Wigan Athletic 2 Stoke City 2: match report

Read a full match report of the Premier League game between Wigan Athletic and Stoke City at the DW Stadium on Saturday Sep 1 2012, kick-off 15:00 BST.

Wigan Athletic 2 Stoke City 2: match report
High point: Peter Crouch leaps high to score for Stoke City Credit: Photo: GETTY IMAGES

The result may suggest Stoke City remain ensconced in a coma that has lasted eight months. Yet there are signs of convalescence.

Without an away victory in the league since beating Blackburn Rovers on Jan 2, this draw means Stoke have now won only once in 14 competitive matches.

It seems Tony Pulis’s side have lost their valiantly awkward edge and have become too easy to beat.

Here, though, they were twice behind and managed to recover. Had a late deflected free-kick by Charlie Adam gone in instead of Ali Al Habsi making a wondrous save, they could have won it.

Pulis insisted Stoke had enough chances to avoid a third Premier League draw in as many games. “We were undone by sloppy starts to both halves,” he said.

Wigan Athletic, indeed, took the lead before Stoke could settle. James McCarthy stabbed a shot towards goal that probably wasn’t powerful enough to beat Asmir Begovic, but Robert Huth handled and Shaun Maloney took his opportunity from the spot with ease.

The visitors needed inspiration or, perhaps, just something different. The away fans called for the introduction of Adam, signed on Friday from Liverpool. Their wish arrived when right-back Andy Wilkinson suffered concussion. Adam’s mere presence lifted the mood and soon Stoke were level when the ball was knocked up to Peter Crouch and in the midst of juggling with possession, Maynor Figueroa handled. Jonathan Walters tucked the penalty away.

After Franco Di Santo restored Wigan’s lead, Stoke’s second equaliser came when Walters flicked across the six-yard box for Crouch to head in. “It was such an open game. Right at the end, Ali had to be at his best to save the point,” said Roberto Martínez, the Wigan manage.

Match details

Wigan (3-4-1-2): Al Habsi; Ramis, Caldwell, Figueroa; Boyce, McArthur (Watson 77), McCarthy, Beausejour (Jones 29); Maloney; Kone, Di Santo (Miyaichi 79). Subs Politt, Crusat, Gomez, Boselli.
Booked: McArthur
Stoke (4-4-1-1): Begovic; Wilkinson (Adam 36), Huth, Shawcross, Wilson; Whitehead, Cameron, Whelan, Kightly (Jerome 75); Walters; Crouch.
Subs: Sorensen, Pennant, Jones, Edu, Upson.
Booked: Wilson, Whitehead
Referee: Martin Atkinson (West Yorkshire)