Zabaleta spoils Bruce’s return

Manchester City 1, Wigan 0

STEVE BRUCE must hate coming back to Manchester.

Three days after Wigan were beaten 1-0 at Old Trafford, the former United skipper was dumped by the seat of his philosophical pants as City clung desperately to the same scoreline at Eastlands.

And all that after Wigan’s blend of flair and muscle had romped six wins from seven in the Premier League.

A week truly is a long time in football.

While all the pre-match talk surrounded a certain Brazilian in Milan, it was City’s Argentinian defender Pablo Zabaleta – employed in an unfamiliar holding midfield role – who stole the show.

“What can you say?” said Bruce. “We pushed them all the way, missed a glorious chance right at the end but came away with nothing – that’s football.”

The fact Wigan went back to the JJB empty-handed was largely down to man-of-the-match Zabaleta.

The Wigan rearguard may have been as busy as the traffic outside the ground before kick-off, but as well as hitting the winner with a sweet strike from the edge of the area after 52 minutes – Zabaleta proved a constant spanner in the works of the spirited visitors.

Debutant Wayne Bridge also caught the eye with some impressive foraging runs down the left.

Robinho, Shaun Wright-Phillips and young Daniel Sturridge offered menace going forward, while at the other end, one-time Hulme Grammar pupil Nedum Onuoha – recalled at centre-back – saw off most of the away side’s threat.

All told, there was little for the watching Italian press to write home about in the first half. Kaka – possibly the world’s first £100m player – may not have relished the bruising battle which ensued after the break.

City captain Richard Dunne’s petulance earned him an early bath a minute after the goal when he kicked out at Amir Zaki. Remember Beckham v Argentina anyone?

From that moment, it was backs-to-the-wall stuff from the home side.

Atmosphere change. For joyous, read tetchy . . . at best.

Chances at both ends followed as the game inevitably opened up like a Brazil nut in the clutches of the world’s strongest man.

Still City didn’t crack.

Lee Cattermole headed against the bar following a rare mistake from Bridge, Zaki somehow nodded over when well-placed from the rebound and Cattermole was tripped in the box by that man Zabaleta . . . . . referee Lee Mason waved play-on.

Then, Wigan skipper Mario Melchiot saw his header tipped round the post by Joe Hart. Wigan ’keeper Chris Kirkland went up for the corner as City’s brave hearts moved ever closer to gaping mouths.

Kirkland’s ambition almost backfired as City broke free with Wright-Phillips.

The flyer was tugged back by Wigan’s number one – ref Mason, now ridiculed by both sets of fans, played advantage. Elano profited but his weak shot from half-way trickled well-wide of the open goal.

Hughes said: “Our off-field interests have been well-documented but we stuck at it, showed good qualities and got the job done.”

Hughes added Wigan’s Honduran playmaker Wilson Palacios to an ever-growing shortlist of possible signings after the match.

United and Spurs lead the chase but Hughes said: “We are interested in good players. Palacios falls into that category.”

There’s no harm in transfer window shopping but the City supremo’s Biro must be running out.