Source: Team_Talk
Terrific Tevez treble downs Wigan
Carlos Tevez looks to have made it his job to lead Manchester City towards the Champions League after his 12-minute treble sunk Wigan 3-0.[LNB] The Argentinian striker took his tally for the season to 25 goals with a quickfire hat-trick against Wigan at Eastlands.[LNB]Tevez took full advantage after Latics defender Gary Caldwell was dismissed in the 55th minute for a challenge on him. Wigan felt aggrieved being a man down and more so as Tevez then went on to score his treble in double-quick time.[LNB]City, who now move above Liverpool and into fifth place, had most of the possession in the first half but couldn't make the breakthrough.[LNB]Emmanuel Adebayor, back in the team after a four-match suspension, got into a good position in the 10th minute, only for Titus Bramble to block his effort.[LNB]City kept up the pressure and almost went ahead a minute later when Shaun Wright-Phillips delivered the ball into the path of Tevez.[LNB]The Argentinian striker whipped in a shot but Vladimir Stojkovic made a stunning point-blank save and Bramble swept the ball to safety.[LNB]Wigan launched a swift counter attack in the 27th minute when Hugo Rodallega skipped past Kolo Toure with ease.[LNB]The striker was closed down by Wright-Phillips but rattled in a shot that Given turned around the post.[LNB]Back came City and Tevez raced past Mario Melchiot only to see his delicate chip from an acute angle go inches wide.[LNB]Wigan, however, continued to look dangerous going forward and Given pushed Paul Scharner's shot to safety after a free-kick from Marcelo Moreno had been deflected off the wall.[LNB]Scharner, who was covering a lot of ground, then cleared the bar with his effort in the 41st minute after good link up play between Rodallega and Moreno.[LNB]A minute later Tevez made a vain appeal for Caldwell to be punished for a challenge when little contact appeared to be made.[LNB]Mancini made one change at half-time in an attempt to break the deadlock, bringing on Craig Bellamy for Wright-Phillips.[LNB]Adebayor did find the net in the 47th minute but his effort was ruled out for offside after Stojkovic spilled Tevez's shot.[LNB]City had a claim for a penalty dismissed in the 52nd minute when Caldwell appeared to handle under pressure from Bellamy.[LNB]Play switched back down the other end and Rodallega squandered a great chance for Wigan.[LNB]He dragged a shot wide of the post after the ball had spun off the back of Pablo Zabaleta and Toure found himself out of position.[LNB]Wigan were reduced to 10 men in the 55th minute with former Celtic defender Caldwell handed a straight red card as he tried to win the ball off Tevez.[LNB]The visitors were furious with referee Stuart Attwell but they pulled themselves together and almost went ahead.[LNB]Moreno got the better of Toure and cut inside but his effort went marginally wide.[LNB]Tevez then made another unsuccessful appeal for a penalty following a challenge by Scharner.[LNB]City made the breakthrough in the 72nd minute after a mix up between Scharner and Stojkovic allowed Adebayor to get the slightest of touches in the penalty area.[LNB]That was enough to free Tevez, who made Wigan pay for their error with a clinical finish.[LNB]Adebayor should have added a second but Scharner made up ground before Tevez added a second in the 75th minute.[LNB]He scored at the back post after Vincent Kompany had flicked on a cross from Adam Johnson and completed his hat-trick in the 84th minute.[LNB]He skipped away from a tiring Scharner and Bramble to fire into the corner.
