Wigan Ath 3 Tottenham 3:Wigan's inability to defend a lead has been their most marked weakness this season - a milky streak, their manager, Paul Jewell, calls it - but this was ridiculous. Three times the Latics were ahead in this match only to be almost immediately pegged back every time. On the concession of the third equaliser the frustrated Jewell kicked a water bottle a good 20 yards onto the pitch in the direction of his central defenders. In the circumstances it seemed a restrained response.
No team has scored more often than Wigan in the opening five minutes of Premiership matches this season so it was no great surprise to see them take the lead within 60 seconds of the kick-off.
The former Wigan full-back Pascal Chimbonda, booed throughout, fouled Emile Heskey near the corner-flag and Denny Landzaat's free-kick caused havoc in the Spurs penalty area before Heskey, at the second attempt, squeezed a header inside Paul Robinson's right-hand post.
The celebrating home support had barely resumed their seats when Spurs levelled. Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov had already combined once before to threatening effect when the Dubliner controlled neatly and slipped the ball to Berbatov's feet inside the Wigan area. The Bulgarian left Leighton Baines sprawling, looked up and with the outside of his right foot beat Wigan's goalkeeper, John Filan, with an instant low shot.
The pattern established, both teams continued to press forward, Spurs driven by Didier Zokora and Jermaine Jenas, Wigan by Landzaat and Paul Scharner. The latter were lacking little in comparison, just as Heskey and Henri Camara looked almost as dangerous as Keane and Berbatov.
Some of the movement was exhilarating, though the defenders probably had a different word for it, and both teams had further chances before Wigan retook the lead on the half-hour. Under pressure from Camara, Michael Dawson's clearing header from Kevin Kilbane's cross bounced as far as Baines and from a couple of yards outside the penalty area the full-back hit a well-controlled volley that beat Robinson's late dive.
Again Wigan could not preserve their lead for longer than four minutes. Jenas, full of running throughout, broke upfield from a Wigan corner, exchanged passes and outpaced Baines as he attempted to cover. The defender tried to shove him over before he got into the penalty area, but Jenas stayed upright long enough to push the ball past Filan before falling over the goalkeeper. Keane converted the penalty.
Unseasonal heat notwithstanding, the second half continued at a similar pace and Wigan's third goal was not long delayed, Kilbane losing his marker, Chimbonda, to head Taylor's corner past Robinson.
With 30 minutes remaining no one in the ground, least of all the Wiganers, believed the game to be won but few can have anticipated how Spurs would equalise yet again. Robinson's long clearing kick was completely misjudged by Matt Jackson; Keane ran on to the ball and, seeing Filan well off his line, lobbed the Australian goalkeeper from around 25 yards out.
Guardian Service
