The Premier League match between Birmingham City and Wigan Athletic at St Andrews on Saturday Feb 27 2010.
Birmingham returned to winning ways after consecutive league defeats in London by scrambling a narrow victory over an out-of-form Wigan who left St Andrew's bemoaning, with some justification, a debateable penalty award.
The moment of controversy came seconds before half time. Birmingham's Keith Fahey, on the edge of the Wigan penalty area but heading towards the touchline, induced an unnecessary lunge from Mario Melchiot.
Contact seemed minimal, at best, but referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the penalty spot and James McFadden made no mistake with a low, emphatic finish into the bottom right-hand corner.
Birmingham, beaten recently at West Ham and Fulham, just about deserved their scrappy win though Wigan, resplendant in their change attire of hi-viz orange shirts, had started as if they were on their way to an emergency.
Melchiot's sweeping pass found Hugo Rodallega, who sent a shot skidding wide, and Charles N'Zogbia's effort from the edge of the penalty deflected for a corner off Scott Dann.
That was within the opening 10 minutes but the alarm bells were soon clanging at the other end. Dann headed Lee Bowyer's free-kick on to the visitor's crossbar and directed a corner from Sebastian Larsson wide before Fahey broke forward, providing a pass for Cameron Jerome that the Birmingham forward crashed past the post.
Jerome was more accurate on the half-hour, his shot on the turn being beaten away for a corner by alert Wigan goalkeeper Chris Kirkland, as Birmingham's ascendency grew.
Wigan were fortunate to survive a double scare just before the penalty incident. Liam Ridgwell burst into the penalty area but instead of shooting at a clear target, laid the ball back for a more hemmed-in Jerome, whose shot was blocked.
Moments later, Ridgewell, in a similar position, made undoubtedly the right choice, but McFadden's close-range blast was somehow blocked by Kirkland and cleared by Titus Bramble.
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez introduced Jason Scotland and Victor Moses for the second half and his more attacking formation presented a greater presence in the home half even if chances were few and far between.
Birmingham, however, required goalkeeper Joe Hart to stand tall to block Rodallega's shot from eight-yards after neat work on the right by James McCarthy midway through the half.
Wigan's pain was felt equally by assistant referee Trevor Massey, who was carried away for treatment to a head injury after being caught in a touchline pile-up with Ridgewell and McCarthy 15 minutes from the end.
Massey, recently the centre of controversy for awarding the corner from which Aston Villa equalised in a FA Cup fifth round tie at Crystal Palace earlier this month, was replaced by fourth official Steve Bennett.
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