Football Focus Highlight

Stoke City trailed for most of this match but came back strongly at the end and were unlucky not to leave with all three points. Always more streetwise than Wigan, they knew their opponents were never in control while there was only a single goal in the game, and Tuncay Sanli's equaliser, not to mention the openings that came Stoke's way later, left Roberto Martínez open to the charge that his players lack the fight for a relegation battle.

While Stoke's ability to assert themselves is well known, Wigan are in danger of turning into the Arsenal of the lower reaches, aspiring to higher things but rarely finding the punch to put their point across. But for an excellent save from Chris Kirkland to deny James Beattie right at the end, Martínez could be in even bigger trouble when Dave Whelan returns from Barbados at the end of the week.



"We were sloppy in the first half but once we switched around at the back to nullify their wide players we took the game to them," Stoke's manager Tony Pulis said. "Tuncay could have had four but I'll settle for the point and going seven games unbeaten. We want 40 points, quick as we can, then I'll be happy."

Martínez sounded slightly less convincing in claiming to be happy. "I'm not looking at the table, there are too many teams too close to each other, and I don't see this as a missed opportunity," the Wigan manager said. "I'm disappointed we didn't get a second goal, without one we became anxious in the second half. But a few weeks ago we might have folded altogether when Stoke came back at us."

Matthew Etherington was booked for a foul on Charles N'Zogbia in the early exchanges and from the free-kick Paul Scharner rose gracefully near the penalty spot to loop a header over Thomas Sorensen to open the scoring. Going ahead after just 14 minutes gave Wigan confidence and although Stoke had started positively they found themselves pushed back by midway through the first half and having to reposition Robert Huth and Andy Wilkinson to limit the space N'Zogbia and Hugo Rodallega were finding on the wings.When Gary Caldwell brought down Tuncay to give away a free kick just outside the Wigan box, Huth's shot beat the wall but bounced to safety off Shawcross.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.

Stoke missed a decent chance to draw level following a free-kick early in the second half, when Huth headed back across goal and Kirkland was briefly stranded, but though well positioned Tuncay could not get any purchase or power on his shot. The corresponding fixture at Stoke earlier this season produced Maynor Figueroa's remarkable goal from his own half, and Rodallega almost contributed something as spectacular in the 67th minute, first controlling Gary Caldwell's high ball from halfway on his chest, then attempting an overhead shot that landed on the roof of Sorensen's 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 managed to intercept and clear when Ricardo Fuller cut in from the right, though the clearance rolled out to Etherington, who crossed to give Tuncay an easy header.

As Mamady Sidibe hit the bar moments later with a header that could have won the game, Wigan could hardly complain.

Source: guardian.co.uk