Jewell Charged As Wigan Hit Back

Wigan boss Paul Jewell has been charged with improper conduct by the Football Association for confronting referee Phil Dowd after the defeat at Arsenal.

Jewell was furious that Dowd failed to give a penalty when Mathieu Flamini appeared to bring down Emile Heskey when Wigan were leading 1-0.

Arsenal went on to win 2-1 and Jewell stormed on to the pitch after the final whistle to remonstrate with Dowd.

Wigan have complained to the FA and Premier League about Dowd's conduct.

Their complaint has also gone to referees' chief Keith Hackett, with Wigan claiming "that a number of their players were verbally abused in an aggressive and menacing manner by Mr Dowd".

But Jewell is determined to fight the charge and said: "We, as a club, will be fighting this tooth and nail. We owe it to our supporters to fight this because if I just shrug my shoulders and do nothing when I feel an injustice has been done, it would be letting them down. "I have been overwhelmed with the support I have had from inside the game, big figures who I respect a great deal. They have told me in no uncertain terms that I must take this all the way, and that's what I intend to do."

During the defeat at Arsenal, Dowd further infuriated Jewell by not letting Josip Skoko back on to the pitch after he had received treatment, meaning the Australian was still on the sidelines as Fitz Hall scored the own goal that set the Gunners up for a comeback win.