• Wigan Athletic and Lincoln City drew 2-2 at the LNER stadium in a game marred by poor refereeing from Alan Young.
• Latics started brightly and were ahead after only nine minutes when Paul Mullin scored from a brilliant assist by goalkeeper Sam Tickle.
• The visitors were dominating but against the run of play The Imps drew level from a penalty after Christian Saydee was adjudged to have fouled Ryley Towler and James Collins converted the spot kick.
• Three minutes later and the hosts were in front as Collins flicked Towler’s downwards header past Tickle.
• Latics were back level five minutes after half-time. Saydee did well on the edge of the box before chipping the ball for Callum Wright to head home from close range.
• The visitors were now in the ascendancy but they were stunned on 68 minutes when they lost Saydee to a harsh red card after a challenge on Tom Bayliss.
• Lincoln’s Rob Street picked up a second yellow card for a high boot on substitute Baba Adeeko in the 77th minute.
• In the frenetic final minutes both teams had chances to win the game. Substitute Dara Costelloe hit the crossbar, before at the other end, Will Aimson cleared an Adam Reach effort off the line and the points had to be shared.
• Latics are now in 14th place and The Imps are in eighth place in the League One table.

Manager Ryan Lowe made a couple of changes from the draw with Stockport with Matt Smith replacing Tyrese Francois and Paul Mullin replacing Dara Costelloe.

All three of Latics’ Deadline Day signings – Toby Savin, Ollie Cooper and Raphael Bogues Rodrigues were on the bench.

Latics were quick out of the blocks and they put pressure on the hosts right from the kick off.

A brilliant quick clearance by Tickle set up Mullin on nine minutes. The Wrexham-loanee showed good composure and took the ball around keeper George Wickens, before slotting home.

Soon afterwards Mullin charged down a clearance in The Imps box but keeper Wickens made a big save to deny him.

Saydee went close to doubling the lead minutes later, getting on the end of Morgan Fox’s long ball, but he was unable to hit the target.

The visitors continued to dominate and forced a series of corners. 

But against the run of play The Imps were fortunate to draw level from a penalty after Saydee was adjudged to have fouled Towler and Collins converted the spot kick.

Three minutes later and the hosts were in front as Collins flicked Towler’s downwards header past Tickle.

Wright scored his first for Latics five minutes after half-time. Saydee did well on the edge of the box before chipping the ball for Wright to head home from close range.

Referee Young continued to frustrate Latics. Just when they were in the ascendancy they were stunned on 68 minutes when they lost Saydee to a harsh red card after a challenge on former Latic Bayliss.

Both teams were down to ten men when the hosts Rob Street picked up a second yellow card for a high boot on substitute Adeeko in the 77th minute.

In the frenetic final minutes both teams had chances to win the game. Substitute Costelloe hit the crossbar, before at the other end, Aimson cleared a Lincoln effort off the line and the points had to be shared.

Overview

This was a very good performance by Latics and it could so easily have been three points if the referee had in any way been competent.

Young’s decision to award a penalty against Saydee for a 50/50 struggle in the box was extremely harsh given similar struggles are happening in the box during set piece situations.

Saydee’s red card was also controversial as there was little intent to endanger Bayliss and a yellow card should have sufficed.

His decision to dismiss Rob Street for Lincoln was also harsh as it was accidental but having dismissed Saydee he probably thought he’d level up the teams. 

Referee Young has a history with Latics and his previous debacle was at Stevenage in 2023 when he sent off Callum Lang and Alex MacDonald and booked 12 players.

Young is a truly awful referee who spoiled the game at Lincoln. If the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) was a well managed organisation he would be removed from the referees list due to his incompetence. 

Post match comments 

Afterwards Ryan Lowe told the media,

“I thought we had a great start, and scored a fantastic goal.”

“Sam (Tickle) caught it then we were away, and Mulls (Paul Mullin) goes down the other end, shows a bit of quality and scores.

“The penalty swung it when we were well on top. I was disappointed with the other goal for two reasons – one because a man ran off the back of our player, and then it was a push on Christian Saydee to head it down.

“The lads got to grips with it and scored a fantastic goal to get back into it. It got a bit messy towards the end with the red card.

“Both teams were trying to win it at the end. They were throwing everything at us with long balls and seconds, but I thought we were by far the better team playing football. 

“I am disappointed we’ve not come away with all three points, but really pleased and proud of the boys for getting back into the game.”

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