* Chelsea beat Wigan 2-1 after offside goal
* Spurs held 0-0 at Sunderland
* Liverpool score late to avoid another defeat
(Updates with Wolves game, adds details, quotes)
By Mark Meadows
LONDON, April 7 (Reuters) – An offside goal for Chelsea
became a cruel twist of fate for Wigan Athletic and possibly
Tottenham Hotspur after one of the biggest mistakes of the
Premier League season had a knock-on effect at the top and
bottom on Saturday.
Chelsea grabbed a 2-1 victory over Wigan thanks to the
clearly offside strike by Branislav Ivanovic and a last-gasp
Juan Mata winner as they boosted their push for a top-four
finish and even the third automatic Champions League berth.
Tottenham nudged up to third with a 0-0 draw at Sunderland
but Arsenal can move back above them with a point at home to
second-placed Manchester City on Sunday when leaders Manchester
United, five points clear on 76, host Queens Park Rangers.
Wigan players surrounded the officials and manager Roberto
Martinez later labelled the decision “horrific” and “disgusting”
after Ivanovic’s controversial 62nd-minute goal.
Mohamed Diame levelled for the visitors, who matched their
more illustrious opponents for long spells, but Mata netted to
send the fifth-placed hosts three points behind Spurs while
Wigan were left second from bottom on goal difference.
The nature of Chelsea’s last-minute winner was also harsh on
Wigan, although they had overcommitted themselves in attack.
Fernando Torres’ wicked strike against the post hit fellow
Spaniard Mata on the chest and trickled in.
“We fought until the last minute for the three points,
having a lot of chances to score,” said Mata, whose side reached
the Champions League last four in midweek and visit Fulham on
Monday before next weekend’s FA Cup semi-final with Spurs.
“We got a little lucky in the last minute and the points are
important for us. Chelsea never give up and today we did it.”
Newcastle United, who won 2-0 at Swansea City on Friday to
continue their strong form, are level with Chelsea on 56 points
in sixth place. Spurs have 59 points with Arsenal on 58.
PENALTY APPEALS
In the early kickoff, Sunderland and Spurs struggled to
create clear-cut opportunities but the visitors felt aggrieved
that Phil Bardsley and Michael Turner got away with handballs in
the box, the first from a goalbound Emmanuel Adebayor header.
Rafael van der Vaart had two half chances for Tottenham, who
have lost some of their verve since manager Harry Redknapp was
made the bookmakers’ favourite for the vacant England job.
Ninth-placed Sunderland, flying since manager Martin O’Neill
took over in December, had their own penalty shout when the ball
clipped Scott Parker on the arm but the referee was again
unmoved.
Beleaguered Liverpool salvaged a point in a 1-1 draw with
strugglers Aston Villa having been behind to Chris Herd’s
10th-minute goal after a mistake by goalkeeper Doni, standing in
for the suspended Pepe Reina.
Villa seemed set for a rare victory at Anfield but Luis
Suarez equalised with an 82nd-minute header to save
eighth-placed Liverpool from a seventh loss in eight league
games.
Kenny Dalglish’s outfit have suffered their worst run since
1954 but had a series of chances with Dutch forward Dirk Kuyt
missing a sitter and Uruguayan Suarez striking the post.
Suarez was also harshly booked for diving and the hosts had
several penalty appeals waved away.
TOO POLITE
“What chance have we got?” Dalglish was quoted as saying on
the Liverpool website (www.liverpoolfc.tv).
“Even Suarez’s booking, the guy trod on him. You can imagine
the headlines tomorrow when he’s been booked for diving but the
guy’s actually trodden on him. He’s lucky he’s not broke his
foot.
“We just need to keep going. Maybe we’re too polite. If we
keep trying it’ll turn.”
Third-bottom Blackburn Rovers lost 3-0 at former boss Roy
Hodgson’s West Bromwich Albion to confirm their mini-revival is
over and Bolton Wanderers are only a point above the danger zone
following Clint Dempsey’s brace in a 3-0 home defeat by Fulham.
Mid-table Norwich City enjoyed an entertaining 2-2 home draw
with Everton while basement side Wolverhampton Wanderers lost
2-1 at Stoke City in the late game to effectively stand seven
points adrift of safety because of their poor goal difference.
(Editing by Ken Ferris)
