The Latics were pegged back twice, as they had to make do
with a share of the points, in an entertaining encounter on Saturday afternoon.
Fans will have left the DW stadium wondering
what might have been, despite having witnessed the teams strongest performance of the season, the search for the first home victory of the
campaign goes on.
Franco Di Santo |
Roberto Martinez decided to field Franco Di Santo in his
starting XI, replacing Jordi Gomez, and his side put in a dominant display in a cracking opening half.
The opening goal came as a result of fantastic work from
Shaun Maloney who was back to his imperious best and was at the heart of
everything going forward. After beating Seamus Coleman his cross was met by
Arouna Kone who managed to beat Tim Howard from an acute angle.
No sooner had the play re started the visitors had levelled
up with their first move forward. Nikica Jelavic was on the end of Steven
Pienaar’s attempted shot showed why he is regarded as one the deadliest
finishers around.
Despite the set back the Latics refused to get down and
continued to dominate for large periods of the first half and re took the lead
thanks to some fantastic work from the tremendous Kone.
His raw pace did for Johnny Heitinga as he latched onto Gary
Caldwell’s pinpoint long ball and despite looking as if he was going no where,
was able to square the ball back for Di Santo to smash home.
The Argentine almost added a third, moments later, as his
smart attempt was kept out by Tim Howard.
Ali Al Habsi was on hand to ensure that the Latics headed
into the break ahead, and they begun the second half on the front foot.
Shaun Maloney |
There was a lot of needle in the middle of park as both
midfields looked to impose themselves on the game. The referee Kevin Friend did
not allow for the game to flow and was unable to stamp his authority on the
game with a number of strange decisions.
As the game wore on the Latics invited the visitors onto
them and were reliant on hitting them on the counter. Unfortunately they were
made to pay for this with only five minutes to play, as Maynor Figueroa brought
down Kevin Mirallas.
Former Latic Leighton Baines emphatically beat Al Habsi from
the spot to secure a share of the spoils for his team.
But the Latics’ could well have secured all three points
late on as Kone and Maloney linked up once again, with the Scottish
international’s strike taking a deflection just over the cross bar.
Despite the feeling of having dropped two points it was
certainly an encouraging performance from Martinez ’s
men as they more than matched one of the form teams of the early season.
Up next is a trip to South Wales
after the international break and Martinez
will be keen to see his international’s return without any injuries, as he prepares his side for a crucial run.
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