Raphael celebrates his first goal for Latics

• Wigan Athletic and Huddersfield Town played out a hard-fought 1-1 draw at the Accu Stadium.
• The Terriers went ahead in the 34th minute following a harshly awarded free-kick against Matt Smith. Lynden Gooch crossed and Murray Wallace converted a free header from the centre of the box.
• Latics rarely threatened in the first half but Christian Saydee had an opportunity on 42 minutes but he miscued his effort well wide.
• The visitors were much improved in the second half and they drew level on 52 minutes when Raphael scored his first goal for the club finishing through Lee Nicholls legs.
• Raphael went close again on 63 minutes when his curling strike nearly found the top corner but came back off the crossbar.
• Morgan Fox, Callum Wright, and Saydee all had chances to put the visitors ahead but poor finishing once again let Latics down.
• Sam Tickle made an important save diving low to his right to keep out substitute Bojan Radulovic’s deflected effort on 78 minutes.
• Despite six minutes of added time neither team could get the decisive winner and the points had to be shared.
• Latics are now in 11th place and the Terriers are in seventh place in the League One table.

Ryan Lowe made three changes from the FA Cup win against Barrow AFC last weekend, with Luke Robinson, Jensen Weir, and Christian Saydee replacing Tyrese Francois, Dara Costelloe, and Paul Mullin in the starting line-up. Captain Jason Kerr was noticeably absent from the match day squad.

It was a physical opening to the game and the hosts Murray Wallace was booked for a high challenge on Fraser Murray and later Luke Robinson was yellow carded for a late challenge.

Saydee’s pressure led to a chance for Murray, but the former Kilmarnock midfielder’s strike was too tame to pose a problem for ex-Latics goalkeeper Nicholls.

At the other end, Matt Smith made a goal-saving sliding challenge to deny Alfie May who was poised to pounce in the box.

Leo Castledine drove forward for the Terriers on 17 minutes but his shot was well saved by Tickle.

Tickle was again called into action soon afterwards when Sean Roughan unleashed a low, left-footed drive from 20-yards out, but Latics Number One dealt with it superbly pushing it away from danger.

Huddersfield went ahead controversially in the 34th minute.

Referee Darren Drysdale harshly adjudged Smith to have fouled Castledine and Gooch whipped in the free-kick, which Latics failed to defend properly and Wallace headed home from close range.

Latics had rarely threatened in the first half but Saydee had an opportunity on 42 minutes but he miscued his effort well wide.

The hosts went close again just before the interval when Ryan Ledson saw his swerving strike well tipped over by the impressive Tickle.

Dara Costelloe replaced Robinson at half time and Lowe rejigged the formation. 

Latics were much improved in the second half and they drew level on 52 minutes when Raphael scored his first goal for the club.

The on-loan Coventry City man collected Callum Wright’s superb through-ball  and poked his strike through Nicholls’ legs.

The hosts briefly threatened when Marcus Harness’s ball into the box was deflected over his own crossbar by James Carragher.

But Latics now looked capable of going on to win the game had a series of good goalscoring opportunities.

Raphael went close again on 63 minutes when his curling strike nearly found the top corner but came back off the crossbar.

Morgan Fox, Callum Wright, and Saydee all had chances to put the visitors ahead but poor finishing once again let Latics down.

Tickle made another important save diving low to his right to keep out substitute Radulovic’s deflected effort on 78 minutes.

Both sides pushed for a late winner but the battle at the Accu Stadium ended level and the points had to be shared.

Overview

This was another point on the road for Latics. If only they could start converting the draws into wins they would be amongst the playoff contenders.

Lowe’s men had been competitive in the first half but they were unable to create many real chances.

They were much improved in the second half and really should’ve gone on to win the game. They created enough chances but Latics’ forwards clearly lack confidence in front of goal and their finishing has been pretty dreadful for much of the season.

They are currently hard to beat but continue to struggle for goals. Hopefully the two players identified by Lowe in the January transfer window can help to give them the cutting edge they so desperately need.

Looking positively they are now unbeaten in seven league games and ten in all competitions.

Post-match Lowe said that captain Jason Kerr had been injured in an accident at home and wouldn’t be available for some time, which will be big blow for the club over the busy Christmas period.

Post-match comments

Speaking post-match, Lowe praised his players for their efforts and expressed his pride in their current run of form. 

“It’s a fantastic point,” he told the media.

“The lads performed to the levels. I said to them in the changing room, it’s just about having a little bit more belief. 

“I believe that we can win anywhere – they are well-coached, well-drilled, and we know what we are trying to do.

“It was a sloppy goal from a wide free-kick that we conceded, but our goal was a fantastic, well-worked goal.

“It was a ball into space – Raph (Raphael) got on the end of it, and poked it through the keeper’s legs.

“The defensive shape without the ball was good – they couldn’t break us down and turned over the ball a bit.

“To come here, get a point and dominate the second half as we did was pleasing. I thought we could’ve nicked it at the end, but as always, I am pleased with the group and thought the fans were fantastic as well.

“This is a hard-earned point and one that we’ll relish because not many teams will come here and win.

“Huddersfield have some fantastic players – they haven’t got going, but I’m really pleased with the performance and result.

“If you draw your away games and win your home games, it bodes well for you.

“We’re 10 games unbeaten now – I know there’s not a lot of wins in there – but that’s something special in my eyes as Head Coach.

“We should be proud of our unbeaten record, and we want to keep building on it.”

James Carragher once again led by example after being entrusted with the captain’s armband, and the Gaffer confirmed post-match that Latics are set to be without Jason Kerr for a while.

“Jason is not good. He’s had an accident in the park with his baby. He’s got a crack on his kneecap after falling over one of the benches in the park while running after his son.

“He’s going to be out for a while. We haven’t got the real diagnosis – we’re disappointed, but the defence has been excellent, and we’ve got players who can step in.”

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