Rodallega denies Rovers win

Wigan and Blackburn cancelled each other out in a 1-1 draw at the DW Stadium which did nothing to improve either side's fortunes.

Benni McCarthy's first Barclays Premier League goal of the season put the visitors ahead in the 30th minute only for Hugo Rodallega's 53rd-minute header to level things up.

Wigan have now won just one of the last eight league matches, with Blackburn enjoying victory only once in seven.

Rovers should have taken an early lead when Junior Hoilett slid a diagonal ball into the penalty area for McCarthy. He opted to cross rather than shoot and Titus Bramble deflected the ball inches wide.

Blackburn defender Chris Samba's header from Bramble's hopeful punt then beat his own goalkeeper Paul Robinson but the England international managed to scramble the ball off the goalline.

Keith Andrews' free-kick from just over the halfway line was headed across the six-yard area by Ryan Nelsen and McCarthy was on hand to score from close range. Less than a minute later Paul Scharner had a chance to equalise but failed to hit the target from Charles N'Zogbia's right-wing cross.

Hoilett was unlucky when his curling shot was deflected wide by team-mate Andrews while seconds before half-time Jason Scotland was brilliantly denied by Robinson from a narrow angle.

Two minutes after the interval Steven N'Zonzi drilled wide from 12 yards before N'Zogbia chipped in a left-wing cross and Rodallega perfectly planted his header past Robinson.

Scotland should have made it 2-1 three minutes later but his shot was too close to Robinson while Scharner and and N'Zonzi had chances to nick it.

Rodallega headed Maynor Figueroa's cross straight at Robinson and then Chris Kirkland brilliantly stopped McCarthy's point-blank overhead kick.