PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS: Relief for Hughes as ten-man City draw at Wigan

 MARK Hughes gave his Manchester City side a half-time verbal volley - but it was not enough to get the better of Wigan.

STRONG WORDS: Mark Hughes hailed his team's character after a 1-1 draw with Wigan at the JJB Stadium (Getty Images)

The hosts took the lead on the stroke of half-time when man of the match Charles N'Zogbia fired past Shay Given, just minutes after he'd seen a goal disallowed for a foul on Gareth Barry.

Hughes was fuming but his side responded immediately after the restart.

The half was just over a minute old when Carlos Tevez dashed down the right wing and fired in a precision cross that Martin Petrov converted brilliantly with his left foot.

City were reduced to ten men when Pablo Zabaleta mistimed a challenge on Jason Scotland and received a deserved second caution.

Wigan pressed hard to exploit their numerical advantage but Given stayed resolute, despite the pressure, to secure his side a point that kept City fifth in the league.

“I thought we’d have enough to win the game but the sending off changed the momentum of the game,” said Hughes, who was less than pleased a Shaun Wright-Phillips penalty appeal was turned down.

In contrast, Roberto Martinez was content with the result.

 

"It was a very pleasing performance, we were playing against a very talented side and we stopped them from playing," said the Wigan manager.

"We were playing a very special side and the only time we really made a mistake, they punished us."

Blackburn came from behind to beat Burnley 3-2 in the local rivals' first top-flight encounter in 43 years.

Robbie Blake scored for Burnley after just four minutes, firing home from 20 yards.

But Rovers hit back quickly as the home supporters rallied them - David Dunn equalised with a fierce low shot while Franco Di Santo capitalised on some slack defending to head home.

Pascal Chimbonda scored a third just before the break and Chris Eagles netted a consolation for Burnley in stoppage time.

"To come back from 1-0 down was a great achievement," said Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce

"If your front two play well, the team plays well and I was so pleased with David Dunn and Franco Di Santo's performances."