HT Wigan 1-1 Fulham: Dempsey penalty makes it all square at the DW Stadium

Clint Dempsey struck from the spot to give Fulham a barely deserved equaliser at Wigan.

Emmerson Boyce had fired the Latics ahead and Wigan had several chances to extend their lead before Dempsey's penalty late in the first half.

There was a substitution at the DW Stadium before a ball had been kicked, referee Mark Clattenburg replaced by Phil Dowd as the man in the middle.

No explanation was given the for the swap.

Meanwhile, Fulham were without injured duo Danny Murphy and Andrew Johnson - but Damien Duff shook off an Achilles strain to start.

Erik Edman returned in defence for Wigan, who had Maynor Figueroa missing with a knee injury.

Both teams appeared muted in the opening few minutes but it did not take long for the match to catch fire.

Wigan threatened first as Charles N'Zogbia's wicked free-kick towards the back post came within inches of vital contract from both Titus Bramble and Hugo Rodallega.

Fulham then came even closer as Bobby Zamora carved out a terrific opportunity for strike partner Erik Nevland with an inviting ball over the defence.

Nevland, who had timed his run to perfection, left Chris Kirkland stranded with a looping header and time seemed to stand still as, amid almost complete silence inside the stadium, the ball dropped towards goal, clipped the inside of the post and bounced along the line before being hacked clear.

Wigan went one better, taking the lead in the 14th minute with a goal that would have had Fulham manager Roy Hodgson tearing his hair out.

Paul Scharner beat two defenders to meet Edman's cross and headed the ball back to Emmerson Boyce, completely unmarked eight yards out and with time to control the ball and steer it past Mark Schwarzer.

Schwarzer performed heroics two minutes later to keep the visitors in the game, with a stunning save to turn N'Zogbia's thunderous 30-yard strike onto the crossbar.

Schwarzer had to be alert again after a one-two between Rodallega and Jason Scotland led to the Colombian international trying a first-time shot that the Australian keeper only just managed to smother.

Wigan continued to press and Rodallega threatened with a bending direct free-kick that deflected just over, then Scharner headed over both keeper and crossbar after Bramble delivered a telling pass.

All that good work was undone however as panic in the Wigan ranks led to a penalty for Fulham. Two chances to clear the ball were passed up and when Clint Dempsey shaped to shoot Bramble dived in from behind to concede the spot-kick, and he could hardly argue with the decision.

Dempsey took the penalty himself, rifling to Kirkland's left with a minimum of fuss for the American's third league goal of the season.