Bramble's Blunder Lets Everton Get Away With a Gamble

The two elderly Wigan fans departed for the half-time refreshments with caps on their heads and a familiar refrain on their lips. "Oh Titus," said one. "Oh Titus," said the other. Oh Titus indeed.

Steve Bruce, the Wigan manager, had more to say to Titus Bramble after another galling error from the big defender undermined a vibrant display from his side yesterday and gave Everton a gift to help them leap above Liverpool into the fourth Champions League place.

David Moyes' team had sent apologies in advance of their trip to the JJB Stadium for the more prosaic football they have adopted in the absence of African Cup of Nations employees and the off-loaded James McFadden. Having prospered through grit and good fortune to record their ninth win in 13 league matches, they were not inclined to apologize afterwards.

"A lot of teams near the top are struggling to get victories just now and there is no doubt we had the cup in mind," said Moyes, referring to Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final, second leg against Chelsea at Goodison Park. "We were conscious of it, we have some important players away, so this is a big three points for us. This is a difficult stage of the season but we have bounced back brilliantly from going out of the FA Cup and we have the belief that we are going to win even when we are not hitting the heights."

The opposite is true of Wigan, who impressed here but whose belief is based on fragile foundations. Bruce's team were not only superior in terms of effort and commitment but also on the ball until Bramble attempted to clean up a routine back-pass in the 39th minute. Hence the utter dismay in the Latics' technical area and three sides of the JJB Stadium when he contrived to stumble, mis-hit his clearance and present Andrew Johnson with his sixth goal of the season.

While the England international strode through to score between the legs of Chris Kirkland there was some sympathy for Bramble as he adopted that familiar pose of head down, looking for a hole in which to hide and knowing his team-mates and supporters would queue up to shove him in.

The 26-year-old is culpable for the destruction of his own reputation but it would be remiss to ignore his positive impact for Wigan this season and two excellent challenges on Johnson inside the penalty area, plus a dominant aerial display, illustrated what might have been but for the player's poor concentration and the price he so often pays for it.

"He has all the attributes but he has got to work on his concentration levels," said Bruce, the Geordie accent adding to the sense of Newcastle déjà-vu. "When you are playing at the back you get judged, and the great ones and good ones don't often make mistakes. Unfortunately for Titus, he makes a mistake and he gets punished badly, so we'll keep working on him. I didn't know what to say to the team at half-time because they had done everything right but we were two goals down."

Bramble was by no means the only defender to struggle on a quagmire at the JJB Stadium - "The pitch is a real worry and it could cost us in the long run," admitted Bruce - but responsibility for the game's pivotal moment ensured he bore the brunt of the blame and ridicule.

Wilson Palacios, the Honduran international midfielder whom Birmingham City opted not to retain on loan, shone on his home debut and Wigan twice came close to a merited lead with the contest level. Tim Howard made a fine reaction save to tip a header from the former Everton striker Marcus Bent on to his crossbar and Tim Cahill showed similar agility to divert a goal bound drive from Antonio Valencia. Though Kirkland blocked a Mikel Arteta drive at close range, that was a rare threat to the Wigan goalkeeper as his team controlled the first half. Their adventure, movement and threat would bode well for the scrap with relegation were it not for their tendency to implode.

Wigan were aghast to fall behind and dumbfounded to trail by two goals when Joleon Lescott pounced three minutes later. An Arteta corner caused mayhem inside the penalty area, with Lee Carsley, Cahill and Phil Jagielka all taking a bite at the loose ball before the England defender converted at the back post. Lescott's seventh goal of the season heightened the sense of an Everton heist.

A sense of justice returned when Jason Koumas, with his first kick as a second-half substitute, whipped a free-kick over the visiting team's area and Jagielka inadvertently deflected the ball over his own goalline following a slight touch off Bramble. But the damage had been done and, with Everton assured at the back and clinical up front, Wigan knew where to identify their failings.

Man of the match: Lee Carsley

One of the few in dark blue to come to terms with the atrocious pitch and whose influence, in both attack and defence, enabled Everton to wrestle control in the second half

Best moment: Any one of numerous interceptions, with head and foot, that took the hope from Wigan's play. That tenacious attitude proved key to his side's victory