- Okaka (47), Hangeland (58)
- Scotland (34)
- Date:2010-04-04
- Kick-off:15:00
- Venue:Craven Cottage
- Attendance:22730
- Referee:Clattenburg, M
Live Commentary
90mins
Fulham 2 Wigan 1: Okaka and Hangeland score to give Fulham victory after Scotland's first half opener for Wigan.
90mins
Time is running out for Wigan and they just don't look like having the necessary quality to create a worthwhile chance.
90mins
There will be four minutes of stoppage time for Wigan to try to find an equaliser.
88mins
Fulham substitution: Murphy comes of to be replaced by Baird.
88mins
Fulham substitution: Double change also for Fulham. The half time sub Okaka goes off and is replaced by Nevland.
85mins
Wigan substitution: The second change sees N'Zogbia replaced by Watson. He's been impressive for Wigan this season, but N'Zogbia has had a quiet afternoon.
85mins
Wigan substitution: It's a double change for the visitors. Moreno is replaced by Sinclair in the first change.
85mins
Okaka is shown the yellow card. He loses possession and chases back to bring his man down from behind.
84mins
N'Zogbia goes down the left, but his pas inside is poor and he gives possession away.
82mins
The visitors just aren't looking likely to fashion a chance to get back on level terms as we head towards the final few minutes.
79mins
Wigan are struggling to force any real pressure on Fulham and time is starting to run out for them to get back in this game.
77mins
Good play for Rodallega. He plays a ball across goal, but Etuhu clears as Moses looked set to pounce.
75mins
Ambitious effort from Moreno from 25 yards and he fires way off target. He might have looked to bring the ball down instead of taking it so early.
73mins
Another corner to Fulham and they're just putting some pressure on the Wigan goal. Another goal now and this game would surely be over.
72mins
Corner to Fulham. Duff plays it to the far post, but Wigan clear.
70mins
The corner comes in and Moses gets his head to it, but can't get over it as he goes backwards away from goal and heads over Schwarzer's crossbar.
69mins
Moses tries to go past two defenders but Dempsey brings him down and Wigan have a free-kick on the right, midway inside the Fulham half. N'Zogbia curls one towards the far post, but it's knocked behind for a corner.
68mins
Offside given against Okaka and Wigan have a free-kick.
65mins
The game has just settled down a little since Fulham's second goal. It was starting to look like becoming a really open affair after the Fulham equaliser.
63mins
Figueroa finds himself in the book for a challenge on Duff. It looks a little harsh on the Wigan man.
61mins
Wigan substitution: Moses comes on to replace the Wigan scorer Jason Scotland.
59mins
It's two poor pieces of defending for the visitors that has swung this game in Fulham's favour and now they'll need to do something they haven't done in the last 12 matches and score more than once if they're to get anything from this match.
58mins
Fulham 2 Wigan 1: Hangeland rises unmarked to head Fulham in front from the resulting corner.
57mins
Fulham are just starting to put some pressure on the Wigan goal. It's another corner to the home side.
55mins
Corner to Fulham on the right hand side. Duff takes left-footed towards the near post but Wigan clear.
53mins
Poor pass again by Murphy gifts possession to Wigan. It's been a poor afternoon so far for the Fulham captain.
52mins
Diame wins possession and dives towards the Fulham box, but he can't work space for a cross or shot and Fulham clear.
52mins
What a poor start it was for Wigan, conceding that goal so early, but they've responded well since the goal.
51mins
Rodallega plays the ball forward for Diame. Rodallega gets it back and shoots and Schwarzer is forced to parry the effort and collect it at the second attempt.
50mins
Rodallega cuts inside into the area. He shoots across goal towards the far post but it goes wide of Schwarzer's post.
49mins
McCarthy looks for a long ball forward for N'Zogbia, but the pass is wayward and the attack breaks down.
47mins
Fulham 1 Wigan 1: Scharner makes a mistake, getting caught in possession. Gera nicks it away from him and crosses to Okaka who scores with virtually his first touch.
46mins
The visitors get this second half underway, looking to seal the three points that would edge them seven points clear of the relegation zone.
46mins
Fulham substitution: David Elm comes off to be replaced by Stefano Chuka Okaka.
45mins
Fulham 0 Wigan 1: Scotland's first league goal for Wigan is the difference between the sides at the interval. Wigan have marginally shaded it, but there's not been a huge amount of goalmouth action in this first half.
45mins
Scharner does well to clear a cross away for a corner as Dempsey lurked in the centre.
45mins
The fourth official indicates a minimum of two minutes added time.
43mins
It looks like this game is headed into half time without any further incident. Neither side has really created a huge amount.
41mins
Good save by Kirkland. Duff bends a cross in and it almost deceives everyone, but Kirkland gets across well to save.
40mins
Rodallega tries to flick it beyond Davies but he doesn't quite get past him and Fulham gain possession.
38mins
Elm tries to curl one from the edge of the area, but he doesn't get any bend on his shot and it flies wide for a Wigan goal-kick.
36mins
Wigan have arguably shaded this opening 35 minutes and Roy Hodgson may be regretting making changes and resting players as their league form continues to decline.
33mins
Fulham 0 Wigan 1: Jason Scotland scores his first league goal for Wigan and what an important one it could be. He fires left-footed on the bounce and finds the bottom right corner after Moreno brought Melchiot's cross down for him.
32mins
Murphy tries to come forward for Fulham but Diame wins the ball and breaks up another attack. He's done that job really effectively today.
31mins
There's a mix up in the Fulham defence and Schwarzer is almost caught out. Scharner lobs the ball goalwards and Hangeland has to head clear
29mins
The corner is played in but Scharner heads over.
28mins
Moreno tries a shot from distance, but it nicks off of a Fulham defender and deflects wide for a corner.
27mins
Etuhu gives the ball away and Wigan try to break, but the attack breaks down. This hasn't been the highest quality Premier League game.
25mins
Elm tries to go beyond Figueroa and he's brought down earning his side a free-kick. Duff takes from the right into the box, but McCarthy clears.
23mins
Rodallega launches a long ball forward towards N'Zogbia, but Fulham clear.
20mins
Moreno collides with Hughes inside the Fulham penalty area, but it's Moreno who is penalised and Fulham have the free-kick.
20mins
The game has got caught up in midfield in the past few minutes - neither side able to dominate possession or launch an meaningful attack.
16mins
Penalty claims for Fulham and the crowd are really unhappy with referee Mark Clattenburg for not pointing to the spot. There was hesitancy in the Wigan defence and Gera goes down under a challenge from Diame but nothing is given.
14mins
The ball is rolled to Elm on the edge of the area. He drives an effort at goal and Kirkland is forced to stand up strong and make the save.
13mins
Scharner picks up a booking after trying a clever backheel, gets caught in possession and has to bring his man down.
11mins
Good play from Rodallega. He gets beyond Davies, but his cross is plucked from the air by Schwarzer.
10mins
Elm goes forward for Fulham. He gets beyond Diame and tries to find Gera, but the flag goes up and the attack is over.
8mins
Moreno tries a shot on the volley from distance, but it deflects up off of a Fulham defender and loops harmlessly into the arms of Schwarzer.
7mins
Free-kick to Wigan mid-way inside the Fulham half. Figueroa takes, but his ball is poor and the chance to get a quality ball in the box and put Fulham under pressure is wasted.
5mins
Cross from Duff and Elm gets in at the front post to head unmarked but his effort is straight at Kirkland.
3mins
It's been a bright opening for the visitors, who will no doubt see this as a game they can pick up points in given Fulham's recent poor form.
3mins
Half chance for Rodallega, but his shot is blocked by Etuhu.
1mins
Diame goes past a couple of defenders on the left and squares a ball for Moreno inside the area, but the ball doesn't quite get to the Wigan man and Fulham clear.
0mins
Fulham get this game underway.
0mins
Wigan on the other hand, have lost their last three away games and only won twice in the last 12 games, during which time they've failed to score more than once in any game.
0mins
Fulham have lost their last three league games and their only goal in the last four has come from the penalty spot.
0mins
Five of the last six meetings between the sides have ended in draws and there has not been more than two goals in any of the last 12 matches between the teams.
0mins
Wigan. however, have not fared well on their recent trips to the capital. Their last two games in London have seen them concede 13 goals and three away games in London in their final six they'll be keen to turn that around and move clear of trouble.
0mins
Fulham's league form has not been good in the last month or so as their Europa League and FA Cup progress continued. Only West Ham had a worse league record during the month of March.
0mins
Chris Kirkland returns for the visitors after a virus, but Gary Caldwell misses out due to suspension.
0mins
Wigan team line-up: Kirkland, Melchiot, Bramble, Scharner, Figueroa, McCarthy, Moreno, Diame, N'Zogbia, Rodallega, Scotland
0mins
Fulham team line-up: Schwarzer, Davies, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Duff, Murphy, Etuhu, Dempsey, Gera, Elm
Match Preview
Wigan travel to Craven Cottage at the weekend to face a Fulham side who are experiencing something of a European hangover.
Roy Hodgson's side have not picked up a single Premier League point since their first leg tie with Juventus and the veteran manager will no doubt be desperate to kick-start the domestic season with a win against Roberto Martinez' struggling Wigan.
However, the Latics' away form of late is sure be a source of confidence for the Cottagers. Indeed, Wigan have won just one of their last 10 away games in the league.
Wigan have also conceded nine goals in their last four Premier League games - an average of 2.25 goals leaked per game on current form and they now find themselves just four points clear of the relegation zone.
Europa League hero Clint Dempsey has enjoyed facing Wigan in the past - having scored three goals in his last four starts against the Latics - and the American will no doubt be confident of adding to that total at the weekend.
However, Fulham's defensive woes will be of concern to Hodgson, with the west Londoners conceding at least two goals in each of their last three Premier League games.
Ahead of the game, John Pantsil and Andy Johnson are both serious doubts for Fulham, but Bobby Zamora and David Elm are both close to returning to action.
Wigan, on the other hand, are not currently subject to any major injury woes and Martinez can look forward to having more or less a full strength squad to chose from.
Before these two sides lock horns, Fulham have a mid-week Europa League game at home to Wolfsburg to navigate and Martinez will therefore expect his men to be fresher at Craven Cottage.
The under-pressure Wigan boss has also been asked by the FA to explain his comments following his side's 3-0 defeat to Manchester City on Monday regarding referee Stuart Attwell.
Match Report
Fulham finally transformed their impressive European form on to the domestic stage by coming from behind to secure a first Premier League victory since February 21, seeing off Wigan Athletic 2-1.
A first Cottagers league goal from on-loan Roma striker Stefano Okaka and a fine headed goal from Brede Hangeland cranked up the relegation pressure on the struggling Latics.
Though without in-form talisman Bobby Zamora, Fulham started with the zest of a side full of confidence after their superb 2-1 Europa League victory over Wolfsburg.
The Cottagers created the first clear chance after five minutes when Thursday's European hero Damien Duff picked out Zoltan Gera, but his header was well held by goalkeeper Chris Kirkland.
Then Zamora's replacement David Elm found space in the box, but Kirkland was again equal to the effort.
However, the hosts should have had the chance to score from the spot after 20 minutes with the Fulham faithful livid at referee Mark Clattenburg for failing to award a penalty after Gera appeared to be sent sprawling by Titus Bramble.
But, after showing their defensive resilience, Roberto Martinez's side so nearly notched the opener just after the half hour when Paul Scharner's lob was cleared off the line by Hangeland.
There was no reprieve for Fulham though in the 34th minute when the Latics grabbed the lead through a half-volley from Jason Scotland that caught Mark Schwarzer out at his near post, after the hosts had allowed Marcelo Moreno to nod down for the former Swansea hitman.
Fulham drew level though less than two minutes into the second half when substitute Okaka flicked the ball past Kirkland with his first touch after good work down the left by the impressive Gera.
That leveller transformed Fulham and their improved second-half showing was rewarded in the 58th minute with Hangeland's towering header from a Duff corner finding the back of the net via Kirkland's outstretched hand and a post.
The Fulham fans claimed another penalty near the end when Clint Dempsey went down after a challenge by Bramble, but this time action replays showed that it was a clean tackle and two was enough for Fulham in the end.
Goalscorer Okaka handed manager Roy Hodson another injury headache though when he hobbled off with five minutes to go.
However, Zamora's apparent knock that ruled him out was not thought to be serious enough to make him a doubt for the European quarter-final second leg at Wolfsburg.
Fulham Team
Wigan Athletic Team
Fulham | Wigan Athletic |
Corners
| 6 | 3 |
Fouls
| 13 | 11 |
Goal attempts
| 8 | 8 |
Shots off target
| 3 | 5 |
Offsides
| 2 | 3 |
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90mins
Fulham break with Dempsey and Bramble does really well to make the tackle to halt the attack but only at the expense of a corner.