• Wigan Athletic failed to make their overall dominance count against Crawley Town at the Broadfield Stadium and were held to a 1-1 draw.
• Latics created numerous goal scoring opportunities but they were unable to hit the net until Dale Taylor headed home on 39 minutes.
• Against the run of play Crawley equalised with an unstoppable strike from Charlie Barker three minutes later.
• Latics had the better of the second half, created plenty of opportunities and had two goals ruled out for offside, but they failed to capitalise on their dominance and the points had to be shared.
• Latics move up to 16th place and Crawley drop to 22nd place in the League One table.

Shaun Maloney made five changes from the defeat against Stockport County. Will Aimson, Ollie Norburn, Joe Hungbo, Owen Dale and Ronan Darcy came into the starting XI.

Latics started brightly and Dale’s left-sided cross found Hungbo at the far post, but the hosts scrambled the ball away before Taylor could pounce inside the six-yard box.

At the other end Rushian Hepburn-Murphy’s lifted effort was denied by the palm of Sam Tickle. 

Hungbo was causing plenty of problems for the Crawley defence and his low strike on 12 minutes was tipped around the post by Joe Woollacott. 

At the other end Harry Forster tried his luck from the edge of the area and his deflected effort nearly came to Hepburn-Murphy. 

Latics were having the better of it and were forcing numerous corners, and Taylor glanced a header narrowly wide of the target.

The visitors finally went ahead six minutes before the break as the new signings Dale and Darcy combined brilliantly down the left, and Darcy floated an inviting ball to the back post which Taylor headed home.

But out of the blue Crawley equalised three minutes later as Charlie Barker produced an unstoppable strike into the top corner from the edge of the box.

Tickle then had to be alert to save Kamari Doyle’s curling free-kick on the stroke of half-time. 

Latics had 14 attempts at goal and forced nine corners in the first half but they were only level at the break.

Early in the second half Latics again went close as Taylor’s hanging header hit the foot of the post from Aimson’s deep cross.

Latics were controlling possession and putting pressure on the Crawley defence but they were unable to make their dominance count.

The hosts went close on 57 minutes when a deep cross from the right found Forster who headed wide of the near post.

Taylor then thought he had found his second goal on the hour mark, but he was given offside as he tapped home Toby Sibbick’s low shot.

Jonny Smith replaced Hungbo on 65 minutes and soon afterwards Darcy’s shot was deflected for another Latics corner.

Doyle then drove forward on the counter attack, but Tickle saved low down on 71 minutes.

Substitute Jonny Smith was posing plenty of problems and he had a deflected effort just wide of the target. Soon afterwards he cut inside and curled a typical Jonny Smith effort narrowly wide of the far post on 80 minutes.

Latics were pressing hard for the winner and Taylor had another goal ruled out for offside in added time as he diverted Substitute Callum McManaman’s shot into the net.

Jon Mellish’s dangerous low cross was then cleared away at the near post for yet another corner and Latics had to settle for a point.

Overview

This was an improved performance by Maloney’s team but they couldn’t make their dominance count. Latics showed good attacking intent, but goal scoring has been a problem all season and it was particularly evident against Crawley.

Latics had 27 shots and forced 17 corners but they were unable to capitalise apart from one of those chances with Dale Taylor scoring his seventh goal of the season.

The club now only have one recognised striker in Taylor, now that loan signing Will Goodwin has been injured in training and will be unavailable until at least April.

The decision to allow Josh Stones to leave and the lack of the recruitment of another striker is proving to be a big mistake. Operating with only two loan strikers was always a risky strategy.

The club’s previous financial difficulties are well known and the club has to be more sustainable, but the failure to recruit an established striker is damaging the club’s progress.

Post match comments

Speaking post-game, Maloney came away satisfied with his team’s overall performance on the night and was naturally disappointed for the players and supporters that their efforts weren’t rewarded with a victory.

“We were good tonight, and played well,” he told the media.

“We played well as we did against Fulham in that second half. Crawley are very good at keeping possession but we were good with the ball and at the same levels without it. We should’ve won that game.

“There is nothing negative to say about the players. Their goal was a brilliant moment, but apart from that, Sam Tickle had little to do. I’m very disappointed that we didn’t win. We just didn’t do quite enough to score that second goal and win.

“I’m glad the performance was the way it was. I know we’ve drawn the game, and I know our fans would’ve wanted to win that.

“This is a difficult journey for them, and we had really good support tonight. The away support and the support I get in particular is very good, and I appreciate it. I hope they saw a good performance – we need to find consistency to perform like that at home.

“I know where we are at this moment, and games like today give us hope.”

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