Jones off the line, it looked like they just might.
By a quarter to five, nothing had changed. With Blackpool and Birmingham level at Old Trafford and White Hart Lane respectively, and Wolves trailing 3-0 at home to Blackburn, Wigan were one of four teams on 40 points.
Yet they remained where they had been from the outset – second from bottom, albeit only on goal difference.
The grim scramble for survival soon began to assume a different complexion, however.
Wigan began the second half with the air of a team transformed. For the first time, an away goal looked possible. A hundred and thirty miles or so to the south, Roman Pavlyuchenko put Spurs ahead against Birmingham. The visitors were up to 18th, behind Wolves only on goals scored.
Hope stirred among the blue-and-white pocket of away fans. Charles N’Zogbia blasted over. Pennant appeared to impede Hugo Rodallega as he cut in from the left; no penalty, declared referee Andre Marriner.
Minutes later, Wigan survived a similar claim as Alcaraz climbed all over Jones. Unperturbed, they pressed on. Conor Sammon, the hero against West Ham last weekend, forced a first save of the afternoon from Stoke keeper Asmir Begovic before being replaced by Tom Cleverley, who almost immediately did likewise.
Then, just after half past five, came the news Wigan had been waiting for. Manchester United had gone 3-2 up against Blackpool at Old Trafford. Wigan were safe.
Cue euphoria among the travelling support, whose jubilation intensified when Rodallega rose in the six-yard box to head home N’Zogbia’s left-wing cross.
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Sunday, 22 May 2011
Barclays Premier League
| Home Team | Score | Away Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stoke | 0-1 | Wigan | FT |
| (HT 0-0) | |||
- Final Result
- Full Time
- 90:00+6:15 The referee ends the match.
- 90:00+4:12 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on James McCarthy by Glenn Whelan. Ben Watson takes the free kick.
- 90:00+3:00 Substitution Victor Moses is brought on as a substitute for Charles N’Zogbia.
- 90:00+2:46 Centre by Rory Delap, save by Ali Al Habsi.
- 88:01 The referee blows for offside against Franco Di Santo. Free kick taken by Asmir Begovic.
- 85:02 Substitution (Wigan) makes a substitution, with Franco Di Santo coming on for Hugo Rodallega.
- 83:29 Strike comes in from Glenn Whelan from the free kick.
- 83:29 Booking Emmerson Boyce is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour.
- 83:20 Foul by Emmerson Boyce on Jermaine Pennant, free kick awarded.
- 79:50 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Maynor Figueroa by Jermaine Pennant. Free kick taken by Ali Al Habsi.
- 77:53 The assist for the goal came from Charles N’Zogbia.
- 77:53 GOAL – Hugo Rodallega:Stoke 0 – 1 Wigan Hugo Rodallega finds the net with a headed goal from inside the six-yard box. Stoke 0-1 Wigan.
- 77:10 Substitution John Carew on for Kenwyne Jones.
- 74:15 Jermaine Pennant delivers the ball, save made by Ali Al Habsi.
- 73:39 Hugo Rodallega is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Direct free kick taken by Asmir Begovic.
- 73:01 Mohamed Diame takes a shot. Save by Asmir Begovic.
- 72:07 Maynor Figueroa takes a shot. Blocked by Danny Collins.
- 71:04 Substitution Dean Whitehead comes on in place of Matthew Etherington.
- 70:13 Glenn Whelan takes a shot. Save by Ali Al Habsi.
- 68:01 Ben Watson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jermaine Pennant. Direct free kick taken by Rory Delap.
- 67:31 Tom Cleverley takes a shot. Save made by Asmir Begovic.
- Correction – 66:23 Direct free kick taken by Ryan Shawcross.
- Correction – 66:23 Substitution Tom Cleverley on for Conor Sammon.
- 66:23 Ryan Shawcross takes the direct free kick.
- 66:23 Substitution Tom Cleverley on for Charles N’Zogbia.
- 66:23 Booking Maynor Figueroa is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
- Correction – 66:12 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Matthew Etherington by Maynor Figueroa.
- 66:12 Maynor Figueroa concedes a free kick for a foul on Matthew Etherington.
- 65:53 Maynor Figueroa takes a shot. Blocked by Danny Collins.
- 65:12 Hugo Rodallega takes a shot. Ryan Shawcross gets a block in.
- 63:43 Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Ben Watson, Ben Watson takes a shot. Blocked by Charles N’Zogbia.
- 62:30 Gary Caldwell restarts play with the free kick.
- 62:30 Booking Matthew Etherington is given a yellow card.
- 62:20 Matthew Etherington gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ben Watson.
- 61:45 Charles N’Zogbia takes a shot. Save made by Asmir Begovic.
- 59:33 Inswinging corner taken by Ben Watson from the left by-line played to the near post, clearance made by Kenwyne Jones.
- 57:11 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Glenn Whelan by Charles N’Zogbia. Direct free kick taken by Marc Wilson.
- 55:55 Header by Kenwyne Jones from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal.
- 54:48 Direct free kick taken by Marc Wilson.
- 54:48 Booking James McCarthy receives a yellow card.
- 54:38 Foul by James McCarthy on Matthew Etherington, free kick awarded.
- 53:22 Ryan Shawcross concedes a free kick for a foul on Gary Caldwell. Ali Al Habsi restarts play with the free kick.
- 51:21 Kenwyne Jones gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on James McCarthy. Gary Caldwell takes the direct free kick.
- Correction – 50:39 Charles N’Zogbia has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide left of the target.
- 50:39 Shot from outside the area by Hugo Rodallega misses to the left of the goal.
- 48:27 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on James McCarthy by Rory Delap. Direct free kick taken by Gary Caldwell.
- 45:19 The assistant referee flags for offside against Conor Sammon. Direct free kick taken by Asmir Begovic.
- 45:01 The second half has started.
- Half Time
- 45:00+1:04 The ref blows to end the first period.
- 41:31 Corner taken by Jermaine Pennant.
- 40:59 Corner from the right by-line taken by Matthew Etherington, Antolin Alcaraz manages to make a clearance.
- 39:27 Ben Watson decides to take the corner short.
- 38:56 Foul by Glenn Whelan on Hugo Rodallega, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Ben Watson.
- Correction – 37:51 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Matthew Etherington from the right by-line, Ryan Shawcross takes a shot.
- 37:51 Inswinging corner taken by Matthew Etherington, Ryan Shawcross takes a shot.
- 36:24 Jermaine Pennant takes a shot. Save made by Ali Al Habsi.
- 29:35 Glenn Whelan produces a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area and misses left.
- 28:26 Jermaine Pennant fouled by Mohamed Diame, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Asmir Begovic.
- 27:39 James McCarthy takes a shot. Ryan Shawcross gets a block in.
- 26:56 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Maynor Figueroa by Jermaine Pennant. Direct free kick taken by Maynor Figueroa.
- 25:35 Maynor Figueroa challenges Jermaine Pennant unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ryan Shawcross takes the direct free kick.
- 24:43 Jonathan Walters concedes a free kick for a foul on Maynor Figueroa. Free kick taken by Ali Al Habsi.
- 24:20 Kenwyne Jones takes a shot. Save by Ali Al Habsi.
- 21:06 Matthew Etherington crosses the ball, Close range header by Ryan Shawcross goes wide of the left-hand upright.
- 21:06 Booking Antolin Alcaraz is given a yellow card.
- 20:49 Antolin Alcaraz is penalised for a handball.
- 20:24 Jonathan Walters takes a shot from just outside the penalty area which clears the crossbar.
- 19:57 Glenn Whelan takes a shot. Blocked by Gary Caldwell.
- 17:55 Ben Watson concedes a free kick for a foul on Jonathan Walters. Rory Delap takes the direct free kick.
- Correction – 14:13 Kenwyne Jones takes a shot. Emmerson Boyce gets a block in.
- 14:13 Kenwyne Jones takes a shot. Blocked by Gary Caldwell.
- 11:53 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Matthew Etherington, save by Ali Al Habsi. Corner from the right by-line taken by Matthew Etherington, save by Ali Al Habsi.
- 10:09 Kenwyne Jones is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Free kick taken by Ali Al Habsi.
- 8:50 Mohamed Diame produces a right-footed shot from outside the penalty box and misses right.
- 7:24 Jonathan Walters is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Ali Al Habsi takes the direct free kick.
- 6:33 Foul by Ben Watson on Jonathan Walters, free kick awarded. Glenn Whelan takes the direct free kick.
- 4:20 Unfair challenge on James McCarthy by Glenn Whelan results in a free kick. Gary Caldwell takes the free kick.
- 3:46 Matthew Etherington sends in a cross, save by Ali Al Habsi.
- Correction – 0:00 The referee gets the game underway.
- 0:00 The match begins.
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Stoke 0-1 Wigan