Wigan unlucky as Norwich misfire
Wigan missed out on a well-deserved three points against a lack-lustre Norwich side as the game at Carrow Road finished 1-1.
Hoolahan was Norwich's best player
Wigan Manager Roberto Martinez went into the game knowing he desperately needed points. His side lay rock bottom of the Premier League with only 20 points to their name.
But to his credit, Martinez set his team out aggressively, with only three defenders at the back.
Norwich went with their tried and tested diamond formation with Wesley Hoolahan sitting behind a front two of Grant Holt and Simeon Jackson. David Fox sat in holding midfield.
Martinez’s team didn’t take long to get into their stride. They began working the wings and kept firing balls into Norwich’s box to catch the hosts off guard.
Norwich then got a handle on the game. They passed the ball from wing to wing with Fox orchestrating the play.
After nine minutes Norwich broke forward following a poor kick from Ali Al Habsi.
Simeon Jackson made room for himself to the left of the six yard box and hit a delicate cross to Wes Hoolahan who deftly hooked the ball over the keeper to make it 1-0.
But Norwich failed to build pressure and they couldn’t capitalise on the goal. What followed was chance after chance falling for both sides as the game remained open.
End to end
One of the best opportunities for Norwich came in the 32nd minute when Grant Holt found himself free on the edge of the penalty area. He cut inside and hit a hard shot with his right foot that was clearly goal-bound.
It clearly struck Caldwell’s left arm in the penalty area. There were vehement shouts from Holt for a penalty but the referee Kevin Friend deemed it to be ball to hand.
The best chance for Wigan came to Hugo Rodallega who followed up a shot from Jordi Gomes. Ruddy spilled the ball but Rodallega was unable to put the ball in the gaping net and the ball flew over the bar.
At half time Rodallega and Moses stood out for Wigan. They made great chances for themselves and linked well with Gomes.
Norwich’s best player was Hoolahan who attacked well with the ball and even tracked back to snuff out a Wigan move.
The Canaries were keen to start the second half brightly and Holt nearly got a goal with a strong header off Adam Drury’s cross from the left wing. The header passed just a yard wide of Al Habsi’s right post.
Wigan pressure
That proved to be one of Holt’s last actions as the fans’ favourite was substituted on 58 minutes for Steve Morison after a quiet game.
What followed was sustained pressure on the Canaries’ defence as Wigan dominated.
The pressure paid off when Moses was put in by an accurate through ball from Maloney. Moses took the ball round Ruddy for a cool finish and a 1-1 score line.
Norwich step it up
After waiting over an hour before mounting a period of solid pressure, Norwich then began to go for the win. Anthony Pilikington and Eliott Bennett came on to give the game width.
Jackson, who looked lively all afternoon, dribbled his way along the goal line on 73 minutes before hooking the ball into the side netting.
Wigan were looking to secure a much needed point. They brought down Elliot Bennett as he was breaking free and Antolin Alcaraz barged down Jackon in a similar vein, getting a yellow card for his efforts.
Both sides close to winner
The Carrow Road faithful have been used to late comebacks from their players over the last two years and they nearly had another from Elliott Ward. In the 83rd minute he got on the end of a good cross from Bennett. His strong header went just wide of the right post.
Arguably the best chance of the game fell to the substitute Mohamed Diame in the 85th minute. Shaun Maloney crossed him the ball on the ground but Diame’s shot harmlessly rose over the bar from just ten yards out.
On the 87th minute Morison beat his man in the air to get onto a cross from Jackson. But the header was parried by Al Habsi.
In the five minutes of extra time Wigan killed Norwich attacks with fowls on Hoolahan and Morison.
Norwich will be disappointed by taking only one point against Wigan at home. The Canaries are in need of a win having not won since 11th February.
Wigan will feel they should have got more from the game and will take heart from having the majority of the possession, shots and corners in a game they dominated.