A scrambled injury time goal from substitute Grigg secured a point for Wigan to maintain their unbeaten home start to the season but it was a close run thing after they had conceded two goals after taking the lead early in the second half.
Wigan made two changes to the team that drew at Oldham with Chow coming in for the injured Pearce and Murray earning a recall for the suspended Flores
Latics started the game on the front foot with some fine flowing football with Jacobs not for the first time this season the focus of all that was good about the play. He was ably supported by good play from Perkins and Murray and some enterprising forays down the left from James with his best performance yet in a Latic shirt.
For all Wigan’s enterprising play clear cut chances were few and far between and the best chance in the early stages fell to Gregory for Millwall whose turn and shot on the edge of the area saw his shot go agonisingly wide of the far post.
James saw a half chance on his favoured left foot but he couldn’t keep his shot down which didn’t trouble the Millwall keeper
The game continued to ebb and flow up until half time with the only real chance falling to O’Brien for the Lions whose header went narrowly wide
Caldwell has shown so far this season that he isn’t afraid to make early substitutions if he thinks his tactics aren’t working and so it was again last night with Murray being replaced by Junior who immediately injected some pace and purpose to Latics’ play
Within ten minutes of the restart Caldwell’s move bore fruit when Junior seized on a 50/50 ball in midfield, fed the ball through to Jacobs who raced into the area before steering the ball into the net with aplomb to give Wigan the lead
This should have been the catalyst for Wigan to go on and dominate the game but as at Oldham on Saturday the Latics sat back and defended deeper and deeper allowing Millwall to gain ground, confidence and momentum.
The visitors drew level after sustained pressure when substitute Onyedinma, seized on a loose ball in a crowded penalty area and slid the ball home to the delight of the small way following in the North Stand. One soon became two when a goal mouth scramble saw the ball blocked on the line twice before Beevers headed the ball off the bar past the despairing arm of O’Donnell.
Millwall immediately switched into time wasting mode with Gregory the worst culprit but Odelusi missed a great chance to equalise shooting straight at the keeper. Millwall were hoisted by their own petard however as the referee awarded six extra minutes to play and another goal mouth scramble saw Grigg put his foot through a mass of legs to poke the ball into the net for a well deserved equaliser leaving the fans to ruminate o how good Wigan could be if they sustained their game for the full 90 minutes
Team Line up and player ratings
O’Donnell…..6, kicking is a joke
James…………8, some fantastic runs and crosses from the left, withdrawn
Daniels………..7, great battle with Gregory
Barnett…………7, solid performance from captain for the night
McCann……….7, no frills defending from the Irishman
Chow…………..6, did ok out of position.
Perkins…………7, another dependable performance
Power…………….6, industrious, withdrawn
Murray……………6,some good pitch length passes, withdrawn
Jacobs…………..8.5, MOM, key player in everything Latics do
Hiwula……………6, worked hard for scraps
Subs Used
Junior (for Murray)……….7.5, turned the game
Odelusi (for James)………..6, missed a good chance
Grigg (for Power) ………….7, right place right time
Att…………………. 7,991
Entertainment rating ………6/10, lots of toing and froing
Peter
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