Dunkley brace not enough for Latics

Despite being the dominant team Latics failed to secure the away victory that they crave and had to settle for a 2-2 draw at Bristol City. Andreas Weimann had given City the lead but the visitors were ahead with two goals from centre-back Chey Dunkley and had the chances to seal the three points but were pegged back in the 85th minute through Pedro Pereira.

The hosts were vying to go second in the Championship table but it was the visitors who looked the more likely winners at Ashton Gate. Latics wasted several good goalscoring opportunities and had 19 shots to City’s nine.

Gavin Massey had the best chance with a one-on-one but shot tamely straight at keeper Daniel Bentley and Latics should have been awarded a penalty when a City defender handled the ball in the box.

Latics will feel this was a great opportunity for a first away win of the season but it had been thrown away.

Bristol City remain sixth in the Championship table while Latics move up one place to 18th.

Paul Cook made one change to the starting line up with Cedric Kipre replacing the injured Charlie Mulgrew.

Latics created two good opportunities in the opening 21 minutes with Kipre heading straight at Bentley and then Samy Morsy forcing another save from the Bristol City stopper.

Jamal Lowe was next to go close when his right footed effort from the inside the box was deflected just over the crossbar by a late Ashley Williams intervention. Dunkley then headed over the crossbar from the resulting corner.

Massey curled an effort wide of the far post on the half hour but on 38 minutes some calamitous Latics defending gifted Bristol City the lead.

Dunkley failed to head away in the area and Latics’ other defenders were all at sea as Andreas Weimann dispatched a low shot past Marshall for 1-0.

Latics quickly responded and a cross from Lowe was clearly handled in the area by a defender but referee John Brooks waved away the Latics’ players appeals.

But two minutes later Latics were level when from a Joe Williams corner Kieffer Moore flicked on and Dunkley redeemed his earlier mistake by smashing the ball home for the equaliser.

The visitors started the second half brightly and they went ahead on 53 minutes when Dunkley grabbed his second. The big centre-back rose to meet Williams’ corner and powered his header over the line despite the desperate attempts of Bentley.

Latics best opportunity to seal all three points came on 59 minutes as Moore sent Massey racing free on goal and with Morsy to his left and just the keeper to beat, the winger shot tamely straight at Bentley.

The visitors continued to threaten but they were unable to capitalise on their chances and it was to prove costly.

With five minutes of normal time remaining Latics allowed Pereira to rise unchallenged at the near post to make it 2-2.

Matters could have got worse two minutes later had it not been for David Marshall. The Latics keeper made a brilliant save to deny Weimann when he appeared odds-on to score.

This had been a great opportunity to break the away day hoodoo but Latics failure to be clinical in the final third proved costly.

Latics haven’t won away since August last year and Cook’s reluctance to utilise prolific youth striker Joe Gelhardt is a big mystery. Latics are crying out for a clinical finisher but the manager stubbornly refuses to give the young starlet any game time.