Wigan Athletic 2 Cardiff City 2 - Saturday 5th October 2002

Latics denied victory by late strike

Report by John Patrick Heeley

Wigan had a valuable victory snatched from them by a late equaliser from Welsh international striker Robert Earnshaw just as it look like they were going to secure their second successive win over Cardiff City at the JJB Stadium.

Paul Jewell welcomed back Scott Green into his side after the 32 year old missed out on Wednesday night's Worthington Cup win over West Brom with a thigh strain leaving Gary Teale back on bench duty.

Apart from that the Wigan manager named an unchanged side to the one that had lined up against the West Midlands outfit with Andy Liddell still ruled out through suspension.

Wigan started the better against a strong looking Cardiff side but were limited to half chances with Danny Gabbidon and former Manchester City defender Spencer Prior forming a solid partnership in the visitor's defence.

In the 8th minute Nicky Eaden delivered a right wing cross with Nathan Ellington waiting ominously in the middle but Bluebirds keeper Neil Alexander read the situation well to collect before The Duke could cause any damage.

Three minutes later Jason Jarrett went close when he got a toe on the end of the ball after barging his way through the defence but his effort went narrowily wide and in the 13th minute Neil Roberts ran onto a nod down from Dinning and got the better of a defender on the byeline to deliver a ball across the face of goal but Lee McCulloch slipped as he attempted to collect and put the ball behind for a goal kick.

Cardiff's first real effort saw skipper Graham Kavanagh bring a fine save out of John Filan from a free kick in a dangerous position on the edge of the area after Jason Jarrett had been penalised for a foul on Robert Earnshaw on 17 minutes.

The visitors took an unexpected lead in the 20th minute with ROBERT EARNSHAW collecting the ball from Leo Fortune-West 6 yards out with his back to goal before turning to volley an unstoppable left foot shot past Filan.

McCulloch saw a long range effort sail way overthe bar before Latics popped up with the equaliser. TONY DINNING was allowed acres of space and his left foot drive from 15 yards out gave Alexander no chance whatsoever.

The scores weren't level for long with Dinning again involved in the goal in the 29th minute.

The former Wolves midfielder hit a powerful shot on goal which Alexander could only block and NATHAN ELLINGTON was on hand to fire home at the second attempt for his 9th goal of the season.

Wigan should have increased their lead 6 minutes later when Jason Jarrett took on Graham Kavanagh 20 yards out before side stepping him to send a decent ball to the far post where Ellington was lurking but sent his header inches wide of the mark with the goal seemingly gaping and a minute later McCulloch fired a low drive wide following some nice work from Wigan.

Moments later and Wigan were on the attack again with Ellington sending a teasing ball from the right flank but failed to find a body and ran clear to safety.

Kavanagh gave Wigan a fright with 5 minutes of the first half remaining when he raced clear on goal but fired a low shot well wide from outside the area as the defence closed in.

Both sides made changes during the break with Teale replacing the tiring Green for Wigan and Fortune-West making way for Campbell in the visitors' line up.

Latics wasted a golden opportunity early in the second half when Ellington collected a long ball to the half way line and with Roberts in support charged towards goal but with Kavanagh chasing Ellington's pass to Roberts fell woefully short and Cardiff cleared the danger.

Steve McMillan forced a good save from Alexander with a close range effort just before the hour mark and 4 minutes later McCulloch sent a delicate lob just over the bar.

Alexander prevented Wigan from wrapping the game up with 10 minutes remaining when he narrowed the angle and blocked a close range effort from Jarrett with his legs.

The save proved vital as ROBERT EARNSHAW grabbed his and his side's second of the afternoon to earn an important point.

Peter Thorne headed a right wing cross back into the middle of Filan's area where the diminuitive figure of Earnshaw was waiting to pounce with the Wigan defence caught napping.

After the game Paul Jewell had no complaints about his side's performance on the day but repeated what he has stated in the past that they should be finishing side's off earlier.

Never a truer word said as against sides of Cardiff's calibre a one goal advantage will rarely be enough especially with the likes of Earnshaw in the forward line.