Source: Telegraph
Wigan Athletic 1 Blackburn Rovers 1: match report
Benni McCarthy clearly has a penchant for scoring against Wigan. His first Premier League goal of the season was reserved for the DW Stadium where his 29th minute opener was his fourth in five appearances against Blackburn's Lancashire rivals. [LNB]Yet it was still insufficient to provide struggling Rovers with a much-needed victory and home leading-scorer Hugo Rodallega's 52nd minute seventh of the season left the visitors winless for the seventh successive game. [LNB] Related ArticlesPremier League tablePremier League actionTelegraph player raterPremier League fixturesTransfer TalkSport on televisionNot that Wigan are any more consistent: they have now gone four encounters without success and a stale draw left both clubs facing a New Year fight to steer clear of relegation. [LNB]An eventful opening saw Titus Bramble, the Wigan central defender, involved in near own-goal incidents at both ends. In the fifth minute an inventive Blackburn build-up initiated by Franco Di Santo, enabled David Hoilett to spray the ball wide and McCarthy, tracking in from the right, drove crisp and low towards the far post where Bramble's touch almost took the ball beyond his goalkeeper, Chris Kirkland. [LNB]Then, in the 10th minute, Bramble's lofted through-ball saw Chris Samba's attempted headed clearance almost evade the oncoming Paul Robinson and the Rovers' goalkeeper did well to hastily retreat and scramble the ball up the line. [LNB]Blackburn's later positive play, however, was rewarded in the 29th minute when they took the lead. Keith Andrews delivered a high free-kick to the left, Ryan Nelsen provided the header back into the middle for McCarthy to finish from close in. [LNB]Wigan's most meaningful reply came in the 45th minute when Robinson parried Jason Scotland's initial attempt and Pascal Chimbonda squeezed ahead of Bramble to clear. [LNB]There was an equally eventful start to the second half with McCarthy's clever back heel providing Steven Nzonzi space to follow through and shoot narrowly wide. [LNB]But it was Wigan who this time responded to greater effect and when Maynor Figueroa crossed from the left Rodallega splendidly headed the equaliser. [LNB]
