• Wigan Athletic drew for the fifth time in six away games when they were held 1-1 by Exeter City at St James Park.
• Latics took the lead in the 24th minute when Callum Wright produced a composed finish from Morgan Fox’s free kick.
• Wright, Jason Kerr and Fraser Murray all had good chances to increase the visitors lead in the first half.
• The Grecians upped their game at the start of the second half and exerted concerted pressure on the Latics goal.
• They equalised on 53 minutes when Jayden Wareham finished at the near post from Reece Cole’s cross.
• Both sides had good chances to win the game but Latics were particularly unlucky to have a goal chalked off when Christian Saydee was adjudged to have handled the ball when it looked like he’d sealed the three points.
• Latics are now in 16th place and the Grecians in 19th place in the League One table.

Ryan Lowe made four changes from the FA Cup tie against Hemel Hempstead with Will Aimson, Luke Robinson, Matt Smith, and Raphael Borges Rodrigues returning to the side.

It was a disjointed opening period but Latics had a couple of good chances in the first ten minutes.

The Grecians Pierce Sweeney pressurised Wright from diverting Christian Saydee’s cross home, before Jason Kerr glanced a header wide from a corner.

On 22 minutes Wright had another chance when Fraser Murray’s ball was diverted into his path, and the midfielder was denied at point-blank range by the Crystal Palace loanee Joe Whitworth.

But Wright was not to be denied and two minutes later. Morgan Fox caught out the Exeter defence and Wright was allowed to get in behind and clip the ball beyond the oncoming Whitworth. It was a composed finish by the Plymouth Argyle loanee.

Latics nearly added to the lead on the half-hour mark when Saydee released Murray with a lovely reverse pass, but the midfielder’s drive was well saved by Whitworth at his near post.

Exeter started to build some momentum towards the end of the first half and Sam Tickle had to come to Latics rescue when Jack McMillan took a shot from the edge of the 18-yard box, and Tickle did well to make push the attempt wide.

The hosts were much improved at the start of the second half. Their quick interplay was causing Latics all sorts of problems.

Ilmari Niskanen delivered a dangerous ball into the box from the right-hand side, and Tickle had to react quickly to deny the arriving Danny Andrew. 

The hosts equaliser came in the 53rd minute. Following a quick move down the right, Wareham directed Reece Cole’s low cross into the net at the near post.

Latics reacted well and they almost regained the lead but Raphael’s low drive was pushed wide by Whitworth.

Exeter were dominating possession but the Latics were dangerous on the counterattack

On 65 minutes Smith, Murray, and Saydee combined superbly to set up Wright, whose curling strike was saved by Whitworth.

Latics then had to do some last ditch defending to stay level. Substitute Aitchison, Wareham, Danny Andrew and Ethan Bierley had efforts well blocked and Tickle made a vital save from Aitchison.

But with four minutes left Latics had a great chance to win the game. Kerr got free inside the six-yard box and met Jensen Weir’s left-sided corner, but his header was frustratingly wide of the target.

In added time Latics did get the ball in the Exeter net when Saydee fired home, but the goal was harshly disallowed for an alleged handball in the build-up and they had to settle for another draw.

Latics just aren’t getting any luck with crucial refereeing decisions this season.

Overview

This was Latics fifth draw in six away trips. A combination of poor refereeing decisions and a lack of a cutting edge has meant they have not accumulated as many points as they might have expected.

They could easily have had at least another six points which would’ve put them in eighth place in the table and within touching distance of the playoffs.

Lowe’s team are still very much a work in progress with plenty of room for improvement but they are also not far off being a decent team.

League One this season is a very tight division and a couple of back-to-back wins would shoot the club up the table.

If they can soon break their away day duck they are capable of making a push towards the playoffs.

Post match comments 

Afterwards Ryan Lowe spoke to the media. He said before the game he wanted a bit of consistency from referees and felt Latics had been hard done to against Exeter.

Lowe said “He was struggling for words for the decisions that go against us.“

“Having said that we had two glorious chances, a set play and one in the second half to go and win the game.”

“I’m disappointed for our fans they pay all that money to come and watch us with their hard earned money and to come all that way and we don’t get the just rewards.”

“Overall it’s a point but I want more.”

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