MX23RW : Friday, January 24 03:43:06| >> :120:57978:57978:
[monks data]
Attendance: 16,142
Blackburn logo
League One
Mar 4, 2018 at 12pm UK
 
Wigan logo

2-2

Armstrong (6'), Bennett (17')
FT(HT: 2-0)
Jacobs (63'), Power (73')

Wigan Athletic battle back to earn crucial point at Blackburn Rovers

Second-half goals from Michael Jacobs and Max Power earn Wigan Athletic a 2-2 draw against League One leaders Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.

Wigan Athletic have recovered from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw against League One promotion rivals Blackburn Rovers, keeping the gap on their rivals at six points.

The Latics conceded twice in the opening quarter of the match to Adam Armstrong and Elliot Bennett, before battling back in the second half through goals from Michael Jacobs and Max Power.

Wigan's point keeps them firmly on track for promotion back to the second tier, as they still have four games in hand to play on their opponents, while second-placed Shrewsbury Town are a point better off after playing two games more.

Blackburn had lost just once here to Wigan in 12 previous encounters, and they were off to the quickest of starts in this latest North-West showdown.

Bradley Dack played a big part in the opener, bursting forward and shaking off Sam Morsy before slipping it through for Armstrong to hammer the ball home from just inside the area.

Wigan responded well and came close through Will Grigg, who nearly got on the end of a right-sided cross and should have done better from a more central position moments later.

Those missed chances would haunt the visitors, with Bennett bending the ball into the net, but only after Dack dragged down Nathan Byrne to leave the Athletic players furious.

Both teams were committing to challenges and things did threaten to boil over, though it was Rovers who took a commanding lead into the break after Nick Powell sent a header wide from the last meaningful act of the opening 45.

Christian Walton was needed to produce a couple of saves as Blackburn looked to extend their four-match winning run, only for the visiting side to pull one back just after the hour mark.

Armstrong had given Blackburn a warning with his volleyed shot, which ended over the bar, and Jacobs went one better by hitting a rebound through a sea of bodies to change the feel of the game.

Having seen a couple of penalty shouts go against them, the Blue and Whites relinquished their lead 73 minutes in when Power's free kick went all the way through without a telling touch.

There was more frustration to come for home fans, as Powell escaped a second booking for his nudge on Bennett shortly before being taken off.

That would prove to be it in terms of chances, meaning that Wigan remain favourites to go up as champions.

BLACKBURN ROVERS (4-3-3): Raya; Nyambe, Lenihan, Mulgrew, Williams; Bennett, Smallwood, Evans (Antonsson 77'); Dack, Graham (Nuttall 76'), Armstrong (Payne 82')

WIGAN ATHLETIC (4-2-3-1): Walton; Byrne (Vaughan 56'), Dunkley, Burn, Elder; Morsy, Power; Massey (Walker 59'), Powell (Perkins 82'), Jacobs; Grigg

ID:320058: cacheID:320058:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4853:
Written by
Daniel Lewis
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
City players argue with Anthony Taylor after Fabian Delph is sent off during the FA Cup game between Wigan Athletic and Manchester City on February 19, 2018
Read Next:
FA charges Wigan, Manchester City
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Birmingham CityBirmingham25176243182557
2Wycombe WanderersWycombe26166452282454
3Wrexham27157539211852
4Huddersfield TownHuddersfield25146539211848
5Barnsley2612684036442
6Stockport CountyStockport26118740281241
7Reading2512584036441
8Leyton Orient25115932221038
9Bolton WanderersBolton26115103941-238
10Charlton AthleticCharlton2510783126537
11Mansfield TownMansfield2411493228437
12Lincoln CityLincoln269892930-135
13Rotherham UnitedRotherham259792826234
14Exeter CityExeter2695122933-432
15Blackpool2571083437-331
16Stevenage248791922-331
17Wigan AthleticWigan2586112426-230
18Bristol Rovers2584132539-1428
19Peterborough UnitedPeterborough2676134247-527
20Northampton TownNorthampton2668122440-1626
21Crawley TownCrawley2456132544-1921
22Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury2555152645-1920
23Burton Albion2639142340-1718
24Cambridge UnitedCambridge2546152445-2118


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!