Soccer Blog Video

Wigan Athletic hit back to earn a 2-2 draw with Stoke City in the Premier League at the Britannia Stadium.
The visitors took the lead when Victor Moses converted a cross from Hugo Rodallega just before half-time, but Stoke levelled after Gary Caldwell was sent-off for a handball on the line, with Jonathan Walters converting from the spot.

Substitute Cameron Jerome looked to have won it for the home side with a 77th minute strike, but Ben Watson's penalty moments later salvaged a point in a thrilling finale at the Britannia Stadium.

Peter Crouch returned for Stoke after missing the last two matches with a virus. Robert Huth recovered from a knock sustained in the 0-0 draw with Aston Villa to take his place in defence, but Glenn Whelan missed out with a calf injury. Andy Wiliamson, Rory Delap and Jermaine Pennant were all recalled to the side.

Wigan made one change from the team which lost 5-0 at Manchester United, Rodallega replacing Conor Sammon in attack.

Stoke made most of the early running, but it was Thomas Sorensen who was called into action in the first few minutes as he made low saves from, first Jordi Gomez, and then Rodallega.
Stoke continued to enjoy the territorial advantage, with Jermaine Pennant's crossing and Rory Delap's long throws causing panic in the Latics defence.

Wigan, though, came close when Ronnie Stam's dipping long-range shot was tipped over by Sorensen.

Rodallega then raced onto a long ball, lobbed it over the onrushing Dane, only for Ryan Shawcross to head the ball out for a corner.

Stoke failed to register a shot on target in the first-half and Wigan were rewarded for their superior cutting edge when they took the lead a minute before the break.

Stam set Rodallega free down the right and the Colombian crossed for Moses who fired into the roof of the net.

Stoke came out with intent in the second-half, but again struggled to create chances until Robert Huth rose to head a long Delap throw against the inside of the post. The ball bounced off the upright and into the grateful hands of Ali Al-Habsi.

Jerome's introduction as a substitute in the 73rd minute would prove highly significant as the former Birmingham City striker helped win a penalty and then put his side ahead.

Barely a minute after his arrival, Jerome's low header was handled on the line by the otherwise impressive Caldwell, who earned a straight red card for the offence. Jonathan Walters drilled the resulting spot-kick past Al-Habsi.

Seven minutes later, Stoke were in the lead as they turned the match on its head. Walters headed on a Peter Crouch flick, and substitute Jerome ran onto the ball and curled low into the bottom right corner.

Such drama raised the decibel level significantly, but the home supporters were silenced moments later when Ryan Shotton was adjudged to have brought down Rodallega in the area by referee Michael Oliver.

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez decided to bring on Ben Watson to take the penalty with his first kick of the match. Watson duly replaced David Jones and hammered his kick past Sorensen in the Stoke goal.

Wigan remain in the relegation zone but will take heart from a spirited performance at the Britannia.
Source: Eurosport

TEAMS:
STOKE CITY: Sorensen; Wilkinson, Shawcross, Huth, Wilson; Pennant, Palacios, Delap, Etherington; Walters, Crouch. Subs: Begovic, Jones, Diao, Whitehead, Upson, Shotton, Jerome.
WIGAN ATHLETIC: Al Habsi, Stam, Figueroa, Alcaraz, Caldwell, Diame, Gomez, Jones, McCarthy, Moses, Rodallega. Subs: Pollitt, Gohouri, McArthur, Watson, Crusat, Di Santo Sammon.