Premier League

February 9, 2010

Full-time

Wigan Athletic

1 - 1

Stoke City

Premier League

19:45 GMT, February 9, 2010

DW Stadium

Referee: A Marriner

Potters snatch point

Scoring Summary

Wigan Athletic Stoke City
Paul Scharner (14')Tuncay Sanli (74')

Tuncay Sanli's second-half header denied Wigan a precious victory as Stoke made off with a 1-1 draw at the DW Stadium.

The Latics took an early lead when Paul Scharner connected with Charles N'Zogbia's wonderfully-flighted free-kick in the 14th minute.

• Mixed bag for Martinez

But Tuncay rose to head home Matthew Etherington's cross 16 minutes from time to ensure it finished honours even.

Although other results meant the draw moved Wigan up two places to 14th in the table, Roberto Martinez's side were the superior side for long spells and now have only one win in their last 10 Premier League games.

Stoke, meanwhile, extended their unbeaten run since the turn of the year to five league games.

Tuncay dispossessed Mohamed Diame in the second minute and made a purposeful run into the box, but the Turkey forward was crowded out and the ball went for a throw.

Rory Delap launched it back into the area where it was only partially cleared to Glenn Whelan, whose shot was deflected wide.

At the other end, Hugo Rodallega was brought down on the edge of the box by Ryan Shawcross and took the free-kick himself, but could only send it straight into the wall.

Jason Scotland made a better attempt on goal in the 10th minute having been fed by James McCarthy, but after cutting inside his man the Trinidad and Tobago striker could not direct his shot on target.

Three minutes later Wigan were ahead. Etherington was booked for obstructing N'Zogbia midway into the Stoke half and the Frenchman sent a beautiful delivery into the box from the free-kick which Scharner headed past the diving Thomas Sorensen.

With their confidence buoyed by the goal, Wigan continued to push forward and after a mazy dribble, Diame had a shot blocked which fell to Rodallega, whose attempt flew over the bar.

But Stoke applied some pressure around the half-hour mark, with Etherington's free-kick causing a goalmouth scramble which was cleared away and Whelan sending a speculative effort over.

Gary Caldwell then received a yellow card for bringing down Tuncay as the Potters striker broke forward, but Robert Huth drilled the free-kick straight into Shawcross, who could not get a decent shot away.

Mamady Sidibe was next to fire wide for Stoke and Tuncay sent a volley into Chris Kirkland's arms after connecting with an Etherington cross.

But as the half drew to a close Wigan went close to extending their advantage, Scharner managing to flick N'Zogbia's corner towards goal from six yards out, but the midfielder was leaning back too much to guide it on target.

Stoke came out for the second half looking determined to pick up the tempo, and after Delap had seen one of his long-throws punched away by Kirkland, Tuncay wasted an opportunity to equalise, miscuing a volley from close range after Huth had nodded down for him.

Tony Pulis threw on Ricardo Fuller - who was arrested at the weekend - after an hour, and a minute later Tuncay unleashed a shot on the turn which was deflected over by substitute Jordi Gomez.

But at the other end, Rodallega almost produced a moment of magic, holding off Shawcross with his back to goal and executing a bicycle kick that looped inches over Sorensen's bar.

Stoke were looking increasingly potent and with just over a quarter of an hour remaining, they found an equaliser through Tuncay.

Etherington played a through-ball to Fuller, who made a lung-bursting run into the box but could only send a cross to the feet of Caldwell.

The defender's clearance went straight back to Etherington, though, who crossed for an unmarked Tuncay to head past Kirkland.

Two minutes later, the Potters almost turned the game around completely as Fuller nodded Etherington's cross back for Sidibe, who saw his header bounce off the crossbar.

Substitute James Beattie then had the chance to seal it for Stoke on the stroke of 90 minutes but Kirkland dived to push his shot away, while Marcelo Moreno - who had also come off the bench - scuffed an effort at the other end.

  • Mixed bag for Martinez

    After the match Wigan manager Roberto Martinez admitted he had mixed feelings after his side let their lead slip.

    "I am disappointed that we didn't get the second goal," Martinez said. "I think the first half we controlled the game really well and were well worth the lead. But obviously in the second half, when you have got something to lose you are a little bit anxious and you could see the players getting a little bit anxious.

    "We wanted to take this team out of the game by keeping the ball, but Stoke put on a lot of pressure. They put bodies forward, and to be honest the pitch didn't help us to get through that pressure.

    "But in the end I am delighted with the reaction because once you get the disappointment of conceding the goal, probably a few weeks or a few months back we would have folded, and the toughest way to react is showing that character and knowing how. So at the end just from individuals and the team, the roles that they played allowed us to have a point out of the game.

    "That is not what we wanted in the first half with the performance we had but overall, I think it's quite fair to say that Stoke came out in the second half with great momentum and great impetus. They don't need much to be dangerous in the last third and they got a good equaliser."

    Ricardo Fuller, who was arrested at the weekend over an incident in a nightclub, came off the bench after an hour and played a part in the build-up to Tuncay's goal.

    "He's smashing, Ric's all right," Pulis said. "We're hoping that what happened over the weekend, the lad will come forward and drop charges and Ric can get on with playing football, which he does very, very well."

    Pulis was also delighted with Tuncay's lively display, as well as that of the ever-impressive Matthew Etherington, who delivered the cross for the Turkey forward's equaliser.

    "Tunny could have scored four goals today," said Pulis. "He is a terrific player, he has great ability and he gives us that little bit of difference that the team needs. Him and Etherington are very good players and when you put Ric in the mix as well, there are three people who can do things off the cuff.

    "We are pleased with him and I am pleased with the commitment of the players. I just thought the effort and the commitment in the second half was first class."