Wigan Athletic had to come from behind twice to secure a 2-2 draw with Fulham in their first match under new manager Gary Caldwell at Craven Cottage this evening.
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The home side needed just a couple of minutes to open the scoring as Ross McCormack curled the ball into the bottom of the net after Sean Kavanagh pulled the ball back to him, with the finish beating a diving Scott Carson.
Kim Bo-kyung tested the Fulham defence with a well-placed delivery into the box as Wigan looked for a quick equaliser, but the hosts were able to deal with it.
The Latics did level the scores midway through the first half though as Scott Parker gave away a free kick in a dangerous position, leaving Jermaine Pennant to blast the ball in directly from the set piece.
It did not take the Cottagers long to regain the lead as Ryan Tunnicliffe sent a high ball forward, picking out Matt Smith 30 yards out, and the midfielder hit it first time to lob it beyond Carson.
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Wigan were on the attack early in the second half as they tried to get back on level terms for a second time, but James McClean could not get the better of Marcus Bettinelli with a header from a Pennant cross.
Fulham responded to the visitors' bright start to the second half by pushing for a third, but McCormack saw his effort blocked, before Kavanagh twice missed the target.
Kavanagh was involved again as he picked out the head of Dan Burn from a corner, but the defender could not nod the ball on target.
Wigan started to see more possession again, allowing Pennant to fire in another dangerous-looking cross, but Harry Maguire could not squeeze his header inside the post.
Jason Pearce managed to keep the ball in though, bringing it down with his first touch before chipping it in from close range for the equaliser.
Cauley Woodrow tried to give Fulham the lead for the third time late on as McCormack found the substitute with a cross, but his header was too high.
Wigan were not settling for the draw though, and had a chance to steal the win down the other end shortly after when Pennant tried to head in from a McClean delivery, but his finish was blocked.
Woodrow came close again in the final moments after Parker connected with him, but his strike from outside the box was punched clear by Carson, ensuring that the sides finished level.
The draw moves Wigan up to 22nd, eight points adrift in the relegation zone, while Fulham sit 20th.
Sian Cowper
