Charles N'Zogbia frustrated at disallowed goal against Blackburn Rovers
Wigan Athletic striker Charles N'Zogbia can still not understand referee Kevin Friend's decision to rule out his strike against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday 6 November.
The Frenchman eventually got on the scoresheet by converting a free kick in the 74th minute, but the goal was not enough to stop Blackburn from winning 2–1.
That scoreline may have been different if N'Zogbia's first-half effort had been allowed.
The striker exchanged passes with fellow striker Hugo Rodallega on the edge of the box to earn himself space to shoot.
His first effort was blocked by Michel Salgado, but the striker followed it up by muscling Morten-Gamst Pedersen off the ball and beating Paul Robinson in the Blackburn goal.
"All I was looking at was the ball, and all I was concentrating on was trying to score a goal," N'Zogbia told the Wigan Evening Post after Friend ruled the goal out for a foul on Pedersen.
"Their defender was just standing in front of me, but I don't even think I fouled him," said N'Zogbia. "I just played the ball, put it into the back of the net, and the referee called it a foul. I asked the referee what I did wrong and he told me I pushed
him — but I didn't."
Pedersen opened Blackburn's account
After the break, Pedersen lined up to take a free kick from the left wing.
The Norwegian's swerving ball flew over the Wigan defence and goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi, who had come off his line, could do little to stop it from going in.
Substitute Jason Roberts then doubled Blackburn's lead in the 67th minute.
"We played our usual game and were on top for most of the game," N'Zogbia said of his team's performance. "If we don't give them that free-kick, they don't score the goal. We made it easy for them by giving them what they wanted."
Wigan hosts Liverpool in the Premier League on Wednesday 10 November.
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