WIGAN, England (CMC):
JAMAICAN INTERNATIONAL Deon Burton scored for Rotherham in a draw against Huddersfield in the League One yesterday evening, while Grenada international Jason Roberts struck two goals to help Wigan Athletic sink Manchester City 4-3 in the English Premiership.
Burton gave struggling Rotherham an early lead, but saw his side denied maximum points by a very late Huddersfield goal in their Yorkshire derby.
Burton, the 1997 Jamaica Sportsman of the Year on the strength of his scoring exploits that helped propel the Reggae Boyz to the 1998 World Cup Finals in France, struck his 14th goal of the season after just eight minutes.
SUPERB SHOT
Lee Williamson quietly knocked a short free-kick to Burton for the forward to smash a superb shot into the top corner of the net from 20 yards.
Burton should have scored three goals in the match but wasted two easy chances and was left to rue those misses as substitute Gary Taylor-Fletcher scored from close range in the 90th minute to grab a share of the points for high-riding Huddersfield.
The result left Huddersfield third in the standings on 41 points, close to the leaders Brentford (43) and Swansea City (42), while Rotherham are 20th on 23 points.
LATE CHALLENGE
With two first-half goals, Roberts lifted his season's tally to a team-best eight goals in all competitions but Wigan were forced to fend off a determined late challenge from visiting Manchester City who almost snatched a draw.
It was the second two-goal game in a week for Roberts.
Last week Tuesday night, the Spice Isle forward also struck two first-half goals that propelled Wigan to a Carling Cup 2-0 win over English Premier league rivals Bolton Wanderers and into their first ever major semi-final.
In front of 25,017 fans, the biggest ever at Wigan's JJB Stadium, City went ahead through Antoine Sibierski after just three minutes.
Wigan leveled on 11 minutes when Gary Teale - on a counter-attack -- floated a pass over the City midfield for Roberts to latch onto.
The 27-year-old Caribbean star sped past his marker and struck a firm shot into the goal past David James after gaining a clear run to goal.
Lee McCulloch made it 2-1 with a headed goal on 23 minutes and Roberts struck again just before the half ended to give Wigan a two-goal advantage.
Roberts stole the ball from Sylvan Distin and outpaced the French defender in another run toward goal that ended with him slotting the ball past James into the far corner.
Wigan appeared to be cruising to an easy win after Henri Camara scored in the 71st minute, the first time the "Latics" were scoring four goals in a Premier League match since they entered the top flight.
But City struck a 77th minute goal through Joey Barton and netted again when former England international Andy Cole found the target in the 82nd minute and the home side were happy for the final whistle that came just moments after Sibierski headed wide of the far post in a great injury-time chance to tie the game at 4-4.
