Newcastle United 2
Owen 80
Martins 87
Wigan Athletic 2
Taylor 3
Bramble 89

Report by Paul Chialton

Titus Bramble's last gasp equaliser salvaged a well-earned point for Latics just when it seemed they would leave St. James' Park with nothing at all.

Daniel de Ridder's pin-point corner found Bramble who rose above the defence and headed home against his former club.

A harsh sending-off for Emmerson Boyce on 55min, for two yellow cards, had put Latics on the ropes as the home-side started to press forward for a way back into the game.

The game had stayed in Wigan's control for much of the afternoon leading up to Boyce's departure, and when Michael Owen equalised ten minutes before the end, it seemed Steve Bruce's men would again end up with little to show for their performance.

Latics had looked refreshing throughout, moving forward with lots of purpose and posing a real threat in the last third.

Henri Camara and Olivier Kapo partnered superbly up-front, whilst stand-in skipper Lee Cattermole commanded the middle of the park making crucial tackles and leading by example.

Ryan Taylor's introduction, in place of the injured Jason Koumas, was an inspired decision. His sublime lob early on in the game left Shay Given standing and continued his impressive goal tally against Newcastle to three.

But when Obafemi Martins fired home late on and make it 2-1, Newcastle seemed to have stolen all three points.

The strike had left the 1,000 or so travelling Latics fans and manager Steve Bruce deflated after such a good performance.

But up stepped Bramble to give his team reward for their effort and leave Latics fans singing his name into the night.

Post match video interviews for this game from Lee Cattermole and Kevin Kilbane in our TV News section

Latics: Kirkland; Boyce, Bramble, Scharner, Figueroa; Valencia, Cattermole, Palacios, Taylor (de Ridder 82); Kapo (Brown 90),Camara (Kilbane 90)
Subs: Pollitt, Kupisz, Routledge, Cywka,

Newcastle: Given; Beye, Coloccini, Bassong, Enrique (N'Zogbia 68); Duff, Barton (Guthrie 16), Butt, Gutierrez (Owen 68); Ameobi, Martins