Late drama leaves Spurs heartbroken
Wigan's players celebrate their late winner at the JJB Stadium
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Sunday, 11, Jan 2009 09:04
A stoppage time goal gave Wigan Athletic a 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at the JJB Stadium.
Maynor Figueroa scored in the 91st minute to ruin Jermain Defoe's debut and increase Spurs' relegation fears.
The defeat sees Harry Redknapp's troops slip to 18th position while the Latics stay seventh.
But Harry Redknapp's troops made a bright start with Ledley King's header parried by Chris Kirkland while Jamie O'Hara dragged his shot wide from 12 yards.
The Latics weathered the storm and slowly came into the game with Paul Scharner firing a volley over while Amr Zaki 's glancing header crept agonizingly wide.
Both sides wasted glorious chances to break the deadlock on the stroke of half-time with Defoe teeing-up Didier Zokora who drilled his shot wide, while Heurelho Gomes beat away Emile Heskey's header at the far post.
The second half followed a similar pattern with neither side able to convert their chances. Gomes nearly gifted Steve Bruce's men the lead when he threw the ball straight to Ryan Taylor but the Brazilian got back in time to make a save, while O 'Hara failed to connect with Gareth Bale's curling free-kick.
A frustrated Redknapp brought on Aaron Lennon and Darren Bent in search of a spark. But it failed to make a difference as Wigan finished the game stronger with Zaki heading wide from six yards before Taylor fired a free-kick over the bar.
And their possession was rewarded on 91 minutes when Figueroa headed past the despairing Gomes from Taylor's free-kick to clinch victory and crank up the pressure on Redknapp.