City 0 Wigan 0
March 1st 2008 38,261
This game will not be remembered by many of the brave souls that survived this poor Premiership game in wet and windy conditions. It was really poor and but for a good save by Joe Hart late in the game Wigan would have once more gone away with all three points. Lowest league attendance of the season due partly by poor away support by Wigan - barely 1500 turned up and television coverage by Sultana - sorry Sentanta. No doubt Sentanta subscribers will be wanting their money back after this poor game. Anyway City lost ground in the race for a UEFA place We had several chances but Benjani missed two and others were off target. Some seasoncard holders will be having second thoughts about renewing on this form! Caicedo looked quite promising on his home debut but will need time to settle in to the Premiership.
City had 2 enforced changes. Corluka in for the injured Richards and Johnson for the suspended Petrov and Elano returned for Hamann.
Ex City player Brown made his mark on Elano from the very first minutes and he was obviously under orders to shackle the creative efforts of the Brazilian at all costs.
Dunne tackles Heskey at the other end
Johnson heads clear a free-kick
Elano gets the better of Brown this time.
Nedum Onuoha heads clear from Heskey
Johnson goes down fouled by Palacios
Referee Bennett tries to restore relations between Brown and Elano
Scharner covers Kirkland as Vassell moves in for the kill!
It looks like Dunne and Heskey will be entering 'Come Dancing' though Emile needs more practice with his feet positions!
Palacios and Elano jump for the ball but it suspiciously looks like hand ball
Fernandes skips past Brown in a City attack
Ireland shoots for goal but wide
Wigan goal under pressure from City
Benjani had a good chance when put through but his effort was blocked by Kirkland and the is chance lost
Kirkland was injured in the save but resumed after treatment.
After another Brown tackle Elano had to be helped down the tunnel to be replaced by Caicedo
Now Wigan are trying to nick Richard Dunne's' shirt
Wigan block the efforts of Corluka to break through
After 66 minutes we saw the familiar sight of ex City player Sibierski coming on a sub for King.
Wigan Manager Steve Bruce wonders whether he will have to change the keeper
Corluka clears for City. Good to see him back in action
City players look a little anxious defending a Wigan corner
Ball and Onuoha get the better of Valencia
Watching in the stand is Bolton Manager Gary Megson. City play Bolton in 3 weeks time
Edman is unable to stop a Vassell cross
Michael Johnson tries to force his way past Wigan defenders.
Benjani does well to turn and shoot but the ball goes straight to Kirkland
The Wigan goal escapes following a free kick taken on the left
Johnson showed plenty of spirit and was one of City's best players on his return from injury
Edman goes down as if shot but I am afraid it looked like a case of fooling the referee who gave a free kick to Wigan
Benjani tries to break down the wing but the raid came to naught.
After 70 minutes City had a great chance. Vassell put in a great centre from the left but Benjani missed a golden opportunity to put City ahead.
Corluka tries to change direction to clear the ball
With 9 minutes to go Wigan had a good chance when Palacios got the ball from Heskey and shot....
...... Hart made a great save and when the ball rebounded back to Palacios he put the ball over the bar
Both sides made efforts in the final minutes but I think they could have played another 90 minutes and I doubt whether either side could score a goal.
Team
Hart 7: Corluka 6.5, Onuoha 7, Dunne 7, Ball 6.5: Vassell 6.5, Fernandes 6.5, Johnson 7.5, Ireland 6 (Castillo 6): Elano 5.5 ( Caicedo 7), Benjani 6
