Hugo gives Reds the Blues
Hugo Rodallega grabbed a priceless winning goal as Wigan Athletic beat Liverpool 1-0.
Helped by a brand new playing surface at the DW Stadium, Latics thoroughly deserved their first-ever win over Liverpool at the 12th attempt thanks to Rodallega's close-range strike.
The Colombian was outstanding and he was not alone, as the midfield got the better of their more illustrious opponents including Steven Gerrard, and the back four hardly gave Fernando Torres a sniff.
With their relegation rivals – apart from Bolton – all losing over the weekend, Latics knew they had the opportunity to put some distance between themselves and the foot of the table.
And they received another pre-match boost when Charles N'Zogbia, James McCarthy and Paul Scharner were all passed fit to play, with Marcelo Moreno and Emmerson Boyce also coming in for Mario Melchiot and Hendry Thomas.
Liverpool, however, settled the quicker and Gerrard had the first chance of the game, skying a right-footed effort from 25 yards.
Latics were then slow to pick up from a corner on eight minutes which resulted in Torres lashing against the outside of the post from close range.
McCarthy surged through for Latics at the other end, only to be halted by a timely Jamie Carragher, while Moreno was inches away from connecting with a N'Zogbia cross moments later.
N'Zogbia was getting a fair amount of joy against Reds left-back Emiliano Insua, and got to the byline only to see his cross cut out by Carragher.
Rodallega won a free-kick on the edge of the area on 20 minutes only to curl well over, while Insua picked up the first yellow of the game for a blatant check on N'Zogbia.
From then on, Liverpool paid N'Zogbia the ultimate compliment by doubling up on him every time Latics got the ball to their French winger.
Liverpool had scored one goal in each of their last two visits to Wigan, each time courtesy of Yossi Benayoun, and the Israeli cut Wigan open just before the half-hour.
However, instead of shooting from eight yards, he elected instead to roll the ball across to Gerrard, who was crowded out before slicing his hurried shot woefully wide.
The miss was typical of Gerrard's opening to the game, the England man uncharacteristically giving the ball away on several occasions as Latics began to get on top in the midfield.
Dirk Kuyt followed suit on 35 minutes, misplacing a simple pass deep in Liverpool territory in to the path of Boyce.
And the full-back's inch-perfect delivery was calmly slotted away by Rodallega, for his first goal since Boxing Day.
The goal – Wigan's first in four matches – was no more than the home side deserved, with Liverpool continuing to look disjointed in possession.
Lucas and Sotirios Kyrgiakos joined Insua in the book for fouls, and Insua was perhaps fortunate not to cop a second yellow for a cynical foul on McCarthy, the referee instead opting to give N'Zogbia an advantage that came to nothing.
Titus Bramble picked up Wigan's first caution for a clipping Torres who had cleverly worked himself free down the left, but Latics were good value for their interval lead.
They had the first chance of the second half, too, when McCarthy picked out Rodallega on the far post, only for the shot to be blocked.
And, seconds later, N'Zogbia again got the better of Insua, although his shot hit the corner flag and presented Liverpool with a throw-in.
There was an increasing feeling that Latics had to make the most of their dominance, and Liverpool showed their danger with two chances in quick succession around the 50-minute mark.
First, Gerrard beautifully played in Benayoun, who tried to be clever instead of just shooting and saw Latics clear their lines.
Then, Torres stole a yard on the near post only to blast his effort high into the visiting fans in the North Stand.
Glen Johnson replaced Lucas 10 minutes after the restart, with Javier Mascherano relieved to be switching to his more familiar midfield role having struggled to get to grips with Rodallega down the Wigan left.
Latics almost got a second goal on the hour mark in comical fashion, Carragher smashing the ball against Moreno and seeing it loop over Pepe Reina before Kyrgiakos got back to head off the line.
Moreno then forced a good stop from Reina after cutting in from the right, his last act before being replaced by Victor Moses with a quarter of the game remaining.
Liverpool threw on Alberto Aquilani for Benayoun, but Latics remained on top and Scharner was inches away from sliding in a second goal after Reina had half-stopped N'Zogbia's shot with his legs.
Torres, too, came within a whisker of a goal at the other end, volleying just past the post after Kuyt had headed intelligently into the unmarked Spaniard's path.
Liverpool's top scorer then found himself the villain of the piece when he refused to kick the ball out when Mohamed Diame went down injured, before he lost the ball and took out Boyce at the expense of a yellow.
Gerrard also had his name taken for a lunge on McCarthy from behind, with Latics sending on Hendry Thomas for Diame in the closing stages to add some physical presence.
And, despite five nerve-jangling minutes of added time, Latics held on to record a confidence-boosting win ahead of Saturday's six-pointer at Bolton.
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Weather for Wigan
Thursday 02 September 2010
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 8 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South east
