The Battle of the DW ended all-square but Everton will feel cheated by very poor officiating yet again, starting with Wigan's opening goal, clearly offside. Jelavić leveled it almost immediately heading in Pienaar's lob/shot but Heitinga was roasted as the clever Kone set up an unstoppable Di Santos shot. The Blues struggled to contain Wigan for the rest of the half and Moyes acted to replace Heitinga with Distin at the break. A determined second-half fight-back seemed doomed to fail thanks to dreadful refereeing but a late penalty lashed home by Baines at least saved a point.
Everton seemed to have started well but Wigan's first attack down the left saw Maloney getting in behind Coleman a little too easily, clipping in a good cross right onto the head of Kone, who headed home from short range where he was offside... but ominously no flag!
A instant response at the other end, Pienaar cutting in from the left and trying to beat three men, firing a lobbed shoot on goal, the ball falling to the far post, where Jelavić was perfectly positioned to head home.
Maloney was granted a yellow card for his foul on Pienaar, the free kick winning a corner, but lots of pushing and shoving, with Marouane Fellaini being the focus of illegal attention and kicking out in frustration. Mirallas got a shot off that was just deflected wide of the post.
Everton were undone again with Kone scampering down the right, Heitinga was bamboozled, Kone cut it back brilliantly for the well-placed Di Santo to smash home for Wigan.
On Wigan's third attack Di Santo stung Tim Howard's hands with an excellent shot, EFC looking a little ragged at the back. Maloney took a shot from outside the area that screwed wide as they surged forward repeatedly with surprising confidence.
But some patient build-up play at the other end created a wonderful chance for Osman, a wicked deflection forcing a brilliant save from Al Habsi.
Everton had to withstand more pressure, until a turnover that resulted in Pienaar being fouled, but Wigan were defending solidly. Mirallas got forward and fired off a shot from a distance that was deflected.
Baines penetrated forward and managed to get a shot off the foot of the post, Fellaini too close to profit from the rebound. The Big Fella had his arm out when climbing to head a ball in open play with Figueroa, and got a yellow card but it wasn't really an elbow, and never a red the Wigan fans were demanding.
As the first half came to an end, it looked a little as if Everton were shell-shocked by the passion and commitment shown by Wigan, who just about deserved their half-time lead.
You have to wonder if the scowl on David Moses's face was related to him switching out Heitinga for Distin at half time.
Mirallas won an early corner that was taken by Baines. Some neat play between Pienaar and Jelavić saw Osman fire a shot off that was always going over.
After a fantastic move between Banes and Pienaar to set up Mirallas should've been the second goal, but the Belgian lashed this perfect set up wastefully over the Wigan goal.
Again, Mirallas got behind the Wigan defense but Al Habsi pulled off a fantastic save to deny him, has Everton did their utmost to get back into the game. McCarthy got a yellow card for holding back Mirallas but, as if to even things out, the ref gave Baines a very bizarre yellow card for nothing, then Kevin Friend booked Jelavić for raising his arm in and increasingly niggly and bad tempered game.
Everton were exposed again by Maloney and Kone and Di Santo, and it needed perfect intervention from Jagielka to deny Kone.
Pienaar's powerful shot was blocked by Al Habsi as Everton tried to play their way to goal but the Wigan defense was too strong and too determined to yield. With Fellaini dropped back into midfield, probably to preclude a second yellow, Everton were not winning the immense physical battle in the Wigan area as Al Habsi pulled something when he slipped making a clearing hoof.
The pendulum swung back to Wigan briefly but, unlike in the first half, Kone was not getting past Distin. But it was a similar struggle for Everton going forward, Pienaar going in the book for a foul from behind on Di Santo.
Evertonians were screaming for a penalty when Jelavić was cut down as he took his shot: a clear penalty! 10mins left and David Moyes decided to bring on big Victor for Capt Phil Neville; hopefully he had not left it too late to change things around.
Everton were awarded an all-too-rare and dangerous free kick off Friend but nothing came of it. And crucial misplaced passes were the difference as Everton failed to capitalize. Another penalty shout when Jelavić was barged in the back while chesting the ball down, again fell on deaf ears.
Finally Kevin Friend had no option when Mirallas was chopped down in the 86th minute, Baines lashing the ball into the top corner, a superbly taken penalty to finally get the All Blacks back on even terms but with very little time left to get the winner.
Some dreadful defending by Everton allowed Maloney to get behind the defense, and it was only through determined action by Coleman who deflected his goal bound shot over the Everton bar. Some real anger from Anichebe when he was yellow-carded going in a little bit late on Figueroa, has David Moyes sought to bring on Steven Naismith in the closing minutes — an unnecessary disruption of whatever momentum Everton had going to the final whistle.
The talk will be all about referee Kevin Friend who was anything but for Everton today, too many crucial decisions going unfairly in Wigan's favour.
Michael Kenrick
Occupying the heady heights of second in the Premier League, Everton make the short trip down the road to Wigan hoping to extend their impressive start to the season with a third away win.
The manager will hopefully be cognizant of the complacency that crept in at times in the second half against Southampton last week, knowing how important it's going to be for Everton to triumph in these eminently winnable matches likes this one against 16th-place Wigan.
The Latics frustrated the Blues a little in this fixture last season and it took a Victor Anichebe equaliser to earn a share of the spoils. Moyes will be looking for more of that dynamic forward play that has yielded six goals from the last two League outings.
Though Darron Gibson is back in training, this one is too soon for him to make his anticipated return to central midfield following a thigh injury. That could mean an unchanged line-up for Moyes from the side that had whipped Saints back into shape by half-time of last weekend's 3-1 win.
Tony Hibbert is also ruled out with the groin problem that has kept him on the sidelines after the last couple of weeks so Seámus Coleman will likely get another chance to impress at right back while Phil Neville continues in central midfield.
Steven Naismith is the only other injury concern, with a calf strain making him doubtful for the visit to the DW Stadium.
The Latics will have striker Jordi Gomez available after all, though, after the red card he picked up against Sunderland was rescinded by the FA. Antolin Alcaraz is ruled out for Roberto Martinez, though, with a groin problem.
Wigan are still searching for their first win at home this season, having lost to Chelsea and Fulham and been held by Stoke so far this season. Everton will be hoping to exploit any perceived anxiety about that poor start by this weekend's opponents and record a victory that will keep them on the heels of Chelsea. The Londoners have what looks to be a routine home fixture against Norwich City.
Lyndon Lloyd
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