Man City 3 - 0 Wigan

Tevez has now scored 19 Premier League goals this season

By Ben Dirs

Carlos Tevez scored a 12-minute hat-trick as Manchester City beat Wigan at Eastlands to keep their chances of a Champions League spot alive.

City had been poor before the break and the second-half sending off of Wigan's Gary Caldwell was the turning point.

First Tevez took advantage of a calamitous goalkeeping error from Vladimir Stojkovic to tap home.

Two minutes later he slid in at the far post to double the lead before sealing the victory with a superb solo effort.

The win leaves City two points behind fourth-placed Tottenham having played the same amount of games, while Wigan remain just four points above the relegation zone.

Prior to the match, City had won only one of their nine encounters with Wigan in the Premier League.

City boss Roberto Mancini made four changes to the side beaten at home by Everton last Wednesday, with Emmanuel Adebayor returning having completed a four-match ban.

606: DEBATE

Tevez is ace and we're lucky to have him, he was just a different class from the rest of our boys today

Kragzie

Craig Bellamy, Gareth Barry and Micah Richards were rested, with Shaun Wright-Phillips, Patrick Vieira and Javier Garrido also drafted into the starting line-up.

But for all the changes it was Wigan who made the brighter start, pressing in midfield and reducing the home faithful to virtual silence for the first 10 minutes of the match.

But City had the first chance, Tevez cutting in from the left and feeding Adebayor, only for Titus Bramble to block the Togolese international's left-footed shot.

Stojkovic, starting in place of the virus-stricken Chris Kirkland, then made a fine reaction save from a Tevez volley after a clumsy piece of defending from Maynor Figueroa allowed Wright-Phillips to deliver a cross.

Yet without the ball City were listless, allowing Wigan far too much time on the ball: first Paul Scharner was allowed to shoot from just outside the box, his effort sailing wide, before Hugo Rodallega had a shot tipped wide by Shay Given.

Tevez, though, always looked dangerous with the ball at his feet, and his curled effort after an incisive break down the left missed by inches.

And shortly before half-time Tevez had a penalty appeal turned down, with referee Stuart Attwell correctly adjudging Caldwell had not made contact.

But for all the endeavour of Tevez and winger Adam Johnson, City were still booed off at half-time, while Mancini was already halfway to the dressing room when the whistle sounded.

Bellamy replaced Wright-Phillips at the break and Adebayor found the net shortly after the restart, but he was in an off-side position when Stojkovic fumbled Tevez's shot.

Rodallega had a golden opportunity to score for the Latics after City made a hash of defending a long free-kick but he flashed his right-foot shot wide, just before the visitors were reduced to 10 men.

Caldwell was the man to see red, referee Attwell deciding his robust tackle on Tevez constituted a two-footed challenge, although the punishment seemed harsh.

Caldwell's dismissal momentarily galvanised Martinez's men, with first Marcelo Moreno going close with a shot from outside the area before Rodallega almost latched onto a floated cross from Figueroa.

City came swarming back as the game opened up, with Tevez squaring when perhaps he should have shot and then having a dubious penalty claim turned down after a challenge by Scharner.

But when Wigan's defiance was finally brought to an end, Wigan boss Roberto Martinez would have been distraught it was down to a dreadful piece of goalkeeping by Stojkovic.

Patrick Vieira, who had been largely anonymous until that point, poked a ball over the top and the Serb international inexplicably chose not to claim it, allowing Tevez to tap in after the ball had squirted free.

Stojkovic somewhat unconvincingly claimed Adebayor had gone in high, although there was certainly a hint of off-side.

Two minutes later Tevez doubled City's lead, sliding in at the far post to convert a cross from Garrido.

And six minutes from time the Argentine struck again, skipping past two players before leaving Stojkovic for dead with a fine finish from just outside the box.

Live text and stats

Monday, 29 March 2010

Premier League

Home Team	Score	Away Team	Time
Man City	3-0	Wigan	FT
(HT 0-0)
Tevez 72 Tevez 74 Tevez 84

Man City

01 Given
05 Zabaleta yellow card
15 Garrido yellow card (Onuoha 88)
28 Toure
33 Kompany
08 Wright-Phillips (Bellamy 46)
11 A Johnson
24 Vieira
34 De Jong
25 Adebayor
32 Tevez yellow card (Sylvinho 88)

Ref: AttwellAtt: 43,534

MAN CITY

WIGAN

Possession

Man City 52%
Wigan 48%

Attempts on target

Man City 8
Wigan 3

Attempts off target

Man City 2
Wigan 6

Corners

Man City 3
Wigan 4

Fouls

Man City 12
Wigan 13

Final Result
Full Time
90:00+5:13 The referee blows for the end of the match.
90:00+4:49 Maynor Figueroa concedes a free kick for a foul on Adam Johnson. Pablo Zabaleta takes the free kick.
88:01 Unfair challenge on Mario Melchiot by Nigel De Jong results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Charles N'Zogbia.
87:04 Substitution Nedum Onuoha comes on in place of Javier Garrido.
87:04 Substitution Carlos Tevez leaves the field to be replaced by Silvio Sylvinho.
84:43 Booking The referee shows Carlos Tevez a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
83:43 GOAL - Carlos Tevez:Man City 3 - 0 Wigan Carlos Tevez gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Man City 3-0 Wigan.
83:41 Pablo Zabaleta provided the assist for the goal.
81:52 Kolo Toure fouled by Jason Scotland, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Patrick Vieira.
80:51 Vladimir Stojkovic takes the free kick.
80:51 Substitution Hugo Rodallega goes off and Jason Scotland comes on.
80:51 Substitution Steve Gohouri is brought on as a substitute for Marcelo Moreno.
80:51 Carlos Tevez is flagged offside by the assistant referee.
76:37 Pablo Zabaleta takes the direct free kick.
76:37 Booking Titus Bramble booked for unsporting behaviour.
76:30 Unfair challenge on Carlos Tevez by Titus Bramble results in a free kick.
75:27 Unfair challenge on Titus Bramble by Craig Bellamy results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Vladimir Stojkovic.
74:00 Assist on the goal came from Vincent Kompany.
74:00 GOAL - Carlos Tevez:Man City 2 - 0 Wigan Carlos Tevez gets on the score sheet with a goal from close range to the bottom right corner of the goal. Man City 2-0 Wigan.
73:43 Craig Bellamy decides to take a short corner.
72:36 Booking Paul Scharner goes into the book.
71:15 The assist for the goal came from Patrick Vieira.
71:15 GOAL - Carlos Tevez:Man City 1 - 0 Wigan Goal scored by Carlos Tevez from close range low into the middle of the goal. Man City 1-0 Wigan.
68:27 Hugo Rodallega concedes a free kick for a foul on Pablo Zabaleta. Free kick taken by Kolo Toure.
67:48 The assistant referee signals for offside against Emmanuel Adebayor. Free kick taken by Vladimir Stojkovic.
66:42 Hugo Rodallega has an effort direct from the free kick.
66:42 Booking Pablo Zabaleta is given a yellow card.
66:32 Pablo Zabaleta concedes a free kick for a foul on Hugo Rodallega.
64:06 Patrick Vieira takes a shot. Vladimir Stojkovic makes a save.
62:08 Corner taken left-footed by Adam Johnson, Titus Bramble makes a clearance.
60:47 Mario Melchiot takes the free kick.
60:47 Booking Javier Garrido receives a yellow card.
60:31 Foul by Javier Garrido on Charles N'Zogbia, free kick awarded.
58:39 Marcelo Moreno produces a left-footed shot from just outside the area that goes wide left of the goal.
57:36 Mohamed Diame fouled by Emmanuel Adebayor, the ref awards a free kick. Paul Scharner restarts play with the free kick.
55:22 Javier Garrido shoots direct from the free kick.
55:22 Sent off Gary Caldwell receives a red card.
55:15 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Carlos Tevez by Gary Caldwell.
54:01 Hugo Rodallega has an effort from just inside the box that misses to the left of the goal.
53:36 Patrick Vieira concedes a free kick for a foul on Mohamed Diame. Gary Caldwell takes the direct free kick.
52:30 The assistant referee flags for offside against Emmanuel Adebayor. Indirect free kick taken by Titus Bramble.
51:54 Substitution Charles N'Zogbia replaces Hendry Thomas.
51:34 Unfair challenge on James McCarthy by Craig Bellamy results in a free kick. Free kick taken by James McCarthy.
46:54 The official flags Emmanuel Adebayor offside. Vladimir Stojkovic takes the indirect free kick.
46:41 Carlos Tevez takes a shot. Vladimir Stojkovic makes a save.
45:01 The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.
45:01 Substitution Craig Bellamy replaces Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Half Time
45:00+2:10 The half-time whistle blows.
45:00+1:06 James McCarthy gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Javier Garrido. Javier Garrido restarts play with the free kick.
45:00+0:50 The assistant referee signals for offside against Carlos Tevez. Titus Bramble takes the free kick.
42:14 Paul Scharner gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Nigel De Jong. Patrick Vieira restarts play with the free kick.
41:23 Paul Scharner takes a shot from just outside the penalty area clears the crossbar.
40:12 Mario Melchiot gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Carlos Tevez. Javier Garrido takes the free kick.
38:40 Adam Johnson fouled by Hugo Rodallega, the ref awards a free kick. Nigel De Jong takes the free kick.
37:24 Javier Garrido concedes a free kick for a foul on James McCarthy. Direct free kick taken by Vladimir Stojkovic.
36:30 Marcelo Moreno has an effort at goal from the edge of the area that misses to the right of the target.
32:40 Paul Scharner takes a shot. Save made by Shay Given.
31:22 Free kick awarded for a foul by Vincent Kompany on Hugo Rodallega. Shot on goal comes in from Marcelo Moreno from the free kick.
30:19 Inswinging corner taken by Adam Johnson, clearance made by Gary Caldwell.
29:30 The referee blows for offside against Emmanuel Adebayor. Indirect free kick taken by Vladimir Stojkovic.
28:49 The assistant referee signals for offside against Emmanuel Adebayor. Gary Caldwell takes the indirect free kick.
27:28 Effort from inside the area by Carlos Tevez misses to the right of the target.
26:43 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by James McCarthy, Javier Garrido makes a clearance.
26:27 Hugo Rodallega takes a shot. Shaun Wright-Phillips gets a block in.
24:32 Corner taken right-footed by James McCarthy.
23:58 Paul Scharner fouled by Emmanuel Adebayor, the ref awards a free kick. Gary Caldwell takes the free kick.
21:58 Long range effort by Paul Scharner goes wide right of the target.
20:28 Free kick awarded for a foul by Hugo Rodallega on Shaun Wright-Phillips. Free kick taken by Pablo Zabaleta.
19:11 Effort on goal by Carlos Tevez from 30 yards. Mohamed Diame gets a block in.
18:10 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Carlos Tevez by Mohamed Diame. Direct free kick taken by Carlos Tevez.
14:45 Marcelo Moreno challenges Patrick Vieira unfairly and gives away a free kick. Shay Given takes the free kick.
13:58 Corner taken short by James McCarthy.
12:39 Shaun Wright-Phillips is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Vladimir Stojkovic takes the direct free kick.
12:08 Carlos Tevez takes a shot. Vladimir Stojkovic makes a save.
10:21 Hugo Rodallega fouled by Pablo Zabaleta, the ref awards a free kick. Vladimir Stojkovic restarts play with the free kick.
10:08 Emmanuel Adebayor takes a shot. Hendry Thomas gets a block in.
8:10 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on James McCarthy by Javier Garrido. Direct free kick taken by Hendry Thomas.
7:15 James McCarthy takes a outswinging corner.
2:43 Carlos Tevez is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Vladimir Stojkovic takes the indirect free kick.
1:56 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Carlos Tevez by Gary Caldwell. Adam Johnson crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from left wing, clearance by Hendry Thomas.
0:00 The ref blows the whistle to start the match.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association.

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