Callum McManaman's stunning strike had put Wigan on course for victory before Boyce's late own goal.Wigan had never beaten Spurs twice in a season and after nine minutes it appeared that would again be the case as they made the worst possible start. Maynor Figueroa, making his 200th appearance for Wigan, hesitated as he exchanged passes with goalkeeper Joel Robles. Wigan, on the other hand, kept creating chances. Arouna Kone might have done better when well-placed twice in the dying minutes, while Jordi Gomez was fortunate to escape punishment after his boot connected with Lewis Holtby's head. But Spurs kept coming, winning a controversial free kick as Walker and Jean Beausejour tangled on the right of the penalty area.This was a result that did little for either side. Wigan remain in the relegation zone two points behind Aston Villa, who play Sunderland on Monday, while Tottenham missed the chance to move above Chelsea and remain in fifth place.Jermain Defoe did, however, find space. The England striker went close after a mazy run, only to be denied by some last-ditch Wigan defending while Bale headed narrowly over the crossbar from Kyle Naughton's pin-point cross. Tom Huddlestone had earlier struck the outside of the post with a clever free-kick from a narrow angle.In their 300th Premier League fixture, Wigan did much to dismiss the growing sense that this season may be one relegation battle too far with a performance that owed more to perspiration than inspiration, but in the end Roberto Martinez saw a vital two points slip away to leave his side facing a desperate battle with four matches left. But within two minutes Wigan had struck back as defender Boyce rose above Jan Vertonghen to thump a header beyond Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris from Shaun Maloney's corner.
No comments:
Post a Comment