• Date: Sat 15 September 2007
  • Venue: The JJB Stadium
  • Ref: Styles, R
  • Attendance: 16,973
Wigan Athletic

Wigan Athletic

Koumas (80) P

1 - 1
Fulham

Fulham

Dempsey (11)

Wigan Athletic vs Fulham

Team Lineups

Wigan Athletic

Chris Kirkland
Paul Scharner
Emmerson Boyce
Andreas Granqvist
Titus Bramble
Mario Melchiot
Antoine Sibierski (Julius Aghahowa, 74)
Jason Koumas
Michael Brown
David Cotterill (Josip Skoko, 60)
Emile Heskey (Marcus Bent, 9)

Fulham

Antti Niemi
Aaron Hughes
Carlos Bocanegra
Paul Konchesky
Chris Baird
Alexei Smertin
Clint Dempsey
Steven Davis
Simon Davies (Danny Murphy, 84)
Hameur Bouazza (Ki-Hyeon Seol, 84)
Diomansy Kamara (David Healy, 67)


Live Text Commentary
Full time
 

It's finished all square at the JJB - Koumas' penalty 10 minutes from time cancelling out Dempsey's 11th-minute effort for Fulham.

89

Scharner should really have scored and that could be a crucial miss

87

Scharner wastes a great chance to make it 2-1 with the home side on top now

86
Substitution
 

Bouazza is also replaced by Seol Ki-Hyeon in a double change

86
Substitution
 

Fulham do finally make a second change with Danny Murphy coming on for Davies

84

Closing in on full-time and it's looking like a draw at the JJB

82

Bouazza's free-kick flies over as things really begin to open up now

81

Wigan scarcely deserve that equaliser but it's all square and tight heading into the final 10 minutes

79
Goal
 

Koumas steps up and makes it 1-1

79
Penalty
 

Bouazza fouls Mario Melchiot for a Wigan penalty

76
Substitution
 

It's Wigan who make another change as Sibierski is replaced by Julius Aghahowa

74

Bouazza's cross is claimed by Kirkland - Fulham are closing in on a 1-0 win here

73

Skoko's effort is straight at Niemi

73

Sanchez looks like he's about to make another substitution

70

Sibierski can't control his shot and it's off target with just over 20 minutes left now

68
Substitution
 

Sanchez does indeed make a change with Kamara going off and David Healy coming on

67
Yellow Card
 

Skoko picks up the first booking of the game

66

Fulham boss Lawrie Sanchez appears to be thinking about making some changes now

64

Koumas' shot from the edge of the area is wide

64

Wigan need to improve as still, at best, they're only creating half chances with time ticking now

62

Cotterill had seen plenty of the ball but his final delivery was lacking at times

61
Substitution
 

David Cotterill is replaced by Josip Skoko for Wigan

61

The Cottagers have had the chances at the start of the second half to be further in front

59

Alexei Smertin's shot is deflected into the path of Dempsey but his attempt is inches wide, another chance for the visitors though

57

That could, and probably should, have been 2-0 to Fulham but for Kirkland's fine stop with his feet

56

Fulham break well and a one-two between Dempsey and Kamara ends with Dempsey's effort being brilliantly saved by Kirkland

54

Wigan are looking threatening again in the second period but again they are struggling to carve out decent opportunities

51

Another Sibierski effort is wide - he's been lively though since coming on for Heskey early on

50

Bocanegra brings down Sibierski for a Wigan free-kick

48

Hughes goes up the other end and forces Niemi into a fine save at the other end

47

Kirkland makes a great save to deny Fulham a second goal at the start of the second half

Second half
 

The second-half action gets underway with Fulham looking to preserve their lead

Half time
 

Dempsey's 11th-minute strike has given Fulham a slender advantage at Wigan at the break

45

Kamara turns well in the box but Granqvist manages to shake him off the ball

44

Fulham have lived dangerously in the last five minutes but they look set to hold the lead at the break

41

Emmerson Boyce's effort is wide this time as the home side really search for a leveller

40

Paul Scharner blasts an effort wide as Wigan raise the tempo approaching half-time

38

Davies breaks for Fulham but his effort from distance is fairly comfortable for Chris Kirkland

37

Wigan are still threatening but there's little in the way of clear chances

34

The referee decides Sibierski fouls Fulham keeper Antti Niemi from another Wigan corner

32

From the corner, Koumas' delivery is cleared by Konchesky

31

Bent's cross can't get past Aaron Hughes as another Wigan attack breaks down

28

Fulham still lead but it's been an entertaining, close half so far

26

That half-chance is a reminder to Wigan, as Fulham continue to play on the break

25

Kamara's shot is well blocked by Andreas Granqvist for a Fulham corner from which Davies' cross is headed wide by Bocanegra

22

Bent handles the ball and is penalised

20

Marcus Bent's been lively so far, but he's caught offside this time

19

It's fair to say Wigan are the better side at the minute but they need to start creating chances

16

The Latics have been positive since going behind and sense an equaliser

14

Koumas' dangerous looking corner is well cleared by Dempsey as Wigan look to respond

13

It was a lovely finish from the in-form American striker for the goal

11
Goal
 

Clint Dempsey pounces on a loose ball inside the area and slots home for his third goal of the season to give Fulham an early lead

9
Substitution
 

Heskey has picked up a knock and will have to go off, Antoine Sibierski replacing him

9

Antoine Sibierski is judged to have fouled Carlos Bocanegra as Fulham continue to probe the Wigan defence early on

5

It's been a lively opening at the JJB with both sides looking to attack

4

Bouazza's decent strike on goal is wide as the game begins well

2

Paul Konchesky brings down Jason Koumas as Wigan win an early free-kick

Kickoff
 

The action gets underway at a bright JJB Stadium

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Emile Heskey is back in Wigan colours after his impressive displays for England, while Fulham include Diomansy Kamara and Hameur Bouazza in their starting line-up