All change at the front with Mikel Arteta, Tim Cahill and Victor Anichebe all starting in the fluorescent pink kit adding to the blazing spring sunshine. Beckford , Bily and Coleman dropped to the bench. For relegation candidates Wigan, Rodallega nearly got a shot in from an early through ball but could only drive wide. Distin gave away the first corner on 6 mins but it was dealt with. With Arteta back in form, the early attacks failed to get near the area unless Baines was played in down the left... but his crosses were not finding any of those delightful pink shirts.
Zonal marking seemed to fill the Wigan half with strategically placed defenders whenever Moyes's boys went forward, but they started to get more into it after 15-mins, building some attacks that showed signs of getting closer to the Wigan goal. Everton got lucky when Rodallega beat Baines but the linesman wrongly gave the ball as out of play.
But a strange pattern of play saw Wigan take the lead, a ball chipped forward to N'Zogbia beat the Everton defence but he looked to have missed the ball and stumbled when Howard challenged him, the crowd screaming for a penalty but N'Zogbia was back up and, as Baines stood off him, he spun around and from a difficult angle he scooped a brilliant shot over Howard into the far side of the goal. Poor defending, principally from Baines.
Up the other end and neat footwork saw Osman lash a shot at the Wigan goal that was palmed over by Al Habsi as Everton tried to respond immediately, but a quick goal did not come. Some sustained attacking led to Osman winning a free-kick on the right that Baines swung in, but the ensuing corner on the half-hour came to nought.
Osman won another corner and then won a penalty from it played short as he turned N'Zogbia on the corner of the penalty area. A glorious gift to equalize but Arteta's spot kick was not hit with sufficient power or height and Al Habsi anticipated it brilliantly to palm it away.
Diame went in the book for his poor tackle on Rodwell, who seemed to land awkwardly but came off better than the Wigan player, who limped heavily and then collapsed in a heap and finally was substituted. Next wounded Wiganer was N'Zogbia. Rodallega then pushed Distin in the face as he ran for a ball in the Everton area.
In stoppage time, N'Zogbia managed to get a shot in that Howard blocked away, but had not been smart emough at the other end to get anything from a first half that looked ominously like spoiling a surprising record: Everton are the only Premier League team not to loss back-to-back this season.
Neville started the second period with a Rory Delap throw from the left that almost surprised Al Habsi. Anichebe looked to get past his marker and set off for goal but was caught too easily and punted it pointlessly. N'Zogbia limped off on 53 mins replaced by Moses. Osman won another free kick but a bit far out, and Baines went square, getting another kick from a wider position that Baines hopelessly overhit. Anichebe, who had been poor looked to be on the end of a neat little through ball
Hibbert was given a poor yellow card when Figurora playacted well, adding to a lengthening list of poor decisions by the officials. Everton the n lived dangerously as Moses looked to score but Howard saved well after Jagielka had denied Rodallega a clear chance. Moses then power another one for Howard to palm over as Wigan threatened to overrun the Pinks and Moyes looked to change things, but not until Baines had taken a corner as the pace quickened . Osman, finally seemd to get a chance but it lacked power and almost bounced back to Cahill who had largley been a passenger.
When the changes finally came, Moyes's underperforming favourites Arteta and Cahill came off with Beckford and Coleman coming on... would that be 4-4-2??? Not exactly; Anichebe pushing out wide left. But it was Wigan who looked more like scoring, three vital blocks by Neville and Jagielka denied Moses then McArthur.
A series of corners and free-kicks finally put some serious pressure on Wigan and Rodelleag finally cracked, needlessly handling a corner from Baines when he mistimed his defensive leap. Beaines showed Arteta exactly how to take an unstoppable spot-kick, and gave a semblance of respectability to the scoreline. Martinez responded by pulling off Cleverly with 12 mins left for someone to claim all three points.
Rodwell picked up a yellow card for a 50-50 challenge and Anichebe was finally dragged off, Magaye Gueye on for the last 10 mins. Everton looked more intent and Coleman had a pop from a corner that was deflected, forcing a nice acrobatic save from Al Habsi.
Everton were finally playing better football but a good move was spoilt by Beckford being offside, and Wigan then attacked, forcing a good punch from Howard, who had to alert to catch a weak shot from Di Santo, the game set to go right to the finish with both sides getting increasingly keen. Rodellaga drove a good shot that Howard blocked. Watson looked to beat Howard from distance and Moses should have scored off the rebound but was offside as Wigan seemed more intent than Everton despoite the raucous Blues support.
So it finished 1-1, and left an all-too-familiar feeling for this disappointing season of two more points squandered with a draw that should surely have been a win.
Wigan: Al Habsi, Boyce, Gary Caldwell, Alcaraz, Figueroa Y:87', Diame Y (44' McArthur), Watson, N'Zogbia, McCarthy, Cleverley, Rodallega. Subs: Kirkland, Gohouri, Di Santo, Moses, Gomez, , Sammon.
Everton: Howard, Hibbert Y: , Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Osman, Neville, Rodwell Y:81', Arteta, Cahill, Anichebe (82' Gueye). Subs: Mucha, Bilyaletdinov, Beckford, Coleman, Vellios, Duffy. Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)
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Only Osman and Distin put in a shift, Beckford didn't do anything either when he came on, he wouldn't even jump two inches off the ground to try and win a header.
The fuckin ref was a tosspot today as well, their fullback only getting booked after 86 mins was a joke, he should've been booked early doors first half for challenges on Osman, along with a couple of others, Baines should've been carded first half for his challenge on N'Zogbia as well.Tell you what though, I would have N'Zogbia on the left wing next season, especially if they go down. Maybe we could give them Big Vic in part-ex...
There... problem solved!
Our midfield is very predictable and every team in the league know how we play because we dont have any alternatives!! Our strikers collectively are among the worst in the league with many better strikers playing for teams BELOW us.
Saha is the only striker who deservedly got a MotM for his four goals against Blackpool... unfortunately he is very fragile and ageing (that is why he was allowed to leave Utd)... I suppose we will take Owen next when Utd dump him or even Bellamy is being mooted.
Nugent has been exposed at premier level so I suppose we will go for him!!
Davies, Elmander, Sturridge, Odemwingie, Cole, Bent, Zamora, Kenwyn Jones etc etc etc are all better than any we have and they all play for teams below us.
God only knows how we have managed to remain safe with the squad we have. We have loaned out more than a football team and now with the amount of injuries we have we cannot find decent stand ins for the injured. If Baines was injured I don't know what we would have done??? The only saving grace is its almost seasons end!!!
I reckon that the pre-season JOLLY to the states be cancelled and DM use his time in clearing out the dead wood and bringing in fresh faces to re-invigorate the team and excite the fans.
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