In conditions that resembling a blizzard this North West derby did little to raise the temperatures of the brave souls sat in the D.W. Stadium and as such was a great advert for summer football.
Roberto Martinez opted to make one change from the side which capitulated so easily at Tottenham on Tuesday, with Ben Watson dropping to the bench to be replaced by James McArthur and thereby handing a home debut to transfer window signing Jean Beausejour.
The first half was devoid of chances with both midfields in the ascendance with the most noticeable contributors James McArthur for Wigan and returning loanee Stephen Pienaar for Everton.
For all the effort however, both keepers were more at risk of catching hypothermia than conceding a goal, such was the paucity of chances as all too often passes were over hit on the slippery surface.
Ronnie Stam and Jean Beausejour looked to cross into the penalty area but Di Santo and Moses failed to force Howard into a save.
Half time was accompanied by a mass rush to the refreshment stands, the most enthusiasm either set of supporters had shown so far.
The second followed the same pattern as the first, with lots of endeavour and little quality other than a penalty appeal from Wigan for handball which was waved away by the referee . Martinez made a double substitution recalling Rodallega and Jones to the line up for Gomez and Stam and the former made an instant impact linking well with Moses and spreading the Everton defence. The game seemed to still be heading for a goaless draw when Wigan were gifted the opening goal. Beausejour broke down the left and his cross was partially blocked by Neville the ball spinning back to Howard who mis-judged the spinning ball allowing it to trickle across the line.
Wigan could have made it two shortly after when Moses broke through the middle and with Crusat completely unmarked in the penalty area, he chose to try and go for glory and his shot was blocked.
Almost immediately Everton made Wigan pay for this glaring miss when a poorly cleared corner came back to Baines and the former Wigan man fired a powerful cross back into the penalty area where the Wigan defence, showing all the concentration of a class of four year olds in a quantum physics lecture allowed Anechibe to head the ball unchallenged into the Wigan goal.
The game continued to flow after that as both sides strove to get a winner but in the end a draw was a fair result but the lost two points will weigh the heavier on Wigan as they remain rooted to the bottom of the table , two wins away from safety.
Team Line up and player ratings
Al Habsi….6, the quietest afternoon he will ever have
Stam….6 , unlucky to be substituted
Caldwell….6, put his body on the line and led by example
Boyce….5, not his best game
Figueroa….5, ditto Boyce
Gomez….4, not his best game but not his worth either.
McCarthy….5, steady
McArthur….7, MOM, tried to make the difference.
Beausejour….6, worked hard
Moses….4, poor, too often final pass went astray
Di Santo….5, worked hard no real chances
Subs used
Crusat….5, OK
Rodallega….6 provided the spark lacking in the first half
Jones….5 played out of position but didn’t let the team down
Att…. 18,340
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