Wigan unable to claw points back at Ewood Park
Blackburn Rovers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Pedersen 20', Kalinic 75'
Wigan Athletic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Caldwell 56'
A disappointing night at Ewood Park for Roberto Martinez's men who, after fighting their way back into this Lancashire derby, ended up coming away with nothing to show for their efforts.
Goals from Morten Gamst Pedersen and Nikola Kalinic either side of
Gary Caldwell's first Wigan Athletic goal gave the home side the win when it could quite easily have gone the other way.
After repsonding well to going behind early on Latics went in to half-time the stronger of the two sides showing good possession, composure but just unable to create enough chances in-front of goal.
Hugo Rodallega's free-kick before half-time flashed across Paul Robinson's goal with both
James McCarthy and
Paul Scharner unable to get the telling touch to equalise.
But after the break step forward new signing
Gary Caldwell. The centre-half had been in top form throughout the game and when McCarthy delivered a dangerous corner from the left there was only going to be one winner to it. Caldwell fought ahead of Gael Givet to head home from close range, a great reward for his tireless performance.
From then on Latics looked in control and searched for a way through the Rovers defence;
Charles N'Zogbia was frustrated on the right and Momo Diame, who twisted and turned out of so many sticky situations, just couldn't get the space in the final third to open up Rovers.
And so with 15 minutes left a Blackburn corner from the right was whipped in by Pedersen into the six-yard box for Kalinic to nod home having found a yard of space.
Latics couldn't get back into the game from there and will go home disappointed not to have picked up points after a promising performance.
LATICS: Stojkovic; Melchiot (Boyce 66), Bramble, Caldwell, Figueroa; Thomas (Scotland 85), Diame; N'Zogbia, Scharner, McCarthy (Sinclair 85); Rodallega
Subs: Pollitt, Amaya, Gohouri, Gomez.
BLACKBURN: Robinson; Chimbonda, Nelsen, Givet, Olsson; Diouf (Di Santo), Nzonzi, Emerton, Pedersen; Hoilett (Reid 53'), Kalinic (Roberts)
Subs: Brown, Andrews, Salgado, Jones.
Attendance: 22,190
