Wigan Athletic 2-0 Wolves: Second-Half Jordi Gomez & Hugo Rodallega Strikes Seal Points Against 10-Man Visitors

Wigan Atheltic midfielder Jordi Gomez produced a stunning free kick which, coupled with a late Hugo Rodallega strike, claimed all three points for the home side against 10-man Wolves, who had Karl Henry sent off early on.

Wolves started the game well, with both Steven Fletcher and Kevin Doyle putting the home defence under pressure early on. They were also helped early on when Wigan’s skipper Antolin Alcaraz had to leave the field for a period of time due to a cut that had opened on his forehead.

After 11 minutes the game changed completely when Wolves captain Karl Henry made a reckless lunging challenge on Jordi Gomez that left referee Lee Mason in no doubt that the midfielder should receive a straight red card for the senseless tackle.

Wigan nearly made the 10 men pay, as Maynor Figueroa raced in from the left-hand side to the middle of the penalty area, before unleashing a powerful strike that ultimately went over the crossbar.

Mick McCarthy’s side managed to regain their composure and should have been rewarded when Scotland international Fletcher stepped up to take a free kick on the edge of the area. The former Burnley striker could only look on as the ball narrowly went by the top corner of on-loan keeper Ali Al Habsi’s goal.

Midway through the first half Wigan could have gone ahead twice as a result of mistakes by Wolves defender Jody Craddock, firstly when he allowed Franco Di Santo to run by him and get a cross in, which was blocked. Then he took a wild swing at a long ball which nearly let Hugo Rodallega in on goal.

The Latics maintained their stranglehold on the half, both Charles N'Zogbia and Rodallega playing a one-two, which led to the Frenchman drilling a cross from the left of the penalty area as James McCarthy was rushing in. Unfortunately for the hosts, the Irish international couldn’t get on the end of it.

Wigan should have opening the scoring just before the end of the first half as N’Zogbia received possession after a corner on the right and swung it back into the box were Gomez should have headed home, but the Spaniard was put off by Hahnemann rushing out and the ball finished up sailing wide.

Roberto Martinez’s men started the second half just like they finished the first, with Di Santo becoming tormentor in chief, as he exposed the 10 men at will as they went on the lookout for the first goal of the game.

McCarthy was the next one to have an effort on the Wolves goal as the ball broke out to him on the edge of the area, but the shot from the midfielder was comfortable for the American goalkeeper to collect.

Visiting boss McCarthy then made his intentions clear that he was looking to come away from the DW Stadium with a point, as he took off one of his strikers Fletcher and replaced him with a defender in George Elokobi.

The game continued to press one way, with Wigan pounding at the visitor’s door as they went in search of the goal that would open up the game for them.

That came just after the hour mark as Gomez smacked a vicious free kick from the edge of the area and with the bar still shaking the ball nestled in the top corner of Wolves' goal to put the home side ahead.

Two minutes after the goal Wolves had a chance of their own, as Matt Jarvis struck a long range free kick wide of Al Habsi’s goal, much to the despair of the visiting support behind the goal.

The home side continued to show the confidence from playing against 10 men and also being a goal up, as N’Zogbia ran in from the right to strike towards the hands of Hahnemann who saved well.

Then it was the turn of Di Santo, who tried one of the cheekiest shots from nearly 30 yards out on the right wing, which had the American keeper scrambling to force the ball wide in order to concede a corner.

Wolves, being a goal down decided to go all out attack, bringing on both Marcus Bent and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake in the closing stages as they tried to add a greater goal threat to their play.

But with five minutes remaining the game was over for Wolves as N’Zogbia raced towards goal and played a pass towards Rodallega, but before he could finish past Hahnemann, Christophe Berra slid in and his attempted tackle hit the off of the Colombian and in to give Wigan an unassailable lead.

Rodallega had another chance minutes later to further the lead, but his strike was comfortably saved by the American as Wigan secured a much needed win to hand a visibly frustrated McCarthy and his side a fourth straight league defeat.