• Date: Sat 15 December 2007
  • Venue: The JJB Stadium
  • Ref: Clattenburg, M
  • Attendance: 16,489
Wigan Athletic

Wigan Athletic

Landzaat (10)

Bent (12)

Scharner (37)

Bent (66)

Bent (81)

5 - 3
Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn Rovers

Santa Cruz (45)

Santa Cruz (50)

Santa Cruz (61)

Wigan Athletic vs Blackburn Rovers

Team Lineups

Wigan Athletic

Chris Kirkland
Ryan Taylor, R (Salomon Olembe, 89)
Emmerson Boyce
Titus Bramble
Paul Scharner
Kevin Kilbane
Denny Landzaat
Luis Antonio Valencia
Michael Brown
Emile Heskey (Julius Aghahowa, 40)
Marcus Bent

Blackburn Rovers

Brad Friedel
Christopher Samba
Ryan Nelsen
Stephen Warnock
Steven Reid
Morten Gamst Pedersen
Brett Emerton
David Bentley
Robbie Savage
Benni McCarthy (Matt Derbyshire, 74)
Roque Santa Cruz (David Dunn, 90)


Live Text Commentary
90

Eight goals, a red card, two hat-tricks and a missed penalty - things aren't dull for Steve Bruce. His team might have wobbled at 3-3, but they found two more goals and have finally ended their winless run.

Full time
 

An amazing Lancashire derby ends 5-3 to Wigan. This game had everything and the home side deserved their win.

90
Yellow Card
 

Robbie Savage finally goes into the book for a foul in the corner as Wigan try to run the clock down.

90
Substitution
 

David Dunn replaces Roque Santa Cruz.

90
Substitution
 

Andreas Granqvist comes on for Julius Aghahowa.

90
Substitution
 

Salomon Olembe replaces Ryan Taylor .

90

Four minutes to be added.

88

Wigan appeal for a penalty for a foul by Ryan Nelsen but the referee says no.

86

The home try some keep-ball but the game is so stretched that they can't help but attack.

84

Maybe we're not finished - Santa Cruz forces Kirkland into another save.

80
Goal
 

It's a fifth for Wigan! Marcus Bent beats Friedel after good work from Valencia and Aghahowa.

78
Yellow Card
 

Steven Warnock is cautioned.

78
Yellow Card
 

Julius Aghahowa also goes into the referee's book

76

Santa Cruz nearly claims his and Rovers' fourth, but heads over from a corner. The away side look more threatening now.

74

Christopher Samba heads wide as Blackburn make light of having 10 men.

73
Substitution
 

Matt Derbyshire finally makes his appearance, replacing Benni McCarthy.

72
Yellow Card
 

Tackles are flying in and Michael Brown is the latest to have his name taken.

69

Taylor curls a shot from the edge of the area just wide of Friedel's post.

67
Yellow Card
 

Ryan Taylor booked for a foul on Steven Reid.

65
Goal
 

Unbelievable, Wigan regain the lead! Valencia swings in a cross that is firmly met by Marcus Bent's header. How many goals are left in this game?

61
Goal
 

3-3!!! Hat-trick for Santa Cruz as he powers a header past Kirkland from Warnock's cross.

58

Matt Derbyshire had his tracksuit off but has returned to the bench in the wake of Emerton's dismissal.

56

Good save by Friedel from Scharner's shot. Wigan look like they know that another goal is needed to secure three points.

55
Red Card
 

Another twist in this game as Brett Emerton sees red for a cynical foul.

51

Wigan continue to pour forward and Julius Aghahowa drills wide.

49
Goal
 

Drama as Santa Cruz scores again, turning in after Kirkland failed to hold a shot. Rovers' comeback continues.

47

Wigan are quickly out of the blocks again in their search for a surely decisive fourth goal.

Second half
 

The second period begins with no half time substitutions.

45

Rovers emerge with hope after that superb goal from Santa Cruz just before the interval.

Half time
 

What a second half we have in prospect. Has the momentum shifted with that Rovers goal on the stroke of half time?

45
Goal
 

Roque Santa Cruz pulls one back with a great individual effort, catching Chris Kirkland by surprise.

44

Julius Aghahowa makes a break but is caught offside.

42

Are Wigan on course to end their win drought in style? Rovers, quite understandably, look stunned.

40
Substitution
 

Emile Heskey limps off with an apparent recurrence of his recent ankle problem. Julius Aghahowa replaces him.

37
Goal
 

Wigan's fans go crazy as Paul Scharner gets the third goal with a thumping header from Ryan Taylor's cross.

36

Loud appeals for a handball by Samba but not given by the referee; Wigan get the free-kick anyway for a foul by the big centre back.

34

Good work from Valencia results in a fourth corner for Wigan. Santa Cruz heads clear.

30

David Bentley's long-range shot is badly sliced and nearly finds the corner flag, much to the home crowd's delight.

28

Blackburn have a period of possession but can't fashion a chance. They are gradually getting a foothold in this match.

25

This game shows no sign of settling down - the challenges are flying in and both teams look threatening in attack.

23
Yellow Card
 

Emile Heskey was booked for his protests in the penalty incident - he was adjudged to have hauled back Samba.

21

The home crowd are silenced by Mark Clattenburg's decision to give a penalty in a scramble from a Rovers corner. McCarthy steps up but it is saved by Kirkland!!

17
Yellow Card
 

Brett Emerton trips Kevin Kilbane and goes into the referee's book.

17

Luis Antonio Valencia gets free down the right-hand side but can't deliver a telling cross. Rovers are rattled and can't keep hold of the ball.

14

Mark Hughes won't believe what he is seeing. His team can't get going and continue to give free kicks away.

11
Goal
 

Rovers are in a disarray as Marcus Bent scores Wigan's second with a confident finish.

9
Goal
 

Denny Landzaat strides through the Rovers defence and slots past Brad Friedel. Great start for the home side!

7

Blackburn's first real attack ends with Santa Cruz not connecting with a David Bentley pass.

5
Yellow Card
 

Christopher Samba is cautioned by Mark Clattenburg for a heavy challenge on Emile Heskey. Wigan force a corner from the free kick.

4

Taylor involved again and his cross evades Marcus Bent - that was a good chance. Wigan have started brightly.

3

Ryan Taylor warms Friedel's palms with a free kick, comfortably saved by the American.

Kickoff
 

We're underway at a bright but chilly JJB Stadium.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Both teams have been on a poor run recently: Rovers have won once in six and the Latics have lost nine of the last 10, conceding 25 goals.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Rovers have won three of the four Premiership clashes between the two, with one draw. Last season's meeting ended in a 3-0 win for Mark Hughes' side.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Blackburn line-up: Friedel, Emerton, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock, Bentley, Reid, Savage, Pedersen, McCarthy, Santa Cruz.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Wigan line-up: Kirkland, Taylor, Boyce, Bramble, Kilbane, Valencia, Scharner, Brown, Landzaat, Bent, Heskey.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Rovers' Steven Reid starts for the first time in 16 months. Ryan Nelsen and David Bentley return from suspension.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Steve Bruce recalls Michael Brown and Ryan Taylor at the expense of Jason Koumas and Andreas Granqvist, who drop to the bench.