- Heskey (10), Valencia (12), Cattermole (77)
- Date:2008-12-13
- Kick-off:15:00
- Venue:The JJB Stadium
- Attendance:18003
- Referee:Webb, H
Live Commentary
90mins
Full Time: WIGAN 3-0 BLACKBURN. A dismal display by Blackburn who have been punished by an in-form Wigan side. Goals by Heskey, Valencia and Cattermole give Wigan a well deserved win.
89mins
Emerton crosses from the right hand side towards Santa Cruz who heads towards goal but the looping ball is comfortably saved by Kirkland on his line.
87mins
Steve Bruce makes his final change as he withdraws Valencia and brings on De Ridder for the final few moments.
86mins
Brett Emerton looks to find a consolation goal but his long-range strike was well wide. A shot born out of desperation from the Australian.
83mins
The crowd show their appreciation for Emile Heskey who opened the scoring. Camara comes on the replace him to inject some more pace upfront for the tired Blackburn defence to deal with.
81mins
Ryan Taylor goes for goal from the free-kick, it takes a deflection and Samba is able to clear the danger. Wigan hungry for more goals infront of their own fans.
80mins
Ryan Nelsen is cautioned for a cynical foul on Zaki. A touch of frustration from the Blackburn defedner as he protests his booking.
79mins
Steve Bruce makes his first change of the game as he withdraws Melchiot, who has been outstanding today. Kilbane comes on to replace him and Taylor will fill in at right-back.
78mins
Keith Andrews comes off and is replaced by Keith Treacy as Paul Ince desperately tries to claw his Rovers side back into this.
76mins
WIGAN 3-0 BLACKBURN: Sustained Wigan pressure ends with Valencia picking the ball up on the corner of the box and rolling it to CATTERMOLE who strokes it beyond the despairing dive of Robinson.
74mins
The corner from Taylor is headed out as far as Brown who struck the ball on the half-volley but can't hit the target and sends it into the stands.
73mins
Wigan work the ball wide to Valencia who whips the ball in towards Heskey and Samba makes the interception but is forced to head over his own bar.
72mins
Again Wigan have a corner but Paul Robinson comes out to punch away Taylor's delivery and Derbyshire picks up the ball for Blackburn inside his own half.
71mins
Blackburn just don't seem to have the quality to force their way back into this game. Melchiot is dominating Derbyshire on the Blackburn left and the midfield don't seem to have the desire to win the ball.
67mins
David Dunn fires a shot from long range and it almost wrong-footed Kirkland but the keeper was able to re-adjust and gather the shot.
64mins
End to end stuff here as Wigan break rapidly and earn a corner of their own. Taylor whips it towards the near post but the flick on beats everyone and Ooijer can clear.
63mins
Brown becomes the first player to be cautioned as Howard Webb calls him back for an earlier foul on Andrews that the referee had played advantage from.
63mins
The free-kick is whipped in and Scharner has to deal with it but his header is just a flick and it flies towards his own goal and Kirkland is able to turn it wide.
62mins
Lee Cattermole launches into a crunching tackle with Matt Derbyshire and the replays suggest he may have gone over the top of the ball. Football's a physical game and Howard Webb recognising that by simply awarding the free-kick.
60mins
Tugay Kerimoglu makes way for Jason Roberts, the former Wigan man, who will look to impose himself upfront for Blackburn Rovers.
57mins
Free-kick for Wigan in a dangerous position after Andrews handled - Taylor fizzes the ball towards the near post but no Wigan player was able to find the decisive touch and Robinson looks a little hurt after challenging for that.
55mins
Blackburn are awarded a free-kick in the right hand channel, around 25 yards from goal - Emerton will shoot but he sends it over the bar.
54mins
Dunn goes down under a tough challenge on the edge of the box but his protests are waved away emphatically by Howard Webb and Wigan look to break.
52mins
Emerton delivers the corner towards Samba again and once again his header is well off target and the Wigan defence breathe a sigh of relief.
52mins
Blackburn have a free-kick that Warnock launches from deep towards Santa Cruz, who brings it down and plays in Dunn who tries to break into the box and forces a corner.
50mins
Good possession play from Wigan working the ball across the midfield but in the end Figueroa's cross is well headed away by Derbyshire but Blackburn find themselves under pressure again after the interval.
47mins
Good play from Wigan again as Heskey slides in Cattermole but Robinson comes out to make a smart save but it wouldn't have mattered as the assistant had already judged Cattermole offside.
46mins
The second period is underway and Ince will be hoping that his players can turn this around.
46mins
Half-time change for Blackburn. David Dunn comes on for Morten Gamst Pedersen. Dunn is likely to play in behind Santa Cruz to link the midfield and the striker.
45mins
Half-Time: WIGAN 2-0 BLACKBURN. The two early goals from Heskey and Valencia give Wigan a commanding lead and Blackburn haven't looked like coming back into it so far.
44mins
Valencia roaming forward once again on the right hand side and cutting it back to Heskey who plays in Zaki but the Egyptian shoots well wide.
43mins
Wigan break away quickly - Zaki breaking into the space and picking out the run of Cattermole with the cross, the midfielder beat Robinson with the header but it cannoned back off the bar to deny Wigan a third.
42mins
Pedersen will deliver the corner again and he whips it in with pace but Samba heads high over the crossbar from close range. Samba should have done better there!
38mins
Valencia suddenly coming to life again as he links up with Heskey before firing a shot from the edge of the box that only just went over the crossbar.
37mins
All very predictable from Blackburn in possession at the moment and Wigan are dealing with everything that the visitors throw at them. Perhaps Ince will look towards the returning Dunn on the bench to give the midfield some imagination.
33mins
Free-kick for Blackburn, within range and Pedersen looks set to shoot and he does, but it goes comfortably over the bar. Disappointing end product once again for Blackburn Rovers.
32mins
Good goalkeeping from Robinson as he comes off his line sharply to gather a through ball from Valencia that Melchiot was chasing.
29mins
Blackburn have a corner on the right hand side - Pedersen will deliver - Heskey heads it away but it goes for another corner but this one is headed clear by Melchiot.
27mins
Controversial moment at the JJB as Derbyshire steals the ball away from Scharner who appears to haul down the striker but Howard Webb waves away the protests. The replays suggest the refereee made the correct decision.
25mins
Blackburn force the ball in towards Santa Cruz who brings it down and plays it to Derbyshire on the edge of the box who tries to bend it towards the corner but Kirkland saves with ease.
22mins
Good movement from Blackburn and the run of Derbyshire forces a corner - Pedersen's corner doesn't beat the first man and Wigan are able to clear.
20mins
A frustrated tackle from Samba as he goes through the back of Ryan Taylor and gives away a free-kick. Taylor whips it in right-footed towards Scharner but he can't quite reach it and it goes behind for a goal-kick.
17mins
Blackburn have a corner, Emerton fizzes the ball in but Bramble flicks it away from the danger zone but Rovers keep the ball - Pedersen skips to the byline and squares the ball but Santa Cruz can't get a foot to the ball and Wigan clear.
15mins
Santa Cruz turns the ball into the path of Pedersen on the left hand side, he whips the ball in and picks out Emerton at the back post but his header goes wide.
12mins
WIGAN 2-0 BLACKBURN: VALENCIA picks the ball up deep and drives forward, Warnock stands off the winger and allows him to shoot from the edge of the box straight into the bottom corner. A superb solo effort and Blackburn face an uphill battle now.
10mins
WIGAN 1-0 BLACKBURN: Valencia skips past Warnock with some clever footwork, he gets to the byline and cuts it back to HESKEY who flicks it beyond Robinson to give Wigan the lead.
8mins
Valencia crosses from the right flank and picks out Zaki who flicks it on towards Taylor coming in at the back post but his shot is deflected wide for a corner.
5mins
A long throw from Wigan is nodded on at the near post but Blackburn are able to clear as far as Brown but he can't pick out a team-mate with his ball back into the box.
4mins
Blackburn have a corner now after some clever interplay on the left hand side between Pedersen and Warnock. Emerton takes the corner but Nelsen is penalised for his jump as he tried to win the ball.
3mins
Wigan have a corner after a long-throw down the line comes off Warnock - The ball comes in but is well dealt with by the Rovers defence and Blackburn win possession.
2mins
An early free-kick for Wigan just inside the Rovers half - Melchiot delivers to Zaki who touches it back to Cattermole but his ball over the top is overhit and goes behind for a goal kick.
1mins
Howard Webb gets the match underway.
0mins
Despite Rovers' terrible run of form Ince perseveres with the same side that suffered defeat to Liverpool at Ewood Park. Another show of faith from the manager? Or perhaps a sign of lack of depth in the squad?
0mins
WIgan are without Henri Camara, who is ill, as well as Boyce who has a hamstring problem. Palacios serves a one match suspension so Brown comes into the mdfield and Scharner fills in at centre-back.
0mins
Blackburn: Robinson, Ooijer, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock, Emerton, Kerimoglu, Andrews, Pedersen, Roque Santa Cruz, Derbyshire
0mins
Wigan: Kirkland, Melchiot, Bramble, Scharner, Figueroa, Valencia, Cattermole, Brown, Taylor, Zaki, Heskey
0mins
Having only won three games so far this season, Blackburn come to the JJB one the back of a 3-1 defeat to Liverpool. The fans will be desperate for a Blackburn win and the players will be doing all they can to turn around their poor form.
0mins
Wigan lost to Arsenal by a single goal last time out but still lie in eleventh place in the league. However, Bruce will know that if his side lose today they could well be down by the bottom three.
0mins
Welcome to the JJB stadium where Steve Bruce's Wigan Athletic host the under pressure Paul Ince's Blackburn Rovers.
Match Preview
Two former Manchester United stalwarts - Steve Bruce and Paul Ince - meet for the first time as managers when Wigan Athletic entertain Blackburn Rovers at the JJB Stadium.
Their current fortunes could not be more different though, with Bruce being praised for Wigan Athletic's progress this term while Ince has been vilified as Rovers struggle.
The Latics' five-match unbeaten run was ended by Arsenal last weekend but Bruce's side produced another good performance at the Emirates Stadium and seem certain to avoid another relegation battle this season.
Amr Zaki is expected to make his first start since last month's Carling Cup defeat to the Gunners after coming on as a late substitute last weekend following a calf muscle injury.
However, Wilson Palacios is suspended after collecting his fifth yellow card of the season at Arsenal while Emmerson Boyce is likely to join the Honduran on the sidelines.
Boyce strained a hamstring muscle after an hour of the Emirates Stadium meeting and is a doubt for the JJB clash while Olivier Kapo (nose) and Erik Edman (knee) remain in the treatment room.
Paul Scharner is expected to be available though after recovering from the groin injury that forced him to sit out the trip to north London.
Ince has spent the last fortnight defending himself as knives have been sharpened for the former Macclesfield Town and MK Dons manager following a dismal ten-match winless sequence in which Rovers have garnered only three points.
The run has left Ince's side in the bottom three and, with Roque Santa Cruz's head seemingly being turned by a possible move to Manchester City next month, their chances of moving clear of danger appear to be diminishing.
Vince Grella is expected to have recovered from a hamstring injury in time to face the Latics but David Dunn (Achilles) and Steven Reid (knee) will play no more football this year.
Zurab Khizanishvili is also in contention for a return to the starting line-up after being sidelined for almost a month with a groin problem.
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Match Report
Steve Bruce's Wigan Athletic added to the pressure on Paul Ince as Rovers crashed to their sixth straight defeat. They never recovered after conceding two early goals at the JJB Stadium.
It means Rovers have now gone 11 games since their last win - in September - and it is looking ominous for former England star Ince after just five months in charge at Ewood Park.
It must have been a bitter-sweet afternoon for Latics chairman Dave Whelan, but the future's looking rosy for Bruce's side who now take a break until the Christmas fixtures against Newcastle and Bolton with a healthy 22 points already in the bank.
Wigan had Paul Scharner back for the injured Emmerson Boyce while Michael Brown returned in midfield for the banned Wilson Palacios.
For Rovers, there was a welcome return after a three-month absence for midfielder David Dunn, recovered from an Achilles injury.
But it was the Latics who made the dream start smashing in two goals in as many minutes and Antonio Valencia figured in both.
He shot past Stephen Warnock before slotting a great ball into the path of Emile Heskey who back-heeled the ball through the tightest of gaps between keeper and post to register his third goal of the season.
Rovers were still rocking from that blow when Wigan struck again. A clearance from Paul Robinson was headed back by Mario Melchiot and Valencia was on it in a flash, cutting inside and beating the keeper with a terrific finish, hammering a right-foot shot into the far corner.
It took Rovers 25 minutes to get a shot on target but Matt Derbyshire's effort failed to bother Chris Kirkland.
Dangerman Valencia was unlucky not to hit the target with another blockbuster after Rovers struggled to clear from a throw-in.
The woodwork then came to Rovers' rescue when Lee Cattermole raced into the box to reach Amr Zaki's ball and head over Robinson but it hit the bar and rebounded to safety.
Dunn's arrival off the bench lifted Blackburn but Howard Webb was not impressed by claims for a penalty when the midfielder went down in the Wigan area.
A great save from Kirkland prevented an own goal from a Brett Emerton free-kick and he also kept out a shot from Dunn.
But Wigan made sure of the three points when Cattermole slotted in the third - his first for the club - from a deflected Valencia cross which Taylor left to his midfield partner to provide the finish.
Wigan Athletic Team
Blackburn Rovers Team
Wigan Athletic | Blackburn Rovers |
Corners
| 6 | 9 |
Fouls
| 9 | 14 |
Goal attempts
| 10 | 11 |
Shots off target
| 4 | 7 |
Offsides
| 5 | 2 |



90mins
Ooijer's ball in towards the back post is straight into the path of Derbyshire but Santa Cruz pokes out a leg to try to direct it home but can only send it wide. Had he left it for Derbyshire, he surely would have scored.