Baines sees own goal as Sod's law
Wigan 1 Everton 1
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Your support makes all the difference.He covered almost every blade of grass here in his time as a rampaging left-back for Wigan, but Leighton Baines was left cursing the turf luck which denied Everton three points.
It seemed the home team – and their dormant forwards – would never score, and it was a freakish event which gave them their goal. Jean Beausejour's low cross struck Phil Neville on the foot, before heading in the direction of Tim Howard, but the ball spun sharply, slipping through the American's grasp.
Everton full-back Baines said: "The pitch wasn't great as you could see from their goal. The ball is just coming across and Tim is going to pick it up and it has hit almost a bobble and changed direction. It was almost like someone's foot knocked it in."
After failing to earn a point in January, Wigan were just happy to finally get off the mark in 2012. A Victor Anichebe header from a set-piece – moments after coming on – ensured the visitors got a share of the points.
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez insisted: "I think performances like that will keep us up." He was also overjoyed at seeing key man Hugo Rodallega stay with the club: "It's a massive bonus having him still here. We have to be realistic, but he can play a big role over the rest of the season for us."
Nikica Jelavic made his first appearance for Everton from the bench while Steven Pienaar returned as though he'd never been away. Everton manager David Moyes said: "It is different with Jelavic. He probably doesn't even know the names of all the players whereas Steven walks in and knows them all."
Match details
Wigan: AL HABSI 6/10; CALDWELL 6 BOYCE 5; FIGUEROA 6; STAM 6; McCARTHY 6; McARTHUR 7; BEAUSEJOUR 8; MOSES 5; GOMEZ 5; DISANTO 5
Everton: HOWARD 4; BAINES 6; DISTIN 6; HEITINGA 5; HIBBERT 4; FELLAINI 6 GIBSON 5; PIENAAR 7; DONOVAN 6; CAHILL 5; STRACQUALURSI 4
Scorers: Wigan Athletic Neville og 76 Everton Anichebe 83
Substitutes: Wigan Jones 4 (Stam, 64), Rodallega 5 (Gomez, 64), Crusat 4 (Di Santo, 69). Everton Neville 5 (Cahill, h-t), Jelavic 5 (Stracqualursi, 60), Anichebe (Hibbert, 81).
Booked: Wigan McArthur, Figueroa.
Man of the match Beausejour. Match rating 2/10
Possession: Wigan 45% Everton 55%
Attempts on target: Wigan 1 Everton 4
Referee A Taylor (Cheshire) Attendance 18,340
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