Emmerson Boyce's corker was not enough to earn Latics a point

Wigan saw their cushion to the relegation zone cut to just three points as Philippe Senderos headed the Cottagers to an 89th minute victory over a labouring Latics. After a cagey first half, the hosts dominated proceedings and finished the game great value for their three points. Although Emmerson Boyce had put the visitors ahead with an excellent strike on 57 minutes, Fulham retaliated immediately through Pogrebnyak and never looked back.

In comparison to recent hectic contests, the first half was a relatively serene affair. Both sides threatened, but not enough to warrant a goal; though Fulham edged proceedings in terms of shots on goal and possession, Wigan weren’t without their own chances. The biggest talking point of the half came in the very first minute, when Clint Dempsey was upended just inside the Wigan area by Gary Caldwell. Referee Lee Mason decided the challenge wasn’t worthy of a penalty, but I’m sure the 25,000 Fulham fans inside Craven Cottage would beg to differ.

Jordi Gomez, scorer of the winning goal at Arsenal, was responsible for all but one of Wigan’s first-half attempts. I don’t know if Martinez told him to shoot on sight, but he seemed eager to try and test Mark Schwarzer in the Fulham goal. Gomez did so on two occasions, but neither strike was enough to beat the Australian. Perhaps Wigan’s best chance fell to Victor Moses, who, after working his way into the Fulham are, just could not find the power and placement to challenge the keeper, who pouched it quite comfortably.

The host had their moments, and Ali Al Habsi had to be alert during Fulham’s frequent visits to his penalty area. Not to be caught out, the Omani was quick to smother anything that came close to the Wigan goalmouth, and first repelled Dempsey before safely catching a series of crosses (and one cross-cum-shot).

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Back on the scoresheet: Franco Di Santo

Latics may still have been savouring the sweet scent of victory over the Champions elect, but they headed into this game with on-song Arsenal full in the knowledge their survival race was far from over. With other relegation-threatened teams having failed to make much ground on Saturday, however, this was essentially a ‘free hit’ – Wigan could play with the confidence that anything gained would be a bonus, and a highly useful one at that. Of course, it wouldn’t be easy; the Gunners rarely drop points at the Emirates Stadium, especially not to Wigan. The last time Latics even so much as scored away to Arsenal was through Denny Landzaat more than five years ago, and that was an exceptional effort.

Games, however, are rarely decided on history. More recently, Latics have beaten Manchester United and Liverpool, and run Chelsea very close on their own bidding. That Gunners also lost to QPR less than one month ago provided further hope something may just be available. But they couldn’t win, could they? Another three points against a top-four team would be too much to ask, wouldn’t it?

The night started on a low note as news filtered through that United conqueror Shaun ‘Only‘ Maloney would not be fit to take his place in the starting lineup. The man he ousted from the first team, Jordi Gomez, would fill the gaping void as Franco Di Santo’s support striker-cum-midfielder-cum-Jack Russell Terrier. As it happened, he did so rather well.

The match began at a frightful pace, with Arsenal firing three shots at the Latics goal within the first six minutes. Ali Al Habsi expertly palmed Yossi Benayoun’s strike over the bar to deny the Israeli yet another goal against Wigan, and you got the feeling this might just be a very long night in London. What transpired in the next three minutes, however, was nothing short of remarkable.

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Phil Dowd and his team of officials didn't have the best of games

Shaun Maloney’s sublime second-half strike sunk league leaders Manchester United to lift Latics out of the relegation zone for the first time in 2012. Victor Moses earlier had a goal disallowed in controversial circumstances, but fortune fell firmly in favour of Wigan as replays strongly indicated that the corner leading to the in-form Scot’s goal was incorrectly awarded. United were also denied a penalty in the latter part of the second half when Maynor Figueroa seemed to collapse upon himself, handling the ball on his way to the ground. The hosts repelled everything a below-par United had to throw at them, however, and emerged worthy winners on the evening.

Latics, unchanged for the fifth straight game, started superbly and hit United with four or five set pieces in the opening ten minutes. It wasn’t exactly an onslaught, though James McCarthy did draw a seventh minute tip over the bar from David De Gea. No goals, but certainly a moral victory for the home side, who fearlessly continued to come at Man United as the half progressed. They were almost undone, however, by a Ryan Giggs cross which could easily have found one of two United men at the back post, but Figueroa was on hand to crucially deflect the ball behind for a corner.

The hosts settled into a great period of possession and, dare I say it, control. What, against the Champions elect? You’d better believe it. This fact could easily have been bolstered on 28 minutes when Latics had the ball in the net, and it definitely wasn’t against the run of play. Victor Moses’s joy was short lived, however, as the assistant referee had already flagged for a Gary Caldwell foul on De Gea. It was more a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time for the Scottish stalwart, who was stood right in the keeper’s path as Moses headed home Shaun Maloney’s excellent corner from short range.

Undeterred, Latics resumed their pressing game. Though the visitors finished the half stronger, they had only a wayward Wayne Rooney strike to show for it and, somewhat remarkably, Wigan went into the break having had the better of the half. Even more incredible, however, was the 45 minutes (well, 50 if we’re being picky) of tense and exciting action to come.

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Momo Diame: a solution to the finishing problem?

Wigan were mere moments away from hauling themselves out of the relegation zone, but Juan Mata popped up on 92 minutes to rob the Latics of a draw. Controversy reigned as an offside Branislav Ivanović goal was inexplicably allowed to stand by the linesman, but a cracking strike from MoMo Diame put Wigan back on level terms with six minutes to play. The visitors, chasing a late winner, left themselves a little light at the back and Juan Mata scrambled the ball over the goal line deep into injury time to steal the points.

Latics more than held their own in the first period, causing problems principally through Victor Moses. Prowling in the opposition half, he fed on the odd Chelsea mis-kick and battled for the ball well. Franco Di Santo, too, did some great hold-up work to support the midfield which enjoyed a decent percentage of possession. Indeed, it was just over a minute of the game before Wigan had their first attempt at goal- a Shaun Maloney strike that sailed well wide of Cech’s right hand post, but it was a signal of intent from the visitors.

The sides exchanged shots, and although Chelsea’s time on the ball was spent mostly in Wigan territory, they trailed in terms of strikes on target going into the latter part of the half. Victor Moses and Maynor Figueroa had long-range shots, but both were comfortably saved by Petr Cech. Al Habsi, by contrast, had a bit more work to do with his saves, and was drawn into three superb stops before the half was out. Cahill, Mata, Sturridge and Drogba all tried, but could not breach the impenetrable Omani wall.

The second half continued in much the same vain as the first had ended with the Pensioners in the ascendancy. Al Habsi was drawn into yet another fantastic save from Drogba, but Chelsea’s finishing would only deteriorate from this point onwards. The 62 minute mark saw the game’s first real talking point. Ivanović converted Meireles’ cross from short range, but was stood two yards offside when the ball was crossed. The linesman, seemingly unsighted, would not budge despite the entire Latics backline sticking their arms in the air as soon as Meireles made contact with the ball. Upon a ‘gentle’ suggestion by pretty much the entire Wigan team, referee Mike Jones re-consulted with his assistant before ruling his indecision final.

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