Aghahowa pleased with Sunderland victory

Last updated : 07 January 2008 By Paul Farrington
Julius Aghahowa: Pleased with Sunderland win
Although the goal was technically McShane's own goal, Aghahowa proceeded with his trademark celebration anyway. He said: "It was an own goal but I still did the summersault.

"As I turned away from the incident, Emile Heskey was shouting 'back flip', so I just decided to do it. I know it was an own goal but when Emile asked me to do it, I wasn't going to say no - it was just for the fun of it."


The Nigerian international striker came on as a substitute for the injured Antoine Sibierski and proceeded to claim the own goal by Sunderland's Paul McShane.

Speaking about the victory, Aghahowa told the Wigan Evening Post: "It was a good win, a clean sheet, and it will have brought back confidence for the players who haven't been playing a lot recently.

"It shows that the squad is in good shape. When we are called upon we can do a good job for the team. For me, it has been difficult to get into the side because there are some very good strikers at the club.

"But I've kept working hard and will always try my best. In the two or three days leading up to the game I had an ankle strain, that is why I was only back-up on the bench at Sunderland.

"But I went on when Sibi was injured and played through the pain. It was worth it because we won the game and got into the next round."

A tie against Chelsea at the JJB Stadium now awaits the Latics on the 26th January. The game is to be the first Wigan Athletic game shown live on terrestrial television.