Source: Daily_Mail
Wigan 1 Blackburn 1: Rovers sweat as McCarthy reaches the crossroads
If Benni McCarthy is trying to put himself in the shop window for a move away from Blackburn, he's going the right way about it. McCarthy's agent, Ivan Modia, has claimed three Premier League clubs are interested in the 32-year-old, who could be used by Sam Allardyce to generate cash for wheeling and dealing in the January window. The South African scored Blackburn's 30th-minute opener - a right-foot finish from six yards after Ryan Nelsen had nodded down a Keith Andrews free-kick - and nearly stole a winner in the final minutes with a spectacular overhead effort. Super stop: Chris Kirkland saves from Benni McCarthy at the death Only a fine reaction save from Wigan goalkeeper Chris Kirkland salvaged a point for the home side. Allardyce said it was the best away display he had seen from McCarthy and Michel Salgado admitted it would be a 'big loss' if the striker left. Monumental task: Martinez's Wigan will play Manchester United next Salgado said: 'Benni is a top-quality player. He's a key player - everyone needs them in their team. 'We need him to stay. We are a team that has more than we are showing at present and Benni can help us do that. 'He was a Champions League winner (with Porto in 2004) in his time. When you see him play or train, you know you are watching a key player. 'We have to help him play as well as he can, get his confidence back and play regularly for Blackburn. That's what we need.' As Allardyce admitted, a draw wasn't much use to either side with the Premier League table as tight as it is. The Blackburn manager said: 'It's come to the stage where we have got to get three points and that three has got to come against Sunderland.' Wigan boss Roberto Martinez conceded his side's first-half performance was not good enough and sent out a completely different tactical formation after half-time, switching Charles N'Zogbia to the left wing, putting Jordi Gomez on the right and pushing Hugo Rodallega up front. MATCH FACTS Wigan (4-5-1): Kirkland 7; Melchiot 6, Boyce 6, Bramble 6, Figueroa6; N'Zogbia 7, Thomas 5, Gomez 6, Scharner 6, Rodallega 7; Scotland 5.Booked: Thomas. Blackburn (4-4-2): Robinson 7;Chimbonda 5 (Jacobsen 67min, 6), Samba 6, Nelsen 6, Givet 6; Salgado 5(Pedersen 77), Andrews, 6 Nzonzi 6, Hoilett 6; McCarthy 8, Di Santo 6(Roberts 72, 6). Booked: Givet, Nzonzi, Salgado, Chimbonda. Man of thematch: Benni McCarthy. Referee: Mark Clattenburg. The change paid off as Jason Scotland fed N'Zogbia and Rodallega powered a header past Paul Robinson. Martinez said: 'For me, it's a turning point in this season. It's getting all the positive aspects and putting them together and accepting that football is a game of errors, you play with your feet and it's how you react to that.' But next up for Wigan is a trip to Old Trafford and a meeting with Sir Alex Ferguson, the man Martinez said leads an English 'mafia' of managers. Martinez denied making the comments, which were attributed to him in a Spanish newspaper, and said he was looking forward to pitting himself against Ferguson. 'We know it's a monumental task, but we'll enjoy it,' he said. 'Obviously the experience they've got and the quality in their squad always makes it a tough challenge, but it's always great to go head to head with probably one of the best managers ever in world football.' Manchester United v WIGAN: Martinez mulls over changes for Old Trafford visitBLACKBURN v Sunderland: Di Santo the fall guy as Emerton returnsBLACKBURN ROVERS FC