Everton 3 Wigan 1: Moyes relieved by late breakthrough
Everton boss thought his side were heading for a draw before two late goals sealed victory over Wigan
Everton manager David Moyes admitted he thought he side would have to settle for a point before Apostolos Vellios and Royston Drenthe both scored late goals to secure a win over Wigan Athletic at Goodison Park.
Franco di Santo had put the visitors ahead on Merseyside with a thumping deflected shot into the top corner after 31 minutes.
But their lead lasted just two minutes before Phil Jagielka nodded in the rebound after Tim Cahill’s header from a corner hit the crossbar.
Moyes’ side then made the crucial breakthrough in the 84th minute when substitute Vellios headed home, before Drenthe fired past Ali Al Habsi from the edge of the box to seal the three points for Everton.
“With 15 minutes to go I didn’t think we were going to get the win,” said Moyes afterwards. “I thought we played well in the first half and maybe deserved to be in front but ran out of ideas.
“We made some changes and for periods it didn’t look like it would work but today it did.
“The last goal is an old fashioned kick up the pitch but you take any goal as they are hard to come by, and Wigan were pressing. They played some good football and made it difficult for us. Overall it was very good and the three points were more than welcome.”
Wigan’s miserable afternoon was made worse by a serious-looking injury to forward Hugo Rodallega, who was carried off on a stretcher.
And manager Roberto MartÃnez fears the worst for his striker. “It was his knee It doesn’t look good,” said the Latics boss. “He could be out for a few weeks, if not months.”
