Manchester City v Wigan – as it happened

Teams: Man City: Hart, Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Zabaleta, Vieira, Barry, Silva, Toure Yaya, Balotelli, Tevez. Subs: Taylor, Dzeko, Kolarov, Boateng, Jo, De Jong, Boyata. Wigan: Al Habsi, Lopez, Gary Caldwell, Alcaraz, Figueroa, Watson, Diame, Moses, McCarthy, Cleverley, Rodallega. Subs: Pollitt, Gohouri, Thomas, Di Santo, N'Zogbia, Gomez, Sammon. Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire) Evening all: And a hugely late and truncated preamble. Sorry that I won't be able to bore you senseless with line-ups from the 1999 League One play-offs. Wigan, of course, are bottom but have a couple of away victories this season – at White Hart Lane and Molineux. Steve Gohouri has made way way at right-back for Adrian Lopez, having been torn a new one by Alan Hansen last week. City, well, you know them. Patrick Vieira makes a rare league start and Mario Balotelli is on the left side of that attacking midfield trident. Adrian Lopez: I note is AKA Piscu. I shall be using it. That is all. 1 min: Wigan kick off, following a lengthy pre-match huddle. They're playing in black and launch an attack from the back with Caldwell's long ball up the right to McCarthy. He feeds Moses who plays the percentages and Zabaleta's shins to win a corner in 27 seconds. The corner loops to Rodallega who knocks it over the bar. 3 min: Chris Waddle thinks City's problems stem from their sluggish tempo. They play too slow and indeed, when on the ball this first few minutes they have taken the pace off the ball by using the chipped long pass rather than the belted one. 4 min: Good quick feet from Silva pick up the pace and he curls a pass out to Balotelli on the left. He checks inside on his right and tries to bend it in with some force. Al-Habsi makes a bit of a dog's dinner of the save and palms it wide for a corner, from which the keeper shows his usual qualities and catches it. 7 min: Trivial things I like: The maroon around the top of City's socks. Makes me think of Mike Doyle and Alan Oakes. Vieira is on the right of the sitting two and has made more upfield progress than Barry so far. Overhit passes are exchanged ending with a City throw in on halfway but Wigan get it back and Moses runs 40 yards with the ball until Richards and Kompany squeeze the ball off him. 10min: "So you've been told that Adrian Lopez is also called Piscu? Sounds a bit fishy to me," writes Robin Hazlehurst. Arf. They are neat, neat, neat, Wigan. Watson, a tidy player, so too McCarthy and Cleverley but they lack support when on the ball, too much distance between them and their team-mates when they run forward. 11min: A couple of chances, one at each end. Silva getting the ball on the left, having swapped wings with Balotelli, and cutting the ball into the box for Barry who takes a touch instead of shooting first time from about 12 yards and Wigan bundle the ball off him and away. They break quickly with a nice pass from Diame finding Cleverley but he finds Row Z with his shot. 13min: Another, even better long pass from Diame, left to right, finds Moses who shows off his classy feet to play in Rodallega. He spins and his shot is blocked. 15min: Tevez then plays a sumptuous pass with the outside of his foot. Stood outside the D he taps it to Silva whose cross is straight to Caldwell. 16min: "Along with snoods, other things Fifa is planning to ban as 'too dangerous': Tackling; Not Tackling; Feet; Hands; A Little Knowledge; Football." A little knowledge is a dangerous thing for Sepp. You forgot tights, Mac. Sepp wants to ban tights, because he lovesvintage lingerie. Rather clumsy foul, at first look, from Richards on Cleverley that gets him a yellow. 19min: Piscu comes to the party by tracking Tevez's run into the box from right-back and strong-legging him out of it. On second look that Richards tackle was very strong and Cleverley was given a hospital pass by his team-mate. 21min: Good tackle from Alcaraz on Richards, he had to win that as Figueroa had sold him short by ducking a tackle to stop Richards' rampaging run as he drove into the box. It's all City now, gaining territory, pushing Wigan deeper and deeper. 24min: "@ 1min: 'He feeds Moses…' Might I ask in what manna?" Not Shur, Trevor. Old Testament jokes R Us. Mazy run from Tevez cutting in from the right, winds round Figueroa and Alcaraz before shooting across goal. Then Silva comes through the middle from the goalkick, storming towards the area with Balotelli free on his left and Tevez on his right and Wigan's defence retreating. He decides to shoot … feet wide. 27min: Wigan have managed a little more possession but Diame who has played a couple of very good long passes goes for third time lucky with a Hollywood 40-yard diagonal. It's headed out and Wigan get a throw. Balotelli reckons the clearance from the throw was aimed at him and has a word. 29min: Tevez on the left now and Balotelli down the middle as CDity string some passes together but as the ball's played back to Barry, the defensive midfielder leaves his foot in when challenged by Watson and Wigan earn a free kick. The ball is played to Moses by Diame across the width of the pitch and Moses jinks, cuts inside and picks out McCarthy just inside the box and unmarked. He hits hsi shot with power but again it is off target. A good chance blown after smart work by Diame and Moses. 32min: "Call that an Old Testament joke?" writes Chris Bond. "Don't give up the day Job." Delay while treatment is received by Rodallega who yelled very loudly when Gareth Barry cynically fouled him. Stuart Attwell has given Barry a yellow card, deservedly. Nasty little foul, that. 34min: And we're off again and from the free-kick Cleverley wins a corner, taken short by Watson to Moses. When it comes back to Watson, the cross is blocked. 36min: City waste their umpteenth throw in by tossing it into the box without purpose, hoping for a flick on. Richards should either Delap it or give it to feet for the cross. 37min: Caldwell fouls Tevez from behind and City get a free kick ten yards into Wigan's half. they play it right, then left, then right and it finally goes into the box to Balotelli who launches himself at a headable cross, about five feet off the ground, with his feet. Dangerous play, free kick to Wigan. GOAL!! Man City 1-0 Wigan (Silva) Think Ray Clemence and Kenny Dalglish.England v Scotland. Silva jinks in from the left, breaks into the box, shoots across the near post where Al Habsi is well positioned and he lets it through his legs. 41min: Wigan are having a go back straight away and Moses skins Zabaleta, gets to the byline after a very powerful run and the linesman says he took the ball out. Which he didn't. Bad linesman. "Old Testament jokes? Surely you're taking the Micah," writes Ian Copestake. 44min: City have tow more chances, the first hitting the wall when Yaya Toure tries to dribble it into the goal instead of shooting or passing. He's robbed by the penalty spot. Then Silva hits a firm low cross to Balotelli but it's just behind him and he can't quite control it from eight yards out. 45min: Roberto Martinez is looking very agitated on the touchline, with Diame speculates Rob Hawthorn. "Is Roberto Martinez just too decent to be a Premier League manager? The contrast between him at the bottom and the one at the top, is quite sharp," writes Gary Naylor. Too nice, yes. But too something else as well perhaps. Is Gary Caldwell really a Premier League centre-half who can be consistent all season. He reminds me of Andy Todd, capable enough at times, but a liability at others. And nothing you can do to rectify his faults. Half time: Back in 10 minutes. Half-time emails: "Re your comment on Gary Caldwell's credentials as a Premier League centre-half. Seems that the talent pool is too shallow for the number of teams, especially when the big guys can keep stockpiling the best talent. Hard to believe the 'fair play' rules will stop that, as they really aren't an effective salary cap." Good point, Paul Szabo. Here's Mark Elliott with an Old Testament riff: "I think Chris Bond Judges a little harshly." Neil Faulconbridge: "Moses is playing ? - I thought he'd damaged a calf. I'm on Torah all week." And Jeremy Boyce: "And still no mention of economic David (Whelan) and Goliath (giant with no tactical nous), Carlos Tevez's fatted calves or how neither team is particularly Keen or Able?" Noah, lad. 46 min: City kick off. Tom Shaw likes City's socks, from a West Ham angle: "Re the maroon round City's socks; That means they are playing in claret and blue and Trevis is going to get a hat-trick and do his old mates a favour by inspiring Man C to thump Wigan. It's a sign, a sign from above..." Trevis is good. And now Wigan are crowded out by Vieira and Barry. 48 min: Piscu's done OK and ceratinly seems more vocal than Gohouri. City free kick and they play keep ball until Barry's poor control is exploited by Watson and he gets the ball forward to Rodallega who forces Lescott to concede a corner. The corner comes in deep and Wigan keep the ball but have to start again from halfway. 50 min: Another corner for Wigan, taken by Watson. Chipped back to Alcaraz who has drifted back to the corner of the area and he clips his volley towards goal where it strikes the outside of the post. 52 min: "If this Old Testament riff continues there will be a mass Exodus. Which would be sad, Lamentations all round in fact. You should offer a prize to anyone who can get a gag out of Habakkuk." OK, Ian Copestake, I will. I'll scrabble around under the desk and see what prize I can come up with. The early contender is Alan Curtis's autobiography, Curt. Wigan throw in, 20 yards inside City's half. Taken by McCarthy to Watson and Wigan play it back to Alacaraz. Now Diame passes to Cleverley on the left but his cross is blocked and City come forward. 54 min: Rodallega almost turns Zabaleta by skimming the ball off his foot on the turn then bombing past him but Zabaleta is wise to it and half blocks him. 56 min: Kompany gets a yellow card for kicking Cleverley in the face by the touchline. Agricultural challenge, they used to call them. Horrible. The free kick come4s in and Caldwell, loosely marked, backheads an effort over the bar. "I can't believe no one's said this yet but surely City should buy Moses," snips Alex Hanton. "He could be just the fella to lead them to the promised land of silverware after four decades in the wilderness." 58 min: While Wigan are playing well this half, I can't believe City don't up the tempo a little. There's no sense of urgency about them. Whether this is because of Mancini's Serie A mentality, as Hawthorn and Waddle suggest, or whether they simply lack pace, as I think, I'll leave open for debate. "No wonder Moses plays for Wigan," says Gary Naylor. "Iin terms of the Premier League, they're a basket case." Keep taking the tablets, Gary. Moses goes off to be replaced by N'Zogbia. 61 min: Ian Copestake wants Curt's memoirs: "It's forty yards out. Surely he's not going to Habbakuk from there? He is you know." And McCarthy has a shot on the half volley from 25 yards that Hart has to dive to push away for a corner. City are going to get done here if they don't get a grip. 63 min: Russell Richardson has an entry: "Why is Jamie Oliver with nasal congestion one of Mancini's new signings? Because you always need to Habakkuk in your line up." While we're kukking about here, Wigan are in the ascendancy as City potter about looking big leggy a la John Wayne. Alcaraz goes on a barnstorming run up the right, totally left by Zabaleta and Komapany has to race over to tackle. 66 min: City have a penalty appeal when Balotelli's short cross pinballs off two Wigan players but Stuart Attwell turns it down. No replay yet. The City crowd is having a wee strop at all this ar$eing about on the ball. 68 min: "Come on City" echoes down from the stands. Balotelli is going off and is replaced by Kolarov by gung-ho Mancio. 70 min: And farewell Piscu, we hardly knew you. Gohouri replaces the right-back. Boos, whistles and chants greet Attwell's decision not to give Tevez a foul when he backed into Alcaraz. 72 min: N'Zogbia was reportedly not fit enough to start but he's looked very sharp since coming on. Again they waste a chance up the left when McCarthy frees with a cute backheel but he takes a touch too many and loses possession. 74 min: Is this good enough for City's fans, do you think? Yes Wigan are playing well, but there's a lack of ambition about the home side. They're playing the bottom team and they can't get the ball off them unless Wigan mess up. 75 min: An Australian "Martin" emails in re Ian Copestake: "Please answer this: As a avid follower of the Guardian football live blogs for a few years now, I have noticed that the above person gets more mentions than Charlie Sheen. What's with that? Does he have compromising pictures of all Guardian football writers or something?" I believe he does, Martin. Either that or he sends in emails during cough… dull… cough… matches. City corner on to Vieira's head. It goes over the bar off the top of his napper. 79min: Beady Eye Gallagher's in the crowd. And Blue Moon is being sung. Ten minutes to go. Yaya on the ball to Silva who has the skill to get round Figueroa but whacks it into his thigh instead. 81min: City corner, taken short by Kolarov to Silva who shoots wide. "I have the Genesis of an idea," writes Mark Elliott. "Bbut I'm going to Habakkuk of tea and think about it some more." 83min: N'Zogbia cuts in off the right and bends a shot 10 yards over and five yards wide. Phill Wainwright asks: "Who is your favourite MBM stalwart out of Messrs Copestake and Naylor?" How on earth can I answer that, Phill? I love all the stalwarts equally. Who's yours? City take off Silva and put on De Jong. Sammon on for Diame for the Latics. 85min: Off trots Carlos Tevez to be replaced by Dzeko. What would Danny Blanchflower make of City's tactics today? I know City fans won't care but they could show a bit more panache given the players they have rather than having Barry and Vieira plodding about. 88min: Roberto Martinez does that odd, slightly rude gesture, implying he wants someone to go in the hole behind the centre-forward. It amuse me. Simple things please simple minds. Or was it simple minds like Simple Minds? 90 min: "I am a relatively regular MBMer I'd say," says Phill Wainwright. "And have noticed Mr Naylor's name a lot more than Mr Copestake. Though going by today's offerings maybe the latter is a touch wittier?" Hmm, or Mm as Marina Hyde puts it. Rodallega shoots after neat work from Sammon but he scuffs it from just outside of the box and Hart gets down to save easily. 90 min+ 2: "Man City remind me of how I play Football Manager," writes Oliver Lewis. "I always set team up to try and play great attacking football, and then I panic and go all conservative every game. I have however just won promotion in the playoffs in a very boring 1-0 victory against Brighton and Hove Albion." It works, Oliver. That's the pernicious thing. 90 min+ 4: Well City are just running down the clock, Vieira to De Jong, who then loses the ball and Wigan try to launch it but it's an inaccurate long ball from the back and squirts out for a City throw. 90 min + 4 And City almost pay the price for their nonchalance as Rodaleega and Sammon play a one-two with Sammon bursting into the box from the right side and shooting across goal, a foot past Hart's right-post. Egg nearly on face there for City. Peep, peep, peep: City win 1-0 but wouldn't had Al-Habsi not done an Allen McKnightmare. Wigan played well in the second half but lack some heft to their forward movements. It's like they're trying to play positional chess like a Playmobil Barcelona, but just lack directness up front to capitalise on their good passing and movement. An off day for City, the charitable would say. It was rather dull, to be honest, but they'll live with that this season. But surely not next as well. The last word (in the beginning was the word) goes to Mac Millings on the over-exposed Ian Copestake: "This biblical riff really is a Revelation.Going by the Numbers, I'd say Ian Copestake is has done the best Job, but perhaps I should leave that to better Judges. The prize, by the way, should be an Eccles-iastes cake. PS, I was only so nice about Copestake because he greased my Psalms." Thanks for your emails. Have a good evening. Bye.