English Premiership
Swansea down Wigan
2012-10-20 21:23
Swansea - Swansea got back on track as second half goals from Pablo Hernandez and Michu sealed a 2-1 win against Wigan at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday.
Michael Laudrup's side had gone five league games without a victory amid growing rumours of player unrest at the Dane's tactics and management style, so this was a welcome success for the south Wales club.
Spanish midfielder Hernandez, the club's record signing, bagged his first goal for Swansea in the 65th minute and compatriot Michu's sixth of the season doubled their advantage.
Emmerson Boyce pulled one back for Wigan, but Arouna Kone had an equaliser ruled out for offside as the Latics' winless run extended to six games.
The pre-match focus was on the fact that neither side wore the anti-racism 'Kick It Out' T-shirts during the warm-ups, understood to be a gesture of solidarity from the respective squads towards players who did not wish to wear them.
Michu had a great chance to opening the scoring early in the first half, but couldn't keep his volley down from Wayne Routledge's pass. And the Spanish midfielder then headed over the bar after some slick build-up play from the hosts.
Swansea were almost caught on the break when Shaun Maloney evaded Angel Rangel and played Jean Beausejour in, but the Chile international could only fire over.
Laudrup's team piled on the pressure after half-time and it took a strong parry from Ali Al Habsi to beat out Ki Sung-Yeung's strike.
The hosts finally made the breakthrough in the 65th minute. Jonathan de Guzman fed Hernandez and the Spaniard finished with a fine low strike.
Swansea increased their lead two minutes later when De Guzman's inswinging corner picked out Michu's near-post run and he headed home emphatically.
Wigan were back in it almost immediately when Chico Flores misjudged a long ball and his error ended with Boyce acrobatically flicking in from James McCarthy's scuffed shot.
Kone thought he had equalised in the closing stages, but the Ivorian's header was ruled out for offside.