Here is what a selection of the national media thought about Wigan's 2-1 defeat.
The Independent
McCarthy snatches late victory in tale of two goalkeepers
The European hangover and the perils of conceding on the stroke of half-time presented an admirable challenge for the most influential football cliché at Ewood Park yesterday only to succumb to that perennial favourite, the fickle nature of goalkeeping. Fortune favoured Blackburn.
Six minutes were all that were required to expose the full gamut of a goalkeeper's life as Jason Brown, making his Rovers debut as a half-time replacement for the injured Brad Friedel, denied the Wigan substitute Svetoslav Todorov from the penalty spot and saved two subsequent rebounds. The former Gillingham keeper then saw his counterpart, the England international Chris Kirkland, ruin an otherwise exemplary performance when he raced from goal in the 81st minute, missed a clearance and gifted a controversial winner to Benni McCarthy.
The Sun
Blackburn 2 Wigan 1
Mark Hughes is tipping new hitman Benni McCarthy to be a huge hit in the Premiership. The South African star has instantly adapted to English football since his £2½million move from Porto in July. His late Rovers winner took his tally to five goals from nine starts.
But he owed a big thank you to Wigan keeper Chris Kirkland, who did his England hopes no favours with a disastrous error. The on-loan Liverpool ace dashed out of his area to clear a long ball but produced a fresh air shot and was left in no-man's land as McCarthy tapped home.
The Times
Blackburn 2 Wigan 1
Dejected Wigan boss Paul Jewell claimed McCarthy's winner was offside. The Rovers man appeared to be ahead of Chris Kirkland when former Latics striker Jason Roberts touched the ball through for him.
"It was more than just a little bit offside, but there's no point coming in screaming and shouting," he said. "We should have dealt with it better. I'm not going to blame Tody for missing the penalty and things just aren't going for us at the minute. "
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