Watson The Difference
Wigan started the brightest and almost took the lead in the second minute when a hopeful cross from the left caught in the wind, went over Duke and dropped onto the bar before the rebound was headed out for a corner which was delivered too deep for Emmerson Boyce. Wigan had another chance four minutes later after breaking from a City corner. Charles N'Zogbia drilled a ball across the face of goal where Ben Watson just failed to get the required touch. Wugan continued to press on 12 minutes when Watson made Duke get down well to save his shot. Another good break from Wigan, this time led by Hugo Rodallega, set up a good chance for Mido, but he blasted over the bar. Wigan had a freekick on 23 minutes, Rodallega took the free kick, but fired straight at Duke.
Mido missed another great chance five minutes later, lifting over from Rodallega's nod-down.Wigan were creating all the chances and Scharner sent Rodallega
away, only for the striker to be denied by Duke. The City keeper then
reacted well to block the follow-up attempt. City were forced into a change on 38 minutes when Andy Dawson was
forced to withdraw through injury and was replaced by Richard Garcia.
Half Time: Hull 0-0 Wigan
Hull's first effort on target almost brought a goal. Marney's near
post corner was met by Manucho, but Chris Kirkland produced a great
save to tip the ball over the bar, From the next corner, Turner headed
over.City were looking much brighter in the early stages of the second
half, although Marney was well off target with a shot from 20 yards.Good work from Geovanni down the left saw him cross for Garcia, but he headed wide. Wigan still looked the most likely to score and Watson went close in the 68th minute after working a short corner, but his powerful shot ended up in the side netting.Wigan almost took the lead with ten minutes to go when a cross from
the right was headed against the post before Rodallega's follow-up was
blocked and handled by substitute Amr Zaki.Wigan finally took the lead on 84 minutes. Duke flapped at a long throw into
the box and with the keeper out of position, Watson lobbed his return
into the net.
Full Time: Hull 0-1 Wigan
Tigers: Matt Duke, Sam Ricketts, Michael Turner, Kamil Zayatte (Folan 61), Andy Dawson (Garcia 38), Bernard Mendy, Dean Marney, Kevin Kilbane, Geovanni, Craig Fagan (Halmosi 82), Manucho.
Subs: Boaz Myhill, Nathan Doyle, Ryan France, Richard Garcia, Peter Halmosi, Nick Barmby, Caleb Folan.
Wigan: Chris Kirkland, Mario Melchiot, Emmerson Boyce, Titus Bramble, Maynor Figueroa, Ben Watson, Paul Scharner (Kapo 77), Michael Brown, Charles N'Zogbia (de Ridder 46), Hugo Rodallega, Mido (Zaki 72).
Subs: Mike Pollitt, Richard Kingson, Erik Edman, Won Hee Cho, Olivier Kapo, Daniel de Ridder, Amr Zaki.
Referee: Mr A. Marriner.
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