Tuncay Sanli's second-half header denied Wigan a precious win as
Stoke made off with a point in a 1-1 draw at the DW Stadium on
Tuesday night.
The Latics took an early lead when Paul Scharner connected
with Charles N'Zogbia's wonderfully-flighted free-kick in the 14th
minute.
But Tuncay rose to head home Matthew Etherington's cross 16
minutes from time to ensure it finished honours even.
Although other results meant the draw moved Wigan up two
places to 14th in the table, Roberto Martinez's side were the
superior side for long spells and now have only one win in their
last 10 Barclays Premier League games.
Stoke, meanwhile, extended their unbeaten run since the turn
of the year to five league games.
Tuncay dispossessed Mohamed Diame in the second minute and
made a purposeful run into the box, but the Turkey forward was
crowded out and the ball went for a throw.
Rory Delap launched it back into the area where it was only
partially cleared to Glenn Whelan, whose shot was deflected wide.
At the other end, Hugo Rodallega was brought down on the edge
of the box by Ryan Shawcross and took the free-kick himself, but
could only send it straight into the wall.
Jason Scotland made a better attempt on goal in the 10th
minute having been fed by James McCarthy, but after cutting inside
his man the Trinidad and Tobago striker could not direct his shot
on target.
Three minutes later Wigan were ahead. Etherington was booked
for obstructing N'Zogbia midway into the Stoke half and the
Frenchman sent a beautiful delivery into the box from the free-kick
which Scharner headed past the diving Thomas Sorensen.
With their confidence buoyed by the goal, Wigan continued to
push forward and after a mazy dribble, Diame had a shot blocked
which fell to Rodallega, whose attempt flew over the bar.
But Stoke applied some pressure around the half-hour mark,
with Etherington's free-kick causing a goalmouth scramble which was
cleared away and Whelan sending a speculative effort over.
Gary Caldwell then received a yellow card for bringing down
Tuncay as the Potters striker broke forward, but Robert Huth
drilled the free-kick straight into Shawcross, who could not get a
decent shot away.
Mamady Sidibe was next to fire wide for Stoke and Tuncay sent
a volley into Chris Kirkland's arms after connecting with an
Etherington cross.
But as the half drew to a close Wigan went close to extending
their advantage, Scharner managing to flick N'Zogbia's corner
towards goal from six yards out, but the midfielder was leaning
back too much to guide it on target.
Stoke came out for the second half looking determined to pick
up the tempo, and after Delap had seen one of his long-throws
punched away by Kirkland, Tuncay wasted an opportunity to equalise,
miscuing a volley from close range after Huth had nodded down for
him.
Tony Pulis threw on Ricardo Fuller - who was arrested at the
weekend - after an hour, and a minute later Tuncay unleashed a shot
on the turn which was deflected over by substitute Jordi Gomez.
But at the other end, Rodallega almost produced a moment of
magic, holding off Shawcross with his back to goal and executing a
bicycle kick that looped inches over Sorensen's bar.
Stoke were looking increasingly potent and with just over a
quarter of an hour remaining, they found an equaliser through
Tuncay.
Etherington played a through-ball to Fuller, who made a
lung-bursting run into the box but could only send a cross to the
feet of Caldwell.
The defender's clearance went straight back to Etherington,
though, who crossed for an unmarked Tuncay to head past Kirkland.
Two minutes later, the Potters almost turned the game around
completely as Fuller nodded Etherington's cross back for Sidibe,
who saw his header bounce off the crossbar.
Substitute James Beattie then had the chance to seal it for
Stoke on the stroke of 90 minutes but Kirkland dived to push his
shot away, while Marcelo Moreno - who had also come off the bench -
scuffed an effort at the other end.
