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FULL TIME WIGAN 1-0 SUNDERLAND: Hugo Rodallega's second half goal hands Wigan a just about deserved win and the perfect tonic after last week's mauling at Spurs. Sunderland improved after the break but were second best overall.
Wigan are playing keep-ball here as the clock ticks down to a vital three points for them.
Wigan break in numbers here and Charles N'Zogbia wins a vital corner for the hosts. The corner is played short before being swung in by Hugo Rodallega but it goes out of play.
There will be four minutes of injury time to play here and both sides are going for goal still.
Boudewijn Zenden has an effort deflect out for a corner now. Andy Reid plays it in and Chris Kirkland drops it but gathers at the second attempt.
Phil Bardsley plays a cross into the area and it looks like it hits an arm but again the referee is not giving a penalty to Sunderland for that.
Boudewijn Zenden plays in Jordan Henderson whose effort hits off a defender for a corner. The ball comes in and Michael Turner wins the header but it is wide.
A half chance for Sunderland but Lorik Cana cannot direct his header past Chris Kirkland in the Wigan goal.
A double change by Steve Bruce as Boudewijn Zenden and David Healy come on in place of George McCartney and Paulo Da Silva.
Wigan are presing now looking to kill the game as Garcia Jordi Gomez tees up Hugo Rodallega who cannot convert the chance.
Andy Reid puts a the free kick into the area which is cleared and the follow up cross is well held by Chris Kirkland.
Darren Bent wins a free kick for Sunderland but is booked for something he said after being fouled.
Hugo Rodallega gets a chance here after being played in by Charles N'Zogbia but this time the shot is straight at Marton Fulop.
Andy Reid is the second booking of the afternoon for Sunderland for a foul on Hendry Thomas.
The irony is Hugo Rodallega was signed by Steve Bruce for Wigan, possibly one of the 'dodgy signings' chairman Dave Whelan was speaking about last week.
WIGAN 1-0 SUNDERLAND: Wigan go forward and take the lead here as HUGO RODALLEGA who out muscles Paulo Da Silva and gets his effort past Marton Fulop.
It really is end to end stuff now in this half as both sides are going forward when possible and either could walk away with the win.
A chance for Sunderland now but Fraizer Campbell can't get space to get a shot in on the Wigan goal.
Phil Bardsley puts a good cross in from the right but it is just a bit behind Darren Bent who heads it over the crossbar.
Charles N'Zogbia gets to the edge of the area but his effort is charged down by Kieran Richardson as Wigan do the pressing now.
Wigan win a free kick which Charles N'Zogbia chips into the box and Michael Turner heads out for a corner. Garcia Jordi Gomez plays it in but straight into the hands of Marton Fulop.
Charles N'Zogbia finds Hugo Rodallega whose effort just goes wide in probably their best chance of this second half.
Hugo Rodallega hits a low strike at goal for Wigan but Marton Fulop makes the save to deny him as the game is opening up now.
Sunderland win another corner in front of their own fans. Andy Reid plays it in and it falls to Kieran Richardson on the edge of the area who hits an effort just over.
Andy Reid puts another corner in from a poor Titus Bramble clearance but Wigan again clear as Sunderland are enjoying the better of this half.
Kieran Richardson whips a low ball into the centre and Titus Bramble almost slices his clearance into his own net. Andy Reid puts in the corner but Wigan clear the danger.
Sunderland get the ball wide down the right as Kieran Richardson looks to get the ball into the middle but plays it behind of the goal.
Garcia Jordi Gomez has a shot deflect out off George McCartney for a Wigan corner. It is played short but but the cross in is gathered by Marton Fulop from the header off Emmerson Boyce.
The action is up and running again as Andy Reid's ball forward to Fraizer Campbell sees the substitute flagged offside.
Maynor Figueroa is down needing treatment. It's the second delay in a matter of moments in this half.
Phil Bardsley pulls the ball back from the by line and into the centre but Chris Kirkland dives on the cross before Darren Bent could get near it.
Garcia Jordi Gomez has come on for Wigan in place of Jason Scotland.
Steve Bruce will be a lot happier with the opening few moments of this half as Darren Bent heads an effort wide of goal.
A promising move here for Sunderland but Fraizer Campbell is penalised for a foul on the edge of the Wigan area.
Wigan cannot clear Andy Reid's first corner and Phil Bardsley has another effort deflected out for another corner. The second corner comes in and, despite shouts of handball from the fans, nothing is given.
Sunderland's best move of the game as Andy Reid hits a shot which is deflected just over the bar.
Nothing to report in the early exchanges here as Emmerson Boyce boots a clearance high into the stands as Sunderland press.
Sunderland have made a change here at the break as Fraizer Campbell comes on in place of Steed Malbranque.
The second half is underway at the DW Stadium and Wigan boss Roberto Martinez will hope his side can maintain their first half form and find a cutting edge in front of goal. Steve Bruce will know his Sunderland side can play a lot better.
HALF TIME WIGAN 0-0 SUNDERLAND: Wigan have been the better side so far and Jason Scotland went close when he hit the post, but Sunderland have yet to force a save from Chris Kirkland.
Maynor Figueroa does well here to prevent Sunderland's Kieran Richardson getting in on goal late in the half.
There is just a minute injury time and Wigan will feel they should be going in ahead here.
A bit of amusement as a fan throws the ball back from the stand and it smacks Steve Bruce on the head.
Good pressure from Wigan as Hugo Rodallega puts another cross into the centre but he over hits it and it goes out for a goal kick.
Again Sunderland knock a ball straight through to Chris Kirkland and they look a shadow of the team that eat Arsenal last weekend.
Charles N'Zogbia tries to play in Hugo Rodallega but Phil Bardsley does well to nip in and chests the ball back to Marton Fulop.
Another long ball forward from Sunderland runs through to Chris Kirkland to sum up what has been a disappointing display from the visitors so far.
Wigan are on top and probably deserve to be in front so Steve Bruce will take comfort in the fact his side are on level terms still.
Hugo Rodallega curls in a cross and this time George McCartney puts the ball just over his own goal to give Wigan a corner. Hugo Rodallega puts the corner in but Marton Fulop punches it away.
Paul Scharner has just recovered after requiring more treatment after going down holding his stomach. He is okay to continue.
Another chance here as Marton Fulop pulls off a fine save to deny Michael Turner from heading the ball into his own net from the free kick.
Michael Turner catches Paul Scharner from behind and is fortunate to only get the game's first booking.
Roberto Martinez will take some comfort here as it is Wigan who have been the closest to scoring in the game so far.
Wigan go so close here as Charles N'Zogbia plays in Jason Scotland 12 yards from goal and he smacks an effort off the post with Paul Scharner failing to convert the rebound.
Both sides are getting forward when possible but neither are creating anything in the final third of the field.
It has been a fairly even opening 20 minutes plus here with only Paul Scharner having a significant effort on target.
Darren Bent gets a shot on goal but the ball trickles through to Chris Kirkland as Steve Bruce is angry as he feels the striker was fouled there.
Lorik Cana times his tackle to perfection to deny Charles N'Zogbia a run through towards goal much to the relief of Sunderland.
Hugo Rodallega lays in Charles N'Zogbia but his effort is blocked and Hendry Thomas tries an outrageous effort from almost the halfway line and it is nowhere near goal.
Sunderland are doing some pressing but Wigan clear and Michael Turner heads away under pressure from Jason Scotland.
A little evidence of the heavy overnight rain as a couple of players are struggling to keep their feet as Andy Reid is the latest to fall over.
A shot on target for Wigan as Jason Scotland twists and turns in the area but his scuffed shot is easy for Marton Fulop.
It is a waste though for Wigan as the free kick fails to beat the first man Phil Bardsley who clears the danger for the Black Cats.
Wigan get a free kick in an area where they can get the ball in the middle as Phil Bardsley fouled Mohamed Diame.
The game has just gone a little scrappy here in the past few minutes with sloppy passing and free kicks given away.
Lorik Cana almost puts Sunderland into trouble with sloppy play but he is rescued when Charles N'Zogbia commits a foul on him.
A good Wigan move here as Paul Scharner gets into the right of the area and hits a low shot which forces Marton Fulop into a decent save there for Sunderland.
Jordan Henderson gets past Titus Bramble and into the right side of the area but Mohamed Diame gets back to crowd him out and prevents a cross into the middle.
Charles N'Zogbia whips a lovely cross into the area and no Sunderland defender seems to have picked up Hugo Rodallega who hits an effort into the side-netting.
It looks like Sunderland will try and capitalise on Wigan's fragile confidence and go for an early goal judging by the lively start.
A good break by Sunderland who win a first corner after just 90 seconds down the right after Jordan Henderson's run. Andy Reid puts the corner in and Wigan can't clear as Kieran Richardson fires an effort over the bar.
We are up and running and Wigan fans will want a big reaction from their players after last week's humiliation at White Hart Lane and to put one over on former boss Steve Bruce. Sunderland are looking for a win which could lift them up to fifth.
Sunderland starting XI: Fulop, Bardsley, Da Silva, Turner, McCartney, Malbranque, Henderson, Cana, Richardson, Reid, Bent.
Sunderland are also boosted by top scorer Darren Bents presence in the side after it was feared he could be ruled out for several weeks with a hamstring injury.
Former Wigan boss Steve Bruce makes just one change to his Sunderland side for the trip back to Lancashire. Michael Turner returns from suspension in place of John Mensah who deputised in defence for last weeks 1-0 win against Arsenal.
Wigan starting XI: Kirkland, Melchiot, Bramble, Boyce, Figueroa, N'Zogbia, Thomas, Scharner, Diame, Rodallega, Scotland.
Wigan boss Roberto Martinez makes just one change to the side that was thrashed 9-1 at Tottenham last Sunday with Maynor Figueroa coming in to replace Erik Edman at left-back for the visit of Sunderland to the DW Stadium.
Sunderland face an entirely new challenge this weekend when, a week after securing a famous win over Arsenal, they travel to face the club who are still in shock after a 9-1 thrashing at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur. Wigan Athletic boss Roberto Martinez will have had a busy week in training as the Spaniard is not only tasked with plugging a wide-open defence but also with motivating a group of players clearly embarrassed by the nature of the White Hart Lane defeat. Club captain Mario Melchiot expressed their emotions earlier this week when he announced on the official club website that the players would personally reimburse any supporter who paid to watch the performance in north London. He said: "There isn't a lot else to say, just that as a group of professionals we were embarrassed by the way we performed. "We feel it was below our standards and this (the refund) is something we feel we owe to the fans." Martinez couldn't hide his emotions after the match, telling reporters that: "It's a result we don't want to be associated with but the damage of this won't be carried into the next game." Quite how far the Spaniard will need to go with his reorganisation is hard to judge, though he is unlikely to replace goalkeeper Chris Kirkland or key defender Titus Bramble, despite the latter's famous issues with confidence. Left-back Erik Edman could well be edged out although his obvious replacement, Maynor Figueroa, has been struggling with a knee ligament injury and could only make the bench last week. South Korean Won-Hee Cho could get a chance after making a late appearance as substitute against Spurs. Whoever plays at the back will at least be avoiding a clash with tough Sunderland forward Kenwyne Jones, who is serving the final game of his three-match suspension. Jones' absence has been compounded by the probable loss of top scorer Darren Bent. The goal hero from last weekend underwent scans earlier this week on a hamstring strain which could sideline him until mid-December.
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Hugo Rodallega's second-half strike extended Wigan's unbeaten home run to five games as they beat Sunderland 1-0. Rodallega pounced in the 76th minute after Marton Fulop had been at his best to repel a constant tide of home attacks. Despite losing 9-1 at Tottenham last weekend , Wigan dominated from start to finish against a woeful Black Cats side that have now won just once away in their last 17 Premier League games. Paul Scharner, who grabbed Wigan's goal in their 9-1 drubbing at Tottenham last weekend, tested Fulop with an early long-range strike. Wigan were on top for the opening stages and, after Charles N'Zogbia broke down the wing and crossed, Rodallega shot into the side-netting. Jason Scotland thought he had put the hosts ahead just before the half-hour after N'Zogbia, playing on the right flank, fired in a wicked cross that the Trinidad & Tobago international poked onto the post. Sunderland struggled to impose themselves in the first half but they could have taken the lead four minutes after the break when Andy Reid's corner sparked panic in the Wigan box and Mario Melchiot was forced to block Phil Bardsley's shot. At the other end Fulop was soon back in action, first blocking Titus Bramble's strike before saving from Jordi Gomez. But after surviving for 76 minutes Sunderland finally went behind when Rodallega broke free from his man and slotted past Fulop. The Hungarian goalkeeper had to be at his best again five minutes later to prevent Rodallega grabbing his second of the game. Sunderland pushed forward late on but by then the game was almost up and Wigan held on to complete a remarkable turnaround from last weekend.
Corners
Fouls
Goal attempts
Shots off target
Offsides
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