Mark Hughes named an unchanged side to which thrashed Portsmouth last weekend. Manchester City has never beaten Wigan at the JJB having only managed a draw on their last visit.
Wigan started the brighter, Amr Zaki flung a right food drive inches over the post, but Wigan didn`t have to wait to long for their next shot and what a shot it was. Manchester City cleared the free-kick. But only to the feet of Valencia who waited to see options before producing a fierce shot, which rustled into the top corner, and left Joe Hart stranded.
City began to find their feet after falling behind. They started producing good passing movements that led to a free-kick just right of the penalty area. Elano crossed the ball in, flicked past a Wigan defender and Kompany managed to place the ball home even if he had no clue what part of him the ball hit.
However Robinho was having a shocker of a game, and every time the ball was at his feet, he either lost it or passed it to a fellow City player about 2 yards away. Wigan took advantage of Man City`s carelessness when they took the lead on the 33rd minute.
Garrido`s ever so slight challenge on Palacios produced a dramatic fall, which convinced Steve Bennett to give a penalty. Zaki stood up and scored the spot kick.
So Manchester City were beginning to realise Wigan had a 12th player on the pitch in the referee, but they kept going, and could have levelled when Stephen Ireland was inches away from slotting the ball home, and Shaun Wright-Phillips effort forced a great save from Kirkland.
Half time: Wigan 2 Manchester City 1.
The Second half started well for the hosts and Bramble`s header flicked wide of Hart`s post. Man City had some half chances themselves, Shaun Wright-Phillips found space after some terrific skill, and fed Jo, who failed to test Kirkland.
Jo then failed to hit the target from a free-kick. At this point, City Fan`s where really starting to believe it was not their day. Stephen Ireland was even put through one-on-one but failed to get the ball on target. Wigan where beginning to panic.
Steve Bennett was then again producing some rather hilarious decisions. Several players went in the book. Shaun Wright-Phillips tested Kirkland again as City failed to give up.
The Best chance of the game fell to substitute Ched Evans. He managed to find himself one-on-one with the keeper but was crowded out as he only managed to produce a tame flick which Kirkland handled with ease.
A late injury to Kompany was all that Man City managed to have. Gelson Fernandes replaced him with around 20 seconds to go, but City failed to create anything more.
Manchester City where simply off the pace, credit to Wigan who showed they can mingle with City, but Robinho and co failed to penetrate anything like what they showed against Portsmouth. However it`s a losing battle when the referee decides to do his utmost to ruin what could have been a great game of football.
Fulltime: Wigan 2 Manchester City 1.
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