The Premier League football match between Burnley and Wigan Athletic at Turf Moor on Saturday Oct 24, 2009.
Hugo Rodallega has taken some time to look like he can fill the void left by Emile Heskey at Wigan but unlike the England forward he was signed to replace in January, the Columbian is showing that strikers can thrive even when they are asked to do a shift on the left flank, scoring two fine goals to end Burnley's perfect run at home.
There can be no doubting what Steve Bruce achieved at Wigan but it is to his successor Roberto Martínez's credit that despite losing a number of key players since the turn of the year, he has been able to get even more out of what was left behind.
Although he was shunted to left back after an early injury, Charles N'Zogbia has inspired at right wing and since Jason Scotland's inclusion as a lone striker against Chelsea last month, Rodallega, a £4.5 milion signing from Necaxa in January, has been equally effective on the left.
In the 3-1 victory Chelsea, the Columbian demoralised José Bosingwa and did a similar job against Tyrone Mears, who has been one of the most impressive attacking right-backs in the Premier League this season, as well as, more crucially, coming up with two precious goals.
!Four straight home wins had given Burnley even more belie! f that t hey can stay up and the feeling that nothing could go wrong only intensified when a cross from Robbie Blake was stabbed in off the bar by Steven Fletcher with just three minutes gone.
But six minutes later, Rodallega scored the easiest goal of his life to bring Wigan level. Mario Melchiot sliced a lob forward and should have been an easy take for goalkeeper Brian Jensen but the Dane's studs caught in the turf and he collapsed in a heap, allowing Rodallega to roll into an empty net.
Jensen had to be replaced by the Diego Penny but despite Wigan's dominance, they failed to trouble the Peruvian goalkeeper until a fine move just after the restart.
Jordi Gómez's sweeping pass sent Scotland into the area and he held the ball up before laying off for Rodallega, who drilled in a shot that flew in off the inside of the post.
They made it three when Rodallega's corner was flicked on by Paul Scharner and the defend! er Emmerson Boyce found the net through a crowd of bodies.
