Benitez defiant despite slip

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Yossi Benayoun's 41st-minute goal from a narrow angle was all the visitors had to show for their efforts despite dominating most of the match and the Latics equalised late on when Mido converted from the penalty spot.

"When you are top of the table you know that every single game is really important so when you lose two points you have to be disappointed," said Benitez.

"But we have an important game on Sunday (against Chelsea) and if we play like we played in the first half we can beat anyone.

"All the games will be important until the end of the season. It depends on the other teams too but we have to try to play well and try to win."

The Spaniard was at his cryptic best in his post-match press conference, labelling the second half "crazy" but offering no explanation for his reasoning.

"We were much better in the first half. We had control of the game. We didn't kill the game," he said.

"The second half was a crazy game and when it is a crazy game you cannot control things."

Wigan manager Steve Bruce paid tribute to his team's battling spirit.

"The resilience of them was there again, the one thing they do is stick at it and have a right good crack at it. In the last 20-25 minutes they really got the bit between their teeth."