Carlos Tevez was once more the hero for Manchester City as his 12-minute hat-trick sunk Wigan in a 3-0 victory at Eastlands.
Caldwell sent off for Wigan as City climb to fifth
Carlos Tevez was once more the hero for Manchester City as his 12-minute hat-trick sunk Wigan in a 3-0 victory at Eastlands.
The Argentina striker was City's brightest player by far as Roberto Mancini's side received a boost in their quest to finish in the Premier League's top-four this season.
However, the scoreline does Wigan an injustice and the Latics will be ruing the sending off of Gary Caldwell in the 56th minute for a lunge on Tevez - the decision from referee Stuart Attwell a controversial one that left the away side reeling.
City fans were becoming increasingly frustrated before Tevez tapped in from close range on 72 minutes, after Wigan goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic's pathetic attempt to claim a Patrick Vieira ball over the top.
The Argentinian sealed the win as he poked home a cross at the back-post two minutes later, and saved his best till last by skipping past the fatigued Wigan players to slot home a fine effort with six minutes of normal time remaining.
City, who now move above Liverpool and into fifth place, had most of the possession in the first half but couldn't make the breakthrough.
Emmanuel Adebayor, back in the team after a four-match suspension, got into a good position in the 10th minute, only for Titus Bramble to block his effort.
Pressure
City kept up the pressure and almost went ahead a minute later when Shaun Wright-Phillips delivered the ball into the path of Tevez.
The Argentinian striker whipped in a shot but Stojkovic made a stunning point-blank save and Bramble swept the ball to safety.
Wigan launched a swift counter attack in the 27th minute when Hugo Rodallega skipped past Kolo Toure with ease.
The striker was closed down by Wright-Phillips but rattled in a shot that Given turned around the post.
Back came City and Tevez raced past Mario Melchiot only to see his delicate chip from an acute angle go inches wide.
Wigan, however, continued to look dangerous going forward and Given pushed Paul Scharner's shot to safety after a free-kick from Marcelo Moreno had been deflected off the wall.
Scharner, who was covering a lot of ground, then cleared the bar with his effort in the 41st minute after good link up play between Rodallega and Moreno.
A minute later Tevez made a vain appeal for Caldwell to be punished for a challenge when little contact appeared to be made.
Mancini made one change at half-time in an attempt to break the deadlock, bringing on Craig Bellamy for Wright-Phillips.
Adebayor did find the net in the 47th minute but his effort was ruled out for offside after Stojkovic spilled Tevez's shot.
City had a claim for a penalty dismissed in the 52nd minute when Caldwell appeared to handle under pressure from Bellamy.
Play switched back down the other end and Rodallega squandered a great chance for Wigan.
He dragged a shot wide of the post after the ball had spun off the back of Pablo Zabaleta and Toure found himself out of position.
Turning point
Wigan were reduced to 10 men in the 56th minute with former Celtic defender Caldwell handed a straight red card as he tried to win the ball off Tevez.
The visitors were furious with referee Attwell but they pulled themselves together and almost went ahead.
Moreno got the better of Toure and cut inside but his effort went marginally wide.
Tevez then made another unsuccessful appeal for a penalty following a challenge by Scharner.
City made the breakthrough in the 72nd minute after a mix up between Scharner and Stojkovic allowed Adebayor to get the slightest of touches in the penalty area.
That was enough to free Tevez, who made Wigan pay for their error with a clinical finish.
Adebayor should have added a second but Scharner made up ground before Tevez added a second in the 74th minute.
He scored at the back post after Vincent Kompany had flicked on a cross from the left and completed his hat-trick in the 84th minute.
He skipped away from a tiring Scharner and Bramble to chip into the corner.
| Manchester City |
Team Statistics |
Wigan Athletic |
| 3 |
Goals |
0 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 6 |
Shots on Target |
2 |
| 2 |
Shots off Target |
6 |
| 5 |
Blocked Shots |
2 |
| 3 |
Corners |
4 |
| 13 |
Fouls |
13 |
| 8 |
Offsides |
0 |
| 3 |
Yellow Cards |
2 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
1 |
| 82.2 |
Passing Success |
78.6 |
| 29 |
Tackles |
33 |
| 79.3 |
Tackles Success |
84.8 |
| 59.5 |
Possession |
40.5 |
| 53.4 |
Territorial Advantage |
46.6 |
|
