Wigan and Fulham share the spoils

• Last Updated: November 08. 2009 9:48PM UAE / November 8. 2009 5:48PM GMT

Wigan Athletic 1 Fulham 1

Wigan shared a point with Roy Hodgson’s Fulham at the DW Stadium after neither side could find a breakthrough in the second-half.

Fulham’s Bobby Zamora carved out a terrific opportunity early on for strike partner Erik Nevland with a ball over the defence.

Nevland left the Wigan keeper Chris Kirkland stranded with a looping header and time seemed to stand still as, amid almost complete silence inside the stadium, the ball dropped towards goal, clipped the inside of the post and bounced along the line before being hacked clear.

Wigan took the lead in the 14th minute as Paul Scharner beat two defenders to meet Erik Edman’s cross and headed the ball back to Emmerson Boyce, who was completely unmarked eight yards out to score.

But, six minutes before the break, panic in the Wigan ranks led to a penalty for Fulham. Two chances to clear the ball were passed up and when Clint Dempsey shaped to shoot and Titus Bramble dived in from behind to concede the spot-kick. Dempsey converted the penalty himself.

An amazing double save at the start of the second-half by Chris Kirkland then kept the scores level as he saved Dempsey’s free-before somehow recovering to stop Jonathan Greening’s follow-up.

Man of the match: Chris Kirkland (Wigan)