Source: Team_Talk
Latics will probe Kirkland incident
Saturday's Premier League match at the DW Stadium was halted by referee Mike Jones in the 53rd minute for Kirkland to receive treatment.[LNB]Kirkland, with his back towards the Burnley fans amassed behind his goal in the second half, was seen rubbing the top of his head.[LNB]Wearing a pained and quizzical expression, Kirkland's gaze was directed to the Clarets supporters as he attempted to seek out the perpetrator.[LNB]Crucially for Wigan, Kirkland was uninjured and able to continue, producing a vital save in the dying stages moments prior to Hugo Rodallega heading home a last-gasp winner.[LNB]Kirkland was not allowed to comment on the incident, but Wigan boss Roberto Martinez said: "We're trying to find out (what happened).[LNB]"We think it was a coin. We're not too sure about it, but it's one of those events you don't want to see on a football pitch.[LNB]"I was relieved and pleased Chris carried on in the game because can you imagine if he'd been carried off because someone threw a coin.[LNB]"He then produced a key moment in the game when he saved late on from (David) Nugent."[LNB]Asked whether he harboured any concerns over a potential Football Association inquiry, Martinez added: "You cannot take coins from the away fans.[LNB]"What occurred is something the authorities need to look into, and something we don't want to see on a football pitch. It shouldn't be in modern football.[LNB]"It's different if you allow someone to bring in a big stick, a flag or something that is not allowed."[LNB]The incident overshadowed in part a desperate relegation battle that was high on endeavour, albeit lacking in real quality.[LNB]That was until substitute Victor Moses cut his way in from the right wing in the third minute of stoppage time and curled a ball into the area for Rodallega to head home his ninth goal of the season.[LNB]"When you saw (Brian) Jensen making three or four outstanding saves, and a clear penalty for James McCarthy that wasn't given, I wondered how we were going to get the goal," added Martinez.[LNB]"But then we had a little bit of brilliance from a very talented young man, and a finish from a very talented striker.[LNB]"In a very dramatic fashion we collected the three points the players deserved.[LNB]"The way the players performed in the second half showed a maturity well beyond the age of the squad, and that pleased me more than anything."[LNB]The Latics are now seven points clear of the relegation zone, yet Martinez knows he cannot relax just yet.[LNB]"To get above 30 points at this stage of the season is fantastic," remarked Martinez.[LNB]"But if we feel we've done our job then we're hugely mistaken. I feel it's going to go down to the wire, with seven clubs still involved.[LNB]"There are going to be many twists and turns between now and the end of the season."[LNB]Appreciably, Burnley boss Brian Laws was left "devastated", and now faces a desperate struggle to not only pick up his players ahead of another local derby at home to Blackburn next Sunday, but also to keep them in the top flight.[LNB]"I sincerely believe I will have to pick up the players over the next few days," said Laws.[LNB]"But they're human beings after all, and it's an emotional game. If you're not hurt by that then you're not human.[LNB]"We're all going to be licking our wounds over the weekend, no question about it, and I'll be sulking as much as anybody else.[LNB]"It will be a terrible weekend for me. However, I'll come in bright and breezy on Monday and we'll get going again, because that's what we have to do.[LNB]"We have to lift ourselves up and prepare for a magnificent game against Blackburn. I can't wait."[LNB]There is every chance the Kirkland incident is not the only moment of the game the FA may want to look at as Michael Duff appeared to plant a forearm in the face of Paul Scharner that was not spotted by Jones, or by Laws.[LNB][LNB]
