Wolves 0-2 Wigan
Thankfully for Rodallega - his penalty miss didn't prove costly
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By Tom Powell. |  |
Saturday, 16, Jan 2010 05:00
By Sam Ross.
Second half goals from James McCarthy and Charles N'Zogbia secured a 2-0 away victory for Wigan against Wolves at Molineux.
Both teams were reduced to ten men as Richard Stearman and Hendry Thomas were sent off for second bookable offences.
A first half penalty miss from Hugo Rodallega just before the break didn't harm the Latics as they controlled and dominated the second half finishing deserved winners.
Wigan should have gone down to ten men early on when Hendry Thomas was lucky to only receive a booking from referee Howard Webb for a two footed lunge on Stephen Ward inside the opening 15 minutes.
Silyvan Ebanks-Blake missed Wolves best chance of the first half with 19 minutes of the first half played when he shamefully side footed wide from yards out.
Wigan then began to dominate the game and should have taken the lead inside the half hour mark.
The Wolves defence were unable to deal with a long ball over the top and Wigan forward Hugo Rodallega could only strike straight at Marcus Hahnemann in the Wolves goal.
Moments later Rodallega forced a good save from Hahneman after the Columbian striker capitalised on a mistake from Wolves defender Michael Mancienne.
In the 36th minute Jody Craddock had a great chance to snatch the lead but was leaning back as the ball dropped to him in the area and his shot cleared the ball after a great cross from Kevin Foley.
The real drama of the first half came just before the interval when Wigan were awarded a penalty and Wolves went down to 10 men after Richard Stearrman was shown a second yellow card for recklessly fouling James McCarthy.
Rodallega stepped up but once again Hahnemann saved his effort but could only parry the ball to the on rushing Paul Scharner who fortunately for Wolves could only direct the rebound wide of the goal.
Paul Scharner was replaced early on in the second half by Jordi Gomez following an injury he picked up during the penalty chance just before half time.
Wigan then made the breakthrough in the 60th minute thanks to a James NcCarthy strike form the edge of the area after good work by the impressive Charles N'Zogbia and Rodallega.
Taking advantage of their extra man Wigan had two more chances to increase their lead but a N'Zogbia curled effort went wide and Rodallega blazed over from outside the area.
The team's numbers when then evened up with 66 minutes played when Hendry Thomas was sent off for a second bookable offence after lunging in on Stephen Ward.
With both sides with 10 men it was Wigan who scored the crucial second goal of the game and it was the deserving Charles N'Zogbia who scored it.
After another mistake by Mancienne Rodallega did well to play in N'Zogbia who one on one with the keeper slotting the ball into the left corner of the net.
Wigan held to their lead to round off a crucial win which lefts them upto 13th and two points away from Wolves who are now 16th - two points adrift of the relegation zone.