Ryan Shawcross has given Stoke City a 1-0 lead over Wigan Athletic after 45 minutes of tedium at the Britannia Stadium.
© PA Photos
The start of the game was stymied due to an early clash of heads between Franco di Santo and Robert Huth, with the German needing to be bandaged up before play continued.
That seemed to take any edge out of the game, which was scrappy in the opening 20 minutes.
The Britannia Stadium was given a much-needed lift when Ryan Shawcross broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute.
Jean Beausejour attempted to clear Charlie Adam's free kick, but his header rebounded off James McCarthy, leaving the centre-back with a simple finish.
Adam then went close to doubling the Potters' lead in the 34th minute, but his shot went just over Ali Al Habsi's cross bar.
The Latics' first chance fell to James McArthur in the 41st minute, but he could not turn Beausejour's cross goalwards.
Michael Penkman
