Wigan Athletic continue to stumble over the line as they held on for a 2-2 draw away at Ipswich Town. 402 fans made the mammoth journey to Suffolk and were rewarded with 95 minutes of nerves, panic and uncertainty as Latics moved 1 point closer to the Championship.
Leam Richardson changed back to the trusty 3-4-3 formation which saw Jason Kerr and Joe Bennett return in place of Graeme Shinnie and Gwion Edwards. It’s fair to say the tactical tweak on Saturday didn’t work and I expect us to stick with 3 at the back from now till the end of the season and beyond.
Latics made a bright start and could’ve gone a goal up early on when Tendayi Darikwa found space in the box but his low shot was saved by former Tics keeper Christian Walton. With both sides playing the same formation, and with our defenders going man for man with their front 3, space was opened up in wide areas and both sides came close to exploiting this in the opening stages.
However, this would be Latics 1 and only chance in the first 40 odd minutes and the home side took complete control. Tyreeq Bakinson and Sam Morsy both had shooting opportunities whilst the home sides overlapping wingbacks won several corners in wide areas.
Despite dominating the game in possession the home side didn’t create any major chances and Latics’ resolute defending was just about keeping them in the game. Sam Morsy and Joe Bennett were embroiled in off the ball scuffles which resulted in the former Latics captain receiving a yellow card. In other news water is wet.
With 43 minutes on the clock Latics sprung a counter attack and won a dangerous free kick. From the free kick we won a corner and from the corner Will Keane grabbed his 22md league goal of the season against his former club. Having been jeered right before the corner was taken he promptly cupped his ears in front of the home end which we can all get behind!
At half time Latics had the lead but it was anything but convincing. With Ipswich committing an extra player into the midfield they were able to control the ball and move it quickly, albeit without managing to create much in terms of clear cut chances. Latics needed a change and with a lead to defend it didn’t take long for Leam to turn to the bench.
However, just as Jordan Cousins was being prepared to make his return to the side after a long spell out with injury Ipswich sprung a counter attack on Latics. Callum Lang tracked back and looked to have made a fantastic challenge but the referee blew for a free kick and booked the Latics forward. Cousins’ introduction was delayed and Ipswich equalised from the free kick through Conor Chaplin.
Results elsewhere meant a point wouldn’t have been the worst thing in the world but the home sides goal created a momentum that Latics struggled to deal with. With 73 minutes on the clock a quick Ipswich attack saw them break down the right and deliver a cross to the far post. The ball was headed across goal were Sam Morsy (of course) was there to fire home into the roof of the net.
With Latics desperate for points we substituted our wide centre halves and put on two wing backs to give us more threat in wide areas. Bennett and Darikwa moved to LCB and RCB to give us crossing ability in deeper areas too which ultimately proved to be vital.
Latics won a corner after good play between Keane and Lang resulted in Keane firing a shot at Christian Walton who put it behind. When the set play was cleared it was Darikwa who picked the ball up in the RCB spot and clipped the ball down the line to Max Power. He took on his man and delivered a cross towards Keane who couldn’t miss for his 23rd goal of the season, taking him level with Cole Stockton at the top of the charts.
With hardly any time left the 402 Latics fans in the away end weren’t sure whether to encourage their team forward in search of the win that would’ve secured promotion or protect the point with both MK and Rotherham losing. In the end the points were shared, somehow, and we can take a point back to Wigan knowing we probably didn’t deserve it but got it nonetheless.
Player of the Match
Will Keane put Wigan Athletic on his back and dragged us to a 2-2 draw last night, and it’s even sweeter that he did it against his former club. It’s no secret that he had an indifferent time at Portman Road, in fact his 2 goals there last night almost matched the 3 home goals he managed in his 33 games for the Tractor Boys.
Despite being anonymous for much of the first half Keane put us a goal ahead with a deft header from Joe Bennett’s inswinging corner. What perhaps went unnoticed in the first half was his defensive contribution, making 1 tackle, 2 clearances and 5 recoveries in the opening 45 minutes.
In the second half he got on the ball a bit more and could’ve had a hat trick had Christian Walton not made a smart save at the front post. He did grab his and Latics’ second 5 minutes from time to ensure his team continued their record of not losing back to back league games this season.
Final Thoughts
2. More. Points. That is all Latics need to guarantee a return to the Championship next season. We’re slightly fortunate that both MK and Rotherham are stumbling towards the finishing line as well as us but we’ve shown bags and bags of character yesterday that will stand us in good stead going into Saturday’s game against Plymouth.
Talking Wigan 