Saturday 6th February 2010
The Premier League



A more than welcome return for Chris Kirkland in goal but the transfer deadline day duo had to make do with a seat apiece on the bench.
A scrappy first twenty minutes ended with a thunderous goal from Mohamed Diame
who picked the ball up midway in the Mackams half and ignoring The Zog who was just on his inside thundered the ball past a hapless Gordon in goal.
This spurred Latics on and buoyed by his goal Diame bossed the midfield allowing Paul Scharner a few wayward attempts on goal.
Old boy Lee Cattermole had a drive well saved by Chris Kirkland but that was probably their best effort of the half as both teams had chances to trouble their opposing keepers but the half ended one nil to the visitors in hiviz orange.
Latics should really have put the game beyond doubt instaed of just having the very slender one goal lead at the interval, the three hundered or so travelling support would have enjoyed their half-time cuppa.
The Black Cats had obviously had a good talking to by former Latics boss Steve Bruce and looked a better outfit for it.
However both the ever improving James McCarthy and Charles N'Zogbia had gilt edge chances to get a second and probably all three points but neither of the pair could control their shots and they were made to pay.
It wasn’t really a surprise after just an hour that the much talked about Kenwyne Jones headed in the equalizer from close range after a sublime cross from Jordan Henderson.
The Stadium of Light roared their approval and urged their team on ( after booing in the first half) Henderson had a shot blocked by Jones who was lying on the turf, however television replays showed the ball would have gone wide away but it was all to no avail in the end as the game petered out as a score draw.
As for the new boys, Moreno came on with fifteen minutes left while Moses made his debut with just seven minutes left.
Moreno showed a few neat touches but like Moses time was of the essence and judgement will be besyt left for a later date.
Really just a point is not good enough for either club in the precarious situation that is the relegation battle, The Potters visit to the DW Stadium on Tuesday in what is really a must win game for Roberto’s team.


Sunderland, Gordon, Hutton, Turner, Kilgallon, McCartney, Henderson, Cana, Cattermole, Reid, Jones, Bent
 
Unused substitutes, Fulop, Bardsley, Da Silva, Zenden, Campbell, Malbranque, Benjani

Goal scorer, Jones 64 mins
Booked, McCartney, Cana, Cattermole & Jones


Wigan Athletic, Kirkland, Boyce, Bramble, Caldwell, Figueroa, Thomas, Diame, N'Zogbia, Scharner, (Moreno 74) McCarthy, Rodallega (Moses 83)
 
Unused substitutes, Stojkovic, Melchiot, Gomez, Sinclair, Scotland,

Goal scorer, Mohamed Diame 20mins
Booked, Caldwell, Figueroa, N’Zogbia, McCarthy & Rodallega

Referee, Stuart Attwell
Attendance, 38350

1-0 @ The DW