McManaman lunge derails Wigan

CALLUM MCMANAMAN was sent off nine minutes after coming on, before Sheffield Wednesday grabbed a late winner, as Malky Mackay’s Wigan imploded in the second half at the DW Stadium.

There was cause for cheer during the Christmas period when Mackay recorded his first victory as manager, a 2-0 win over Leeds on Boxing Day, but last night his side were made to pay for poor finishing and McManaman’s moment of madness.

The 23-year-old attacker was shown a straight red in the 68th minute for a dangerous lunge on Claude Dielna.

Stuart Gray’s side had soaked up pressure well until that point and the sending-off saw the game swing in their favour, Atdhe Nuhiu pinching all three points with a close-range header in the 77th minute.

Midfielder Adam Forshaw was central to Wigan’s bright play in the early stages and his strong run at the Wednesday defence forced Chris Maguire to hack the ball over his own bar.

The Owls had won just once on their travels since their promising start to the season in September and Gray set his side out to attack on the break. They fashioned their first chance courtesy of a counterattack in the 20th minute, when Jacques Maghoma stole possession and delivered a teasing low cross that evaded Wigan goalkeeper Scott Carson and Nuhiu.

Wigan’s James McClean did his best to break the deadlock when he carried the ball from the edge of his own area before seeing his drive from a tight angle pushed away by Keiren Westwood.

In the second half, McManaman (left) lasted just nine minutes after replacing Marc-Antoine Fortune. His rash tackle on Dielna reduced the hosts to 10, and Wednesday profited when Nuhiu headed Jeremy Helan’s inviting cross

past Carson.