Spurs 0-1 Latics

Wigan Athletic carried on their form in the league to record a 1-0 victory at White Hart Lane to put Tuesdays shock cup exit well and truly behind them.

The Latics lined up with a very similar starting side to the 2-1 win at home to West Ham, the only change was Ben Watson coming in to replace the injured James McArthur.

Tottenham started the game fourth in the league and would have wanted to put their own cup exit to rest and it was them who started the game on a high. The early periods saw Tottenham enjoy some possession, but no clear changes were created. However, Wigan started to grow in the game and found themselves controlling play. This was evident to the Spurs fans who responded with frustration and jeers. Wigan started to play on their growing confidence as Kone and Maloney linked up well to create a good chance for Kone who smashed his shot at Friedel.

The duo linked up again 7 minutes later, but this time it was Maloney`s turn, whose shot forced a good save from the American keeper. Wigan wrapped up the first half with another good chance but this time it was Watson who fired over from the edge of the area.

The players exited the field for the half time break and it was the Tottenham players who were met by boos and jeers.

The momentum continued with Wigan into the second half and shortly after the break Watson grabbed the goal that Wigan deserved. Maloney whipped in a corner which was falling under the crossbar. Friedel palmed away the corner, but only to an unmarked Watson who volleyed the ball behind the line. There was a slight delay in the decision, however the ball crossed the line by a yard and the goal was given.

With the fans now on their backs once again, the Tottenham players now started to kick into life. They put pressure onto the Wigan defence but only to see them stand tall. The only good chance that they could muster was a header which was cleared off the line by McCarthy after Al Habsi, for once, was beaten.

Wigan could have doubled their lead if Kone would have seen the open men in the middle, or if Gomez`s pass would have found Kone in the dying minutes of the game instead of being cut out by the desperate Tottenham defence.

Despite the pressure, the game finished 1-0 to Wigan, met by the cheers from the Latics faithful and the boos from the Spurs fans. A clean sheet away from home, a great performance and three points was all that Wigan deserved today and Martinez will be thrilled with the team. It was a good team performance, however the man who stood out was Kone. The Ivorian was dangerous and caused problems for the Tottenham defence, surely a Latics legend in the making.

By permission of Bernard Platt/Wigan Athletic

It was a good team performance, however the man who stood out was Arouna Kone. The Ivorian was dangerous and caused problems for the Tottenham defence, surely a Latics legend in the making.

Spurs - Friedel, Walker (Carroll 79), Caulker, Gallas, Vertonghen, Lennon, Sandro (Sigurdsson 23), Huddlestone, Bale, Dempsey, Defoe (Adebayor 58)
Unused subs: Lloris, Dawson, Naughton, Falque

Latics - Al Habsi, Boyce, Caldwell, Ramis, Figueroa, Beausejour, Watson, McCarthy, Maloney, Kone, Di Santo (Gomez 70)
Unused subs: Pollitt, Lopez, Stam, Jones, McManaman, Boselli

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