Valiant Wigan so close to glory

WIGAN ATHLETIC 1
Rodallega, 28
MANCHESTER UNITED 1
Tevez, 61
Carrick, 86

Report by Paul Chialton

So nearly a memorable night at the JJB for Wigan Athletic, pushing Man Utd all the way until the 86^th minute before Michael Carrick's thunderbolt from the edge of the area won the game for the reigning Premier League champions.

Latics had everything; belief, fight and tremendous spirit all game, and were more than a match for their opponents, playing some excellent football and winning big tackles in the middle of the pitch courtesy of the tireless work from Lee Cattermole and Michael Brown.

Hugo Rodallega again gave a sterling performance playing large portions of the game as a lone striker, toiling with Nemanja Vidic and getting the better of the Serbian for the opening goal.

It was more than Steve Bruce's men deserved after piling the pressure on United in the early stages. Lee Cattermole's cross-field ball bewildered Rodallega and Vidic before falling kindly to the Colombian who instinctively drove home to put home side ahead.

Latics continued to battle with Antonio Valencia taking on all comers down the right-wing and the entire defence looking back to their solid best.

However the dream didn't last when, on the hour-mark, substitute Carlos Tevez found space in the area and steered Carrick's low shot past Richard Kingson, who incidentally gave another confident performance.

Looking like the team who would go on to win, United pressed and although Wigan's dangerous tactics of trying to contain them, the bubble finally burst five minutes before the end with Carrick moving United closer to retaining their title-crown.

A disappointing result in the end, but an immensely proud effort from every player in a blue-and-white shirt, who were rightfully given a standing applause at the final whistle.

Latics: Pollitt; Melchiot, Bramble, Boyce, Figueroa; Valencia, Brown, Cattermole, N'Zogbia (Mido, 82); Scharner, Rodallega
Subs: Pollitt, Edman, Watson, de Ridder, Koumas, Kapo
Man Utd: Van Der Sar; O'Shea, Vidic, Evans, Evra; Ronaldo, Carrick, Anderson (Tevez, 58), Scholes (Giggs, 75); Rooney, Berbatov (Park, 89)
Subs: Kuszczak, Neville, Rafael, Nani