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Cleverley helps Wigan make a point

SoccerNews in English Premier League 4 Dec 2010

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Wigan midfielder Tom Cleverley rode his luck to rescue a point in an entertaining 2-2 draw with Stoke at the DW Stadium on Saturday.

The Latics trailed to Robert Huth’s early free-kick that deflected in off Mohamed Diame in the wall.

But Roberto Martinez’s side levelled when Danny Collins diverted Ben Watson’s free-kick past his own keeper.

A minute later Matthew Etherington put Stoke back in front before Cleverley equalised five minutes before the break when his shot flew in off Rory Delap.

The result made it only one win in nine league games for Wigan, who will look back at a horror miss from Hendry Thomas as well as a late Charles N’Zogbia shot against the post as evidence they could well have claimed all three points.

Stoke took the lead in the 18th minute when Huth’s long-range set-piece struck the heel of Diame in the wall and rolled over the line, with goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi totally wrong-footed.

Wigan responded well and equalised in the 30th minute. Watson took a free-kick and Collins could only divert the ball past his own keeper.

Parity lasted less than two minutes as Stoke broke down the right through Kenwyne Jones, who played in Ricardo Fuller on the right of the area.

Fuller did well to pull the ball back and running into the box all alone was Etherington, who had the simple task of slotting his shot under Al Habsi.

The Latics poured forward in search of a second equaliser, and only Thomas will know how he did not score. After Maynor Figueroa’s shot was parried by Asmir Begovic, N’Zogbia laid it on a plate for Thomas, who somehow bobbled his shot wide from five yards.

But five minutes before the break, the home fans were celebrating, and for the third time a deflection played a crucial part in a goal.

Cleverley, on-loan from Manchester United, cut in from the right and let fly from 20 yards, with the ball taking a key touch off Delap and nestling in the corner.

Begovic had to be alert to deny Mauro Boselli twice in a matter of seconds at his near post after Cleverley and Figueroa had worked the ball down the right.

Stoke were inches away from taking the lead for a third time Jones drew a fabulous save from Al Habsi.

N’Zogbia has been the Latics’ best player this season and he ran at the Stoke defence again before unleashing a shot that was brilliantly tipped onto the post by Begovic.

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