Officials Cost Latics Dear

Wigan Athletic were undone by an appalling decision from the match officials for the second game in a week.

Last week Jermaine Defoe`s opening goal for Spurs was allowed to stand even though he was clearly in an off-side position this week a theatrical dive by Birmingham player Keith Fahey was rewarded with a penalty rather than a booking by novice referee Anthony Taylor.

In a game that the Latics were desperate to get something from they started slowly but withstood early pressure from Birmingham and restricted the home side to just a couple of half chances one of which saw defender Scott Dann crash an effort against the Latics cross bar from a Larsson free kick.

Roberto Martinez` men had some pressure of their own without really creating anything then as the game was drifting into first half stoppage time Fahey did his impression of a flying fish on the edge of Latics penalty area following a look at him from Mario Melchiot and the Latics found themselves 1-0 down after James McFadden slammed the resultant spot kick home.

Martinez made two positive substitutions at half time to try and redeem the game taking off the totally out of sorts Paul Scharner and replacing him with Jason Scotland and also Charles N`Zogbia was replaced by Victor Moses

The two changes sparked the Latics into action and they were by far the more adventurous side in the second half and created the best chances which unfortunately they couldn`t convert, Hugo Rodallega saw an excellent effort miraculously saved at point blank range by Birmingham keeper Joe Hart and he also fired agonisingly wide from 12 yards.

Birmingham were fortunate to finish the game with eleven men when Liam Ridgewell took a two-footed lunge at James McCarthy and not only cleaned out the Latics youngster but also the assistant referee who had to be carried off the pitch following stoppage lasting 6 minutes, again referee Anthony Taylor showed his in experience by not even cautioning the brutal Ridgewell.

So a disappointing end for the Latics but the second half display showed a lot of heart, once again though poor decisions by match officials have cost Wigan Athletic dearly

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