- Zabaleta (53)
- Date:2009-01-17
- Kick-off:15:00
- Venue:City of Manchester Stadium
- Attendance:41262
- Referee:Mason, L
Live Commentary
90mins
Full-Time: MAN CITY 1-0 WIGAN. Lee Mason blows the whistle on a frantic second half and City have managed to hold on for the win.
90mins
Chris Kirkland is booked for bringing down Shaun Wright-Phillips.
90mins
Late pressure from Wigan as Chris Kirkland comes up for a corner.
90mins
Lee Cattermole shoots way over the bar.
90mins
Luis Antonio Valencia has gone off with an injury so Wigan are also down to 10 men.
90mins
There's four minutes of added time for Wigan to get an equaliser.
90mins
Lee Cattermole goes down on the edge of the area but nothing is given.
89mins
City are keeping the ball in the corner as they try to run the clock down.
87mins
Titus Bramble makes way for Henri Camara.
86mins
Wilson Palacios is booked for a foul on Pablo Zabaleta.
85mins
Lee Cattermole loops the ball over Joe Hart, hits the crossbar and Amr Zaki misses an open goal from six yards out. i
84mins
Daniel de Ridder's cross-shot goes wide after Wigan come forward again.
83mins
City break forward but Shaun Wright-Phillips's effort flies over the bar.
82mins
The corner is headed behind by Amr Zaki for a goal-kick.
81mins
Vincent Kompany makes a vital interception ahead of Emile Heskey and concedes another corner.
80mins
City are trying to slow the game down when they get hold of the ball.
78mins
Daniel de Ridder heads wide and City can breath again.
77mins
Amr Zaki's shot hits his own man and Joe Hart can make the save.
75mins
Olivier Kapo is on for Maynor Figueroa.
74mins
There's loud ironic cheers from the crowd as Pablo Zabaleta wins a free-kick.
73mins
Another decision goes against Robinho and the referee has a word with him.
72mins
Daniel de Ridder fires a shot over the bar.
71mins
Robinho is booked for a handball.
70mins
It's non-stop pressure on City and they can't clear their lines.
68mins
There's an almighty goalmouth scramble from another Wigan corner but the referee spots a foul by Mario Melchiot.
67mins
The crowd aren't happy as a free-kick is awarded against Shaun Wright-Phillips.
65mins
City can take a breath as they are awarded a free-kick after Titus Bramble fouls Robinho.
64mins
Blumer Elano hacks the ball off the line after another Wigan corner.
63mins
Daniel de Ridder's free-kick is headed behind for a corner.
62mins
Daniel Sturridge makes away for Javier Garrido.
61mins
Robinho breaks forward into the area but Lee Cattermole blocks his path and gets the ball away.
60mins
Daniel de Ridder is straight into the action with a couple of teasing crosses which City manage to defend.
59mins
Daniel de Ridder is on for Ryan Taylor.
58mins
City have hastily rearranged their formation to cover Richard Dunne's absence.
56mins
Ryan Taylor sends the free-kick well over the bar.
54mins
Richard Dunne sees red for a kick-out at Amr Zaki.
53mins
MAN CITY 1-0 WIGAN. Pablo ZABALETA gets his first City goal, a fine right-foot volley from outside the area.
52mins
Luis Antonio Valencia's cross is gathered by Joe Hart and the crowd is getting a little restless.
51mins
Wigan are looking better in the second half and City are yet to get going.
49mins
Emile Heskey is almost onto Amr Zaki's ball over the top but it skids through for a goal-kick.
48mins
Wigan aren't giving City any time on the ball in the early moments of the second half.
46mins
Wigan get the second half underway.
45mins
The referee blows up on a goalless first half, although City should be in front.
45mins
Half-Time: MAN CITY 0-0 WIGAN.
45mins
There is one minute of added play.
44mins
The ball is deflected behind for another corner and Wigan are enjoying a spell of pressure at the end of the first half.
43mins
Wigan have a corner after Wilson Palacios's cross is deflected behind by Pablo Zabaleta.
41mins
Titus Bramble goes into the book for a block on Daniel Sturridge.
39mins
Wilson Palacios has an effort but doesn't find the target.
37mins
Wilson Palacios bursts forward but Emile Heskey isn't able to connect with his pass and Joe Hart can clear.
35mins
Lee Cattermole is booked for bringing down Nedum Onuoha.
33mins
Wilson Palacios shoots but Joe Hart makes a comfortable save.
32mins
A poor corner is easily cleared by Luis Antonio Valencia.
31mins
Shaun Wright-Phillips's shot is deflected away by Titus Bramble for a corner.
30mins
Daniel Sturridge drags a long-range effort well wide.
27mins
Daniel Sturridge has done well to hold play up and bring other players into the game.
25mins
Emile Heskey has a chance from Mario Melchiot's cross but heads the ball wide.
24mins
Shaun Wright-Phillips sends over a great cross but Daniel Sturridge heads over the bar.
23mins
Robinho pounces on Blumer Elano's throughball and chips over Chris Kirkland but Titus Bramble is there to clear off the goalline.
21mins
Wayne Bridge seems to have settled well into the City team and isn't afraid to get forward when his team attacks.
19mins
City move forward again but Shaun Wright-Phillips can't reach Blumer Elano's pass, and it goes out for a goal-kick.
17mins
Robinho is starting to show a few tricks and the crowd seem to spot a handball from his cross into the penalty area, but nothing is given.
16mins
Titus Bramble makes up for his error by heading the corner well upfield.
15mins
City have a corner after uncertain defending from Titus Bramble.
14mins
Ryan Taylor's free-kick is headed away by Richard Dunne.
13mins
Wigan have a dangerous free-kick after Wayne Bridge fouls Wilson Palacios.
12mins
Robinho is through on goal but his shot goes wide of Chris Kirkland's post.
11mins
Wigan are looking solid and are coping with what City are throwing at them so far.
9mins
Daniel Sturridge has a big role this afternoon, leading the line on his own up front.
8mins
Vincent Kompany sends a shot well wide.
6mins
Titus Bramble heads over the bar from Ryan Taylor's corner.
5mins
Wigan have a corner after Luis Antonio Valencia put pressure on Wayne Bridge.
4mins
Ryan Taylor has a chance to create something for Wigan but his free-kick is well defended.
3mins
City have started well and Shaun Wright-Phillips has an early chance which is cleared by Lee Cattermole.
1mins
City get the game underway.
0mins
It's almost time for kick-off and can City stop in-form Wigan in their tracks?
Match Preview
Manchester City play their first game since the embarrassing FA Cup defeat to Championship strugglers Nottingham Forest when Wigan Athletic visit Eastlands on Saturday.
Last weekend's game at Portsmouth was a victim of the cold weather that enveloped the country so Mark Hughes' side go into this weekend's fixtures only two points above the relegation zone.
Injuries have certainly not helped Hughes' cause so far this term with Martin Petrov, Valeri Bojinov and Michael Johnson all absent for most if not all of City's games this season.
To add to City's woes, veteran German midfielder Dietmar Hamann was ruled out this week for up to three months with a toe injury.
Shaun Wright-Phillips and Benjani are also struggling to shake off injuries ahead of the game, while Stephen Ireland is suspended after picking up five yellow cards so far this season.
However, Robinho has recovered from an ankle problem and should start, while new signing Wayne Bridge is in line to make his debut for City as they attempt to keep their first clean sheet in eight matches.
Despite losing at Manchester United on Wednesday, seventh-placed Wigan Athletic have won six of their last eight Premier League matches.
Such has been the Latics' impressive form this term that a host of players - including Wilson Palacios, Antonio Valencia, Emile Heskey, Amr Zaki and Ryan Taylor - have all been linked with moves away from the JJB Stadium.
Boss Steve Bruce insists he has received no offers for any of his players, although Kevin Kilbane has joined Hull City this week.
Wigan have no injury concerns going into the game as Chris Kirkland appears to have fully recovered from his back problem.
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Match Report
Richard Dunne's second-half red card failed to ruin Manchester City's day as they held on for a deserved 1-0 win over Wigan during an incident packed game at Eastlands.
Dunne had been elbowed by Amr Zaki in an aerial challenge in the second half of a game in which City had just deservedly taken the lead through a Pablo Zabaleta goal in the 53rd minute.
While on the ground it appeared that though Dunne had lashed out against Wigan's Egyptian striker in retaliation for the elbow, but the referee chose to send off only the City captain to the obvious displeasure of the home fans.
Wayne Bridge made his City debut against Wigan in a re-shuffled line-up that saw Robinho return to the side and Nedum Ohuoha start in central defence, with Felipe Caicedo and Gelson Fernandes dropping to the bench and Michael Ball dropping out of the squad.
Micah Richards moved to the right side of defence and Zabaleta pushed up into an unfamiliar central midfield role alongside Vincent Kompany, as they faced a Wigan side unchanged since their midweek game against Manchester United.
Robinho had two golden chances to put City into the lead in the first half. Combining well with fellow Brazilian Elano, Robinho was put clean through, but Maynor Figueroa and Chris Kirkland closed down the space forcing Robinho into a hastily taken shot which went wide of the goal after just 11 minutes.
Elano, who was having a great game in the centre of midfield, was again the provider as Robinho's goalbound chip was kicked off the line by Titus Bramble after 21 minutes.
City looked solid and dangerous in the opening period and Daniel Sturridge could only get underneath Shaun-Wright Phillips' cross from the touchline and the ball sailed over Kirkland's bar from under six yards out a minute after Titus Bramble's clearance.
City were rewarded for their patient build-up with a goal shortly after the break when Zabaleta pounced on a poor Paul Scharner clearance from
Sturridge's cross.
City had precious little time to celebrate as Dunne was sent off minutes later following a controversial aerial challenge with Zaki.
It was all bets off after the red card and City's reduced numbers at least allowed Wigan a couple of openings later on.
But they will regret the most notable of them, when Lee Cattermole hit the bar with six minutes to go and Zaki contrived to miss the open goal with his header from the rebound, while Joe Hart punched a Mario Melchiot chance away in injury time.
Latics boss Steve Bruce was left furious when an injury-time penalty claim was turned down, but City fully deserved the win from their battling performance.
Manchester City Team
Wigan Athletic Team
Manchester City | Wigan Athletic |
Corners
| 2 | 11 |
Fouls
| 12 | 16 |
Goal attempts
| 10 | 16 |
Shots off target
| 7 | 9 |
Offsides
| 2 | 4 |



90mins
Blumer Elano goes for goal from his own half but his effort goes well wide.