- McCarthy (60), N'Zogbia (73)
- Date:2010-01-16
- Kick-off:15:00
- Venue:Molineux Stadium
- Attendance:27604
- Referee:Webb, H
Live Commentary
94mins
Fulltime: Wolves 0-2 Wigan. The final whistle goes and Wigan will be happy to collect three points in a nip and tuck encounter at Molineux. McCarthy put the visitors infront and N'Zogbia sealed it late on.
93mins
McCarthy is replaced by Sinclair.
90mins
Gomez is cautioned for a late challenge on Doyle. The game is petering out anyway.
88mins
Doyle vents his frustration on N'Zogbia and sees yellow for his troubles.
88mins
Ward is cautioned for hauling down N'Zogbia after some neat footwork from the winger.
86mins
Surman delivers a corner from the right hand side and picks out Ward arriving late but his header goes a fraction wide of the mark.
83mins
A good run from Craddock breaking into the box to get on the end of a deep cross but the skipper's header goes wide of the mark.
82mins
Surman comes on for Milijas who has failed to impress on his return.
81mins
N'Zogbia slips the ball into Rodallega who tries to squeeze the ball in from the tight angle but the shot doesn't have enough pace on it to test Hahnemann.
78mins
Wolves has bodies forward but Caldwell and Bramble are dealing with their efforts to play a high ball into Iwelumo.
75mins
Foley brings the ball down the left hand side and crosses for Iwelumo who strikes on the turn but Kirkland beats the ball away for a corner.
74mins
N'Zogbia is booked for his celebration.
73mins
WOLVES 0-2 WIGAN. Charles N'Zogbia steps off the right hand side and skips away from Craddock before sliding the ball into the bottom corner to put the game beyond Wolves.
71mins
With the numbers even again Wolves are looking to assert themselves in the final twenty minutes and have Wigan camped in their own penalty area at the moment.
69mins
Karl Henry chops down Gomez and goes into the book.
68mins
Iwelumo comes on for Ebanks-Blake.
68mins
Hendry Thomas had already been booked. He made a reckless challenge on the right hand side and the referee has no option but to give him his marching orders. Its 10 v 10.
66mins
Melchiot combines with Gomez down the Wigan right and he slips the ball into N'Zogbia who steps forward and opts to pull the trigger from range but finds row Z.
65mins
Wolves have no option but to go route one as they struggle to keep possession with then men and Wigan's tails up. Craddock launches it long but it comes straight back.
62mins
Wigan go ahead and with the man advantage they have to be favorites to take the three points. Wolves were looking dominant in the second period up until then.
60mins
WOLVES 0-1 WIGAN. Wigan have the lead. Rodallega strikes a powerful shot but Hahnemann makes a superb diving save but the rebound falls for McCARTHY who makes no mistake in tucking it home.
57mins
Wolves are struggling to get to grips with the game with only ten men but the visitors are yet to capitalise on their numerical advantage.
54mins
Diame does well to work the ball into the area but can't pick out a team-mate. The loose ball drops for Rodallega who strikes instinctively but hits it straight at the keeper.
51mins
Wolves look to capitalise on some hard work from Doyle chasing down the loose ball and crossing for Ebanks-Blake but his shot is blocked and Wigan clear.
49mins
Gomez picks the ball up and spreads it to the left hand side. Wigan have players forward here and look to switch the play to N'Zogbia on the right but Craddock reads the play and heads clear the danger.
47mins
Scharner seemed to pick up a knock missing the rebound from the penalty and is forced off. He is replaced by Jordi Gomez.
46mins
The second period gets underway but there is only twenty-one players on the pitch after the events of stoppage time. How will this one play out?
45mins
Half Time: Wolves 0-0 Wigan. How this game is goalless I don't know. Wigan could have led through Rodallega and should have been infront on the stroke of half time with the spot-kick. Wolves will have to work hard with ten men for the second period.
45mins
Rodallega steps up to take the penalty. He opts for power but Hahnemann makes the save to his right and Scharner turns the rebound wide. What an opportunity for Wigan that was.
45mins
Utter stupidity from Stearman as he tugs the shirt of McCarthy in the box and concedes a penalty as well as receiving a second booking. He has to go.
44mins
Doyle earns Wolves a corner after some strong hold up play. Milijas delivers but once again the ball in is poor and fails to clear the first man.
40mins
Jarvis does well to break down the left hand side and crosses towards Foley at the back post but McCarthy defends well to hold off Foley and win a free-kick for the defending team.
38mins
How this one is goalless I don't know. The game has been end to end and either side could have taken the lead. Milijas takes a free-kick that falls for Doyle, he misses his kick but Craddock is there but can only hook his shot over.
34mins
Wolves go forward but lose possession and Wigan break back at the home side. Rodallega picks the ball up from long range and lets fly, the shot has Hahnemann well beaten but it cannons back off the post.
32mins
A rapid Wigan counter attack ends in Rodallega shrugging off Mancienne and earning himslef half-a-yard to strike from twenty yards. The shot is arrowing towards the corner but Hahnemann dives to his left and turns it behind for a corner.
31mins
Caldwell thumps the ball long as Wigan go route one. Rodallega latches onto the long ball and bears down on goal but Mancienne and Craddock recover to snuff out the danger.
29mins
Ward makes a breaking run down the left hand side and digs out a deep cross towards Ebanks-Blake at the back post, the striker rises above the defenders but can only head wide.
25mins
Craddock fails to clear twice and gifts possession to Bramble who crosses from deep. The cross picks out McCarthy in the penalty area but his shot hits the side netting.
21mins
Jarvis wins a free-kick on the right hand side and he will deliver the free-kick. The ball is swung in towards the back post but it sails over the head of Stearman and Wigan have a goal-kick.
19mins
Wolves earn a fre-kick on the left hand side and Milijas delivers. The first ball is headed away but Milijas recovers and threads it into Ebanks-Blake but he stabs wide from seven yards.
17mins
N'Zogbia takes a corner from the right hand side and pings the ball towards the back post for Caldwell to head. Caldwell heads back across goal but Wolves scramble it clear.
15mins
Wigan are beginning ot cominate and again they threaten down the left as N'Zogbia cuts inside and unleashes a fiersome strike but Hahnemann makes a good save and diverts the ball for a corner.
14mins
Hendry Thomas is cautioned for a reckless challenge on Ward. The game is heating up now.
13mins
The first caution of the game goes to Richard Stearman as he fouls Scharner on the right hand side. Stearman will have to be careful now.
11mins
N'Zogbia drifts in from the left hand side and strikes from range but Craddock gets a block in and Wolves are able to clear the danger.
9mins
Foley is brought down by Diame on the right hand side. Milijas has the opportunity to deliver left-footed but it sails into the arms of Kirkland coming off his line.
5mins
Wigan look to utilise their five man midfield as they keep the ball but the final cross into the box is headed away by Craddock making his 200th appearance.
4mins
A good start to the game as Wolves start brightly. Doyle steps away from Bramble and looks to cross but again the cross doesn't pick out a team-mate and Wigan clear.
2mins
Ebanks-Blake has an early opportunity to come down the right hand side and cross from the channel but the ball sails out of play.
0mins
Today's referee is Lee Probert and he gets the game underway.
0mins
Gary Caldwell is given his Wigan debut alongside Titus Bramble at the back. Mohammed Diame returns to midfiled from a knee injury and Rodallega will start as the single striker.
0mins
Mick McCarthy recalls Nenad Milijas to midfield and Ebanks-Blake upfront where he will partner Kevin Doyle. Mancienne partners the free-scoring Jody Craddock at the back and Hahnemann keeps Hennessey on the bench.
0mins
Wigan: Kirkland, Melchiot, Caldwell, Bramble, Figueroa, N'Zogbia, Scharner, Diame, Thomas, McCarthy, Rodallega
0mins
Wolverhampton: Hahnemann, Stearman, Craddock, Mancienne, Ward, Foley, Henry, Milijas, Jarvis, Doyle, Ebanks-Blake
0mins
Hello and welcome to Molineux. At 3 o'clock Wolves will go head to head with Wigan Athletic who seem to have a Jeckyll and Hyde quality this season. Wolves will hope to stay out of the drop zone today.
Match Preview
Molineux hosts a relegation six-pointer on Saturday afternoon when Roberto Martinez brings poor travellers Wigan Athletic to Wolverhampton.
Mick McCarthy's side have shown better form than the Latics in recent weeks, moving clear of the bottom three while Martinez's outfit have been going in the opposite direction.
Both teams have 19 points and are one point clear of the drop-zone so a victory this weekend for either team is absolutely crucial.
Wolves would appear to have the edge over their opponents though, having beating Bolton Wanderers, Tottenham and Burnley recently and producing impressive displays even in defeats to Liverpool and Manchester City over the festive period.
McCarthy is also set for a twin boost as Michael Kightly and Dave Edwards returned to training this week.
They have been out since before Christmas with ankle injuries that required surgery, but should return to first-team action later this month.
However, striker Stefan Maierhofer misses out after having hernia surgery while an ankle injury will keep Andy Keogh sidelined until March and goalkeeper Matt Murray continues to be troubled by a knee injury.
Meanwhile, Wigan have tumbled down the table recently with the early-season victory against Chelsea now a distant memory.
Although they reacted to being beaten 9-1 at Tottenham in November by winning their next game against Sunderland, they have taken only two points from last five five league matches and have lost seven of their ten encounters away from the DW Stadium, conceding 31 goals in the process.
Mo Diame is the only likely absentee because of a knee ligament injury while goalkeeper Richard Kingson is on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Ghana.
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Match Report
James McCarthy marked his first Premier League start in stunning style as he helped to fire Wigan to a crucial 2-0 success against relegation rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The Scottish midfielder has had to bide his time since last summer's £3million switch from Hamilton.
But it was worth the wait as his first Premier League goal in the 60th minute set up Wigan's win in an ill-tempered match that saw both sides end the game reduced to ten men with Richard Stearman seeing red for Wolves and Hendry Thomas dismissed for the Latics.
Wigan were well worth their first success in six matches, that was sealed after 73 minutes by the classy Charles N'Zogbia, as they controlled affairs and would have raced to a more conclusive win had Hugo Rodallega - who missed a first-half penalty - been more clinical.
Wolves, who have now lost their last three league games without scoring, never really got into gear as their relegation worries took a turn for the worse and they ended up being booed off the pitch.
Wigan should have really taken a stranglehold on affairs by half-time, but Rodallega could not find a way past Wolves' man of the match Marcus Hahnemann in his personal duel with the American goalkeeper.
Even before Rodallega took centre stage, N'Zogbia had twice wasted two golden chances for Wigan - on the second occasion being denied by Hahnemann following a weak backpass by Kevin Foley.
With Wolves being the lowest scorers in the Premier League, not surprisingly their chances were few and far between.
Crucially, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake threw away their best opportunity of the half in the 19th minute by stabbing wide from just eight yards when he only had Chris Kirkland to beat.
It was a key moment as Wolves never threatened again and that was the signal for Rodallega to begin his battle with Hahnemann.
Twice in the space of 60 seconds he was frustrated by the former Reading keeper.
When he did beat Hahnemann from 25 yards in the 33rd minute his shot crashed off the post.
The Colombian should finally have broken the deadlock from the spot in first-half stoppage time after Stearman needlessly gave away a penalty by pulling down McCarthy as they both chased a ball that was heading out of play.
To add to Wolves misery, Stearman was dismissed by referee Howard Webb having already been booked for an earlier foul on Paul Scharner.
Rodallega struck his spot-kick low and to the right only to see Hahnemann palm it away before Scharner hit the post with his follow-up shot.
While Rodallega could not find a way past Hahnemann himself it was no surprise he was involved when Wigan finally made their pressure pay.
Rodallega saw his shot saved again by Hahnemann but this time the ball ran free to McCarthy - who was also on target in the FA Cup against Hull City and he made no mistake from eight yards.
While Wolves were given some hope, when Thomas saw red for his second booking in the 67th minute that was quickly dashed when N'Zogbia struck.
Rodallega was again involved, feeding N'Zogbia after Michael Mancienne lost the ball and the former Newcastle United winger weaved his way into box before steering home a low shot.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Team
Wigan Athletic Team
Wolverhampton Wanderers | Wigan Athletic |
Corners
| 4 | 3 |
Fouls
| 15 | 17 |
Goal attempts
| 9 | 15 |
Shots off target
| 7 | 6 |
Offsides
| 2 | 3 |



92mins
Rodallega beats the offside trap and is one-on-one with Hahnemann but the American does superbly to see the striker who couldn't buy a goal today.