Fulham got off to a perfect start when Clint Dempsey sent his left footed drive past Chris Kirkland after ten minutes. 

The Whites looked to be cruising towards their first away win of the season and created enough clear cut opportunities to kill the game off in the second half.

Ten minutes from time the home side produced their best spell of the game and Jason Koumas brought the Latics level from the penalty spot ten minutes from time.

Wigan

Chris Kirkland, Mario Melchiot (C), Titus Bramble, Andrea Granqvist, Emmerson Boyce, David Cotterill , Michael Brown, Paul Scharner, Jason Koumas, Antoine Sibierski, Emile Heskey

Subs: Mike Pollitt (GK), Fitz Hall, Josip Skoko, Julius Aghahowa, Marcus Bent

Fulham

Antti Niemi, Chris Baird, Carlos Bocanegra (C), Aaron Hughes, Paul Konchesky, Simon Davies, Steven Davis, Alexey Smertin, Hameur Bouazza, Clint Dempsey, Diomansy Kamara

Subs: Kasey Keller (GK), Dejan Stefanovic, Danny Murphy, Seol Ki-Hyeon, David Healy

Referee: Rob Styles

First Half Action

1 min Wigan's most dangerous spell in the first period came during the opening exchanges. The Latics attacked down Fulham's left flank and earned two free-kicks in quick succession. Koumas showed his ability from a set piece situation, delivering two fine crossess which were dealt with admirably by Sanchez' defence.

3 min Hameur Bouazza fired in Fulham's first shot on goal after a fine piece of skill on the left flank. Kamara, lying deep in a central position, collected the ball and threaded a neat pass to Bouazza on the left flank. The winger teased his marker before cutting inisde and firing off a right footed shot. His finish lacked the pace and accurancy to test Kirkland but Fulham showed some early attacking promise.

8 min After his mid-weeek heroics for England, Emile Heskey was forced from the field with a foot injury. The striker pulled up a few minutes earlier after chasing a long ball and failed to recover from the injury. The striker was replaced by Marcus Bent.

10 min A contentious throw in decision which went in Fulham's favour started the move which earned Fulham a one-goal lead. From the throw-in Fulham worked the ball out to Simon Davies on the right flank. Davies sent the ball across the area to Kamara in a central position on the 18 yard line. The forward threaded the ball through to his strike partner Dempsey, 8 yards from goal. The American swept the ball under Kirkland with a left footed drive and the Whites were a goal to the good.

Wigan 0 - 1 Fulham (Dempsey)

23 min Wigan searched for an equaliser, attacking down Fulham's left flank but the Whites soaked up the Latics pressure and Niemi was beginning to enjoy a comfortable afternoon. Paul Konchesky was once again in outstanding form, coping admirably with repeated attacks from Koumas, Bent and Cotterill. For all their efforts Wigan rarely tested Fulham during the first half.

25 min Bocanegra almost doubled Fulham's lead after latching onto a Simon Davies corner. The midfielder sent his set piece in from the left flank to the far post and Bocanegra was there to meet the ball. Fulham's captain sent a powerful downward header in on goal but the ball went inches wide of Kirkland's far post.

32 min Wigan put the ball in the back of the net from Cotterill’s corner but Antti Niemi was clearly pushed before the ball was rolled over the line from close range.

36 min Simon Davies sent in a superb right footed curling shot from 25 yards on the left hand side of the field but Kirkland was well positioned to collect the ball with ease.

42 min Kamara’s creativity in attack was Fulham's most potent threat in the first half. With the licence to roam deep or into wide positions the striker was causing Wigan's defence problems before the break. Kamara's link up play with his strike partner Dempsey was the highlgiht of Fulham's first 45.

45 min Half-time. Fulham deserved thier lead and looked comfortable going into the break.

Second Half Action

45 min Fulham got the second half underway, attacking the home end. After two minutes of play Bouazza was crudely blocked on the edge of Wigan’s area on the left flank. Rob Styles immediately awarded the free-kick and Kirkland could only palm away Davies’ stinging delivery. A moment of panic ensued but the ball was eventually cleared to safety by the Latics defence.

50 min A battle for possession in the middle of the park was won by Wigan and Marcus Bent was set free down the right flank. The striker raced into the area and fired off his shot from a tight angle but he effort sailed high and wide.

56 min  Dempsey almost doubled Fulham's lead after some fine link-up play with Kamara but Kirkland pulled off a tremendous save to deny the American. Seconds later Dempsey and Kamara linked up again but the chance went begging. Dempsey's shot come pass drifted across the area but Kamara failed to reach the ball at the far post. The Whites were breaching the Latics back like with some fine counter attacking football and produced enough chances to kill the game off.

59 min  Wigan made the first substitution of the game, replacing David Cotterill with Josip Skoko. Wigan's sub was booked a few minutes later when he held back Konchesky in the middle of the park. 

66 min Lawrie Sanchez brought on substitute David Healy for Diomansy Kamara. MInutes later Chris Hutchings revised his attacking line, replacing Sibierski with Julius Aghahowa.

76 min The game burst into life as the final ten minutes approached and Wigan went on a late rally. Fulham looked comfortable under pressure and seemed to be cruising to their first away win of the season. However the home side were to find a way back into the game from the penalty spot. 

 

78 min Penaly Wigan. Wigan's late pressure paid dividends when Michael Brown threaded a ball through to Melchiot on the right hand side of the area. The defender raced in on goal but was bundled over by Bouazza from behind.

Rob Styles immediately pointed to the spot and Jason Koumas stepped up to take the penalty. Koumas made no mistake, firing an unstoppable strike into the far corner of Niemi's net.

Wigan 1 - 1 Fulham

81 min  Sanchez made a double substitution with eight minutes remaining. New signings Murphy and Seol replaced Davies and Bouazza on the flanks.

88 min Scharner almost won it for Wigan two minutes from time. An inswinging cross from the left found Scharner unmarked in the area 8 yards from goal. His right footed touch towards goal fell straight into Niemi's arms on the goal line. It would have been a cruel blow for Sanchez' side who deserved at least a point from Saturday's encounter.

90 min The Fourth Official indicated three minutes added time and the game was played out at a frenetic pace before Rob Styles blew for fultime.

 

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