Wigan Vs Stoke City
Match Facts

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Goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen made sure Stoke City picked up only their second away point of the season with three excellent second-half saves.

But it was a disappointing match which only really got going in the last 25 minutes in front of a crowd of less than 16,000.

Rory Delap had to wait just 80 seconds to test Wigan with one of his much publicised and trademark throw-ins, but it was not one of his best and the Latics had no problem dealing with it.

He tried again on 15 minutes from the opposite side of the pitch and this time Chris Kirkland was decisive and punched it clear.

Wilson Palacios had a couple of half chances - firing wide after a neat one-two with Amr Zaki - and then failing to get any power behind a shot as Stoke struggled to clear a Jason Koumas corner.

Koumas took responsibility for a free-kick ten yards outside the box, but it was a poor effort and it went well over the Stoke bar.

Sorensen was perfectly positioned to deal with a powerfully hit low shot from Antonio Valencia as Wigan attempted to increase the tempo in a largely forgettable first half which ended with Sorensen saving a 25-yard shot from Zaki.

Ricardo Fuller was proving a handful for the Latics defence and the Potters carved out an opening with Ryan Shawcross testing Kirkland with a header.

Emile Heskey, who took a knock in the first half, went close from 12 yards with another header, but it was his last contribution as he limped off to be replaced by Henri Camara, who had an instant impact when his glancing header was deflected off target.

Zaki's luck was out when he met Koumas' in-swinging corner six yards out but put the header over the bar.

Substitute Dave Kitson almost gifted Wigan one by giving away the ball and it resulted in a heated exchange between the red-headed striker and Stoke defender Abdoulaye Faye, who was clearly unimpressed by his team-mate's generosity.

Wigan had a penalty appeal turned down, before Sorensen came up with a double save keeping out shots from Palacios and Titus Bramble.

And the Stoke keeper did it again to deny Koumas, who fired in a terrific right footer from 20 yards before Mario Melchiot had one cleared off the line in tense finish.