WIGAN 1, MAN CITY 1

ALAN WILEY was in the spotlight again as Wigan and Manchester City drew an absorbing game of football 1-1 at The DW Stadium.

The experienced referee, criticised for being unfit by Sir Alex Ferguson a couple of weeks ago, showed a red card to City's Pablo Zabaleta and denied Shaun Wright-Phillips a late penalty after a desperate lunge by Maynor Figueroa.

Zabaleta's second yellow card, for a poor challenge on Athletic action man Jason Scotland was merited but his first caution, in the first half, was soft in the extreme.

The two goals came either side of the interval through Charles N'Zogbia and Martin Petrov but they only tell part of the story.

N'Zogbia appeared on a one-man mission to open the scoring as he had the first two attempts of the game with Wigan starting on the front foot. At the back, Titus Bramble was simply outstanding and he and Chris Kirkland denied Emmanuel Adebayor following a sweeping pass by Carlos Tevez.

Adebayor was largely a passenger before limping off in the second half and Roberto Martinez's side carried the greater threat - Shay Given diving to his left to keep out a swerving shot from Hugo Rodallega to register the first direct save from a keeper all afternoon.

Kirkland fielded headers from Gareth Barry and Tevez comfortably before N'Zogbia saw a goal ruled out for a foul on Barry after great approach work by Paul Scharner and the muscular Scotland.

The former Newcastle winger was not to be denied, however, as he pounced to score moments later when his former Magpies team-mate Given could only palm Rodallega's shot across him into the path of the Frenchman. The goal came about after neat touches on by Scharner and Scotland and was just about what Wigan deserved heading into the break.

City were on the pitch waiting for the opposition and got back on level terms within two minutes of the restart. Tevez outmanoeuvred Emmerson Boyce down the right and fed the ball inside. It bypassed Shaun Wright-Phillips and ran towards Petrov, the Bulgarian readjusting his body expertly to stroke a left-footed finish calmly wide of Kirkland and into the net.

OPENER: Charles N'Zogbia draws first blood

The stage was set for City to really show their title ambitions but Bramble produced as good a tackle as you will see all season to stop Adebayor in his tracks and he was ably supported by Kirkland who thwarted Wright-Phillips from the follow up.

Kirkland was in agony on the touchline when appearing to dislocate his little finger but he continued bravely and made a decent stop with his good hand when Gareth Barry headed a deep Petrov cross goalwards.

The drama continued when Wiley produced a second yellow card for Zabaleta on 65 minutes and it handed the initiative to the home side.

Mohamed Diame's neat skill allowed him to spear a shot just off target with Given clutching at thin air and Hendry Thomas had a goal rightly ruled out for offside.

City remained a threat, despite being a man down, as Tevez clubbed a great attempt wide and Wright-Phillips tumbled inside the box after being brought down by Figueroa. It looked a clear penalty with 10 minutes remaining but Wiley turned away the appeals.

Instead, Wigan seemed likelier to grab a winner with substitute Jordi Gomez denied by Given's legs and the City skipper preserved a point by blocking Rodallega from close range when the forward got a second bite of the cherry inside the box.

The draw is Wigan's first of the campaign and City boss Mark Hughes will probably be satisfied with the result in the circumstances, even though he may have a few complaints about the referee.

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