Wigan Athletic 1 Stoke City 1:STOKE CITY trailed for much of this match but came back strongly at the end and were unlucky not to leave with all three points.
Tuncay’s eventual equaliser, not to mention the openings that came Stoke’s way later, left Roberto Martinez open to the charge that his players lack the fight to pull away from the relegation zone.
But for for an excellent save from Chris Kirkland to deny James Beattie right at the end, Martinez could have been in even bigger trouble when his chairman, Dave Whelan, returns from Barbados at the end of the week.
Following a free kick, Paul Scharner rose gracefully near the penalty spot to loop a header over Thomas Sorensen and open the scoring after 14 minutes.
Tuncay was beginning to cause the home defence problems, however, and Caldwell was obliged to tidy up on his own line after Titus Bramble tried three times but still failed to prevent the Stoke player rolling the ball across goal.
Scharner headed wide from an N’Zogbia corner as Wigan ended the first half on the attack.
Stoke missed a decent chance to draw level following a free kick early in the second half, when Huth headed back across goal. Tuncay, however, could not get any purchase or power on his shot.
Hugo Rodallega almost contributed something spectacular in the 67th minute, first controlling Caldwell’s hoof from half way on his chest, then attempting an overhead shot that landed on the roof of the net.
Wigan were left regretting their failure to build a more commanding lead when a lapse in defensive concentration cost them 16 minutes from the end. Caldwell intercepted and cleared when Ricardo Fuller cut in from the right, but the clearance fell to Matthew Etherington, who had time for a cross that left Tuncay an easy header.
GuardianService
WIGAN ATHLETIC: Kirkland, Boyce, Bramble, Caldwell, Figueroa, N'Zogbia, Scharner, Diame (Moreno 81), Rodallega, Scotland (Gomez 60), McCarthy (Thomas 54). Subs not used: Stojkovic, Moses, Sinclair, Melchiot. Booked: Caldwell, Rodallega.
STOKE CITY: Sorensen, Wilkinson, Huth, Shawcross, Higginbotham, Delap (Fuller 60), Whelan, Whitehead, Etherington, Sanli (Lawrence 88), Sidibe (Beattie 88). Subs not used: Begovic, Pugh, Diao, Collins. Booked: Shawcross, Etherington, Huth.
Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).
