Manchester City – Wigan Athletic

1. Join us for live commentary from Manchester City's game against Wigan from 1730 GMT.

2. City will, of course, be without Kolo Toure after he failed a drug test, and <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/889282/redknapp:-city-will-miss-toure?cc=5739">Harry Redknapp believes the loss of their former captain could give them major problems in the race for fourth</a>.

3. <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2011/0303/kolotoure20101220_275x155.jpg">

4. Good evening everyone and welcome to live coverage of Manchester City's game with Wigan.

5. After Arsenal's slip at home to Sunderland, City can close the gap to four points with a win today. They can also give themsleves breathing space over fourth-placed Chelsea.

6. Wigan sit rock bottom of the table and even a win today can't get them out. Not much is expected of them here but with their goal difference seven worse than anyone else's at -22 they could really do without a hiding.

7. Man City: Hart, Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Zabaleta, Vieira, Barry, Silva, Toure Yaya, Balotelli, Tevez. Subs: Taylor, Dzeko, Kolarov, Boateng, Jo, De Jong, Boyata.

8. Wigan: Al Habsi, Lopez, Gary Caldwell, Alcaraz, Figueroa, Watson, Diame, Moses, McCarthy, Cleverley, Rodallega. Subs: Pollitt, Gohouri, Thomas, Di Santo, N'Zogbia, Gomez, Sammon.

9. 1'

   <b>KICK OFF</b>

10. 2'

    A low key opening it is fair to say. Players and supporters easing themselves into it.

11. 3'

    A good ball into the area from Figueroa and a decent clearance from Lescott.

12. 4'

    Now Balotelli cuts in, like he did against Fulham, and Al Habsi makes a bit of a mess of the swerving ball to concede a corner.

13. 5'

    Now the keeper does well to claim Zabaleta's cross as Toure (Yaya, of course) rose to meet it.

14. 6'

    Rodallega ploughing the lone furrow up front for Wigan, who are trying to pack the midfield.

15. 7'

    A great run from Moses towards the box as he breezes past Vieira but he then inadvertently back heels the ball to no-one.

16. 9'

    Cleverly tries an shot from distance but shanks it well wide.

17. 10'

    Neat work from Toure down the left and he hands off to Silva, when he gets the return he neglects to shoot and wastes his pass for Tevez.

18. 11'

    Great work from Moses as he gets round Zabaleta and pulls the ball back but Rodallega takes it off McCarthy's toes.

19. 12'

    Wigan have looked lilvely so far and in Moses they have someone who can run with pace at this City defence.

20. 13'

    Top draw from Tevez, who holds onto the ball and tricks two Wigan players with a deft touch for Silva but again the cross is wayward.

21. 15'

    Vieira tugs back Diame and concedes a free kick.

22. 16'

    A terrible tackle from Micah Richards on Cleverly. Late and nasty. He can expect a card here.

23. 17'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> It's a yellow but it was a truly awful tackle. Late and forceful. He's lucky not to see red I think.

24. 18'

    Nice interchange between Tevez and Balotelli and Lopez, the man making his debut for Wigan, nips in just in time.

25. 20'

    Wigan have shown enough in the opening 20 minutes to prove they can trouble City here.

26. 21'

    Ball retention is proving a big problem for Wigan though.

27. 23'

    Fantastic run from Tevez, picking the ball up deep and beating two players before drilling a low shot a yard wide of the far post.

28. 24'

    Now Silva blasts one just wide after sloppy play from Wigan. Tevez and Balotelli were both screaming for the pass.

29. 25'

    City need to up the tempo here.

30. 26'

    Balotelli is off and running, aiming a few obscenities in Caldwell's direction.

31. 27'

    A quiet word from Stuart Atwell in Balotelli's shell-like.

32. 28'

    Rodallega falls over the ball on the edge of the box as he tries to feed McCarthy. Another decent opening wasted.

33. 29'

    Nigel De Jong gets a round of applause from the City fans as he warms up on the touchline.

34. 30'

    <b>Chance for Wigan!</b> Moses again does well and he gets to the byline, Kompany hands the cross right to McCarthy, who hammers the ball wide of the post from 12 yards. What an opening.

35. 32'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Barry is booked this time for a late clip on Rodallega. Nowehere near the ball and rightly carded.

36. 33'

    Wigan win a corner from the free kick as Cleverly gets down the right.

37. 34'

    Figueroa closes Balotelli down well.

38. 35'

    Wigan's belief is growing here. They've proved they can pose them a problem in an attacking sense. They just need to keep the door shut at the other end.

39. 37'

    Balotelli tries an overhead kick and nearly boots Caldwell's head off. Then he throws an arm in disgust at Atwell.

40. 38'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Silva scores after a nightmare for Al Habsi! Oh dear me. Silva's low shot was powerful but the keeper was right behind it but he's somehow let it squirm past him.

41. 39'

    Taxi for Al Habsi. He's been in such good form this season too. Alcaraz slipped before that to open the door for Silva too. Wretched luck then wretched keeping puts Wigan behind.

42. 40'

    Mancini gives Balotelli a verbal volley after a sloppy pass to Tevez is intercepted.

43. 41'

    More lively work from Moses, he outruns Zabaleta and crosses but McCarthy can't finish and the ball had gone out of play anyway.

44. 42'

    Kolo is sitting and watching in the stands. If it wasn't for his wife's diet pills he'd be out there.

45. 43'

    City turn into Arsenal for a minute as Silva and Toure try to walk the ball into the net inside the area.

46. 44'

    Great pace from Toure who burns past Lopez and crosses but Al Habsi grabs his cross at the near post.

47. 45'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Caldwell is booked for a lunge on Toure that happened a full two minutes ago. Two added minutes.

48. 45'

    <b>HALF TIME</b> City lead but they have Al Habsi to thank for fumbling Silva's shot into the net. Apart from that Wigan have looked lively, especially with Moses, but City have looked far more likely to find the net.

49. Three days of live British and international sport will be free to all Sky, Virgin Media and TalkTalk viewers this weekend for ESPN and ESPN America?s Free Weekend. <b><a href="http://tv.espn.co.uk/gb/espl/espn-news-updates/espn-news/this-weekend-barclays-premier-league-aviva-premiership-rugby-serie-a-wrc-nba-nhl-ncaa-basketball-free-to-all-sky-virgin-media-and-talktalk-viewers">Read more here</a>.

50. h<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com//design05/images/2011/0305/davidsilvateamceleb20110305_275x155.jpg"><br>David Silva celebrates an easy goal

51. If you missed any of this afternoon's action then <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/889433/prem:-arsenal-held-by-sunderland,-west-ham-thrash-stoke?cc=5739" target="_blank">catch up here</a>.

52. 46'

    We're off again..

53. 47'

    Figueroa does well to ensure Silva's flick can't find Tevez.

54. 48'

    Wigan win the corner but it could have been more as Moses fed Diame. Lescott's mistake.

55. 49'

    Decent work from Wigan to regroup after the corner is taken and win another one. Moses having a good game.

56. 50'

    <b>Wigan hit the post!</b> From this one Alcaraz rises unmarked and nods a header against the angle of post and crossbar. Zabaleta just watched it onto the upright.

57. 51'

    A good start to the half from Wigan. If they has a bit more belief in themselves I'd back them to get an equaliser.

58. 52'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2011/0305/alial-habsiwoe20110305_275x155.jpg"> <br> Al Habsi realises the extent of his error.

59. 54'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Kompany has gone for a high ball and followed through on Cleverly and given him a right whack.

60. 55'

    Martinez was not impressed at all with that challenge.

61. 56'

    From the free kick Caldwell gets up with a free header but he gets too much on it and the ball loops over the bar.

62. 57'

    Figueroa's early cross finds Rodallega but his first touch allows Kompany to clear.

63. 59'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> N'Zogbia comes on in place of Moses, which is a surprise as Moses has been pretty lively.

64. 60'

    Now Tevez clips Cleverly and Atwell has a word. Wigan free kick 45 yards out.

65. 61'

    <b>Superb save from Hart!</b> The free kick drops to McCarthy who getas a fierce strike on goal, forcing Hart to fling himself across to palm over the top.

66. 62'

    This is a very good spell for Wigan. City are penned back.

67. 63'

    Mancini is screaming at his defence to push up, saying they are sitting too deep. Wigan are finding plenty of space.

68. 64'

    Alcaraz charges forward to try and meet N'Zogbia's ball and wins a corner.

69. 65'

    Now Toure finds Balotelli with a decent cross, he gets round the back and tries to square it then claims handball as Wigan bundle clear.

70. 66'

    End to end stuff at the minute, as Toure howls for a foul then Rodallega wants a free kick for holding by Kompany.

71. 67'

    N'Zogbia tries to slot Rodallega through but he is offside.

72. 68'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Balotelli's race is run, Kolarov will take his place.

73. 69'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Wigan make a change too as Gohouri comes on for Lopez.

74. 70'

    A clash of heads between Gohouri and Zabaleta. Plenty for Atwell to deal with at present.

75. 71'

    A nice break from City as Tevez and Toure combine but then Kolarov gets involved and the move drops stone dead as he blasts a pass way off target and out of play.

76. 72'

    Martinez will be furious if Wigan lose to Al Habsi's mistake. They've been worthy of a point, no question.

77. 74'

    Kolarov has a go on goal and that looked like it struck Gohouri's arm, which was hanging out.

78. 75'

    Terrible ball in from Kolarov, who has looked well off the pace since coming on.

79. 76'

    Caldwell does extremely well to rectify his mistake of handing the ball to Silva by blocking his goalbound shot.

80. 77'

    Ipswich have just gone 2-0 up at Cardiff. Jimmy Bullard with both goals. Two minutes left there.

81. 78'

    City's fans do the Poznan....

82. 79'

    Surely Wigan will have to throw caution to the wind here. They are bottom after all.

83. 80'

    Barry gets away with an awful pass, right to Cleverly. Kompany helps him out.

84. 81'

    Figueroa ends a marauding Toure run by conceding a corner.

85. 82'

    N'Zogbia makes space for the shot but that is not one of his best.

86. 84'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Changes all round as De Jong comes on for Silva, and Connor Sammon heads on for his Wigan debut, in place of Diame.

87. 86'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Tevez comes off and Dzeko heads on for the final four minutes.

88. 87'

    Will we see a late surge from Wigan?

89. 88'

    Good burst from McCarthy but N'Zogbia's ball into the box is cleared.

90. 89'

    What a chance for Rodallega! The ball fell to him 18 yards out but his left footed effort is weak and Hart gets across to save.

91. 90'

    Four minutes added....

92. 91'

    City trying to eat up the clock.

93. 92'

    City look knackered now. They'll be very happy with three points tonight.

94. 93'

    <b>Sammon's missed a glorious chance!</b> A great move, he picks up Rodallega's ball and is on the corner of the six yards box but fires wide of the far post! That was the chance for Wigan.

95. 94'

    <b>FULL TIME</b> City on cruise for most of it and they very nearly paid the price. But for Al Habsi's howler and Sammon's miss at the end, they may well have ended up with nothing. As it is, they close the gap on Arsenal to four points but they have played a game more.

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