• Wigan Athletic were heading for a heavy defeat against Doncaster Rovers at the Eco-Power Stadium but they produced a spirited comeback from 3-0 down to draw 3-3.
• Latics had two very early chances when Harrison Bettoni and Raphael went close but the hosts went ahead on seven minutes when Frankie Okoronkwo fired home.
• Soon afterwards matters got worse for the visitors as Luke Molyneux found the head of Jay McGrath, and Sam Tickle couldn’t quite keep out his header.
• Latics looked dead and buried at the start of the second half as they failed to clear their lines and presented Harry Clifton with the chance to curl his strike in off the post.
• Latics fightback commenced when debutant loan signing Joe Taylor produced a bit of magic to find the top corner of the net on the hour mark and six minutes later substitute Callum Wright reduced the deficit to 3-2.
• With two minutes of normal time remaining debutant Owen Moxon headed the equaliser from Fraser Murray’s corner to cap a remarkable Latics comeback.
• Latics are now in 19th place and Doncaster in 22nd place in the League One table.

Ryan Lowe made four changes to the side that was defeated by Bolton, with Moxon and Taylor given their debuts and Christian Saydee and Fraser Murray returned to the starting XI.

Latics started the game brightly and Bettoni had a great opportunity to open the scoring. Christian Saydee played him in behind Rovers’ defence and he rounded Zander Clark and fired towards an empty goal, but Jay McGrath got back to block his goal bound effort.

Raphael then had another good opportunity when he broke through the hosts’ defence but his final strike was straight at Clark.

Against the run of play Rovers went ahead on seven minutes when a cross from the left was deflected off James Carragher and Okoronkwo raced onto the loose ball to finish via the crossbar.

Some of Latics’ fans didn’t respond well to the setback and chants of “Lowe’s getting sacked in the morning” emerged from the away end.

Matters deteriorated further soon afterwards as a free-kick from the right, delivered by Molyneux, found the head of McGrath, whose header evaded Tickle’s attempted grasp on the goal line. 

The hosts were well on top now and they continued to have clear-cut opportunities. 

Hakeeb Adelakun broke down the left and set up Molyneux, who fired towards goal, but Tickle did well, diving and parrying away. 

Latics were in disarray and the half time break couldn’t come soon enough.

Manager Lowe needed to reorganise his troops and make changes for the second half.

Wright replaced Bettoni at the break but just four minutes into the second half Latics looked dead and buried as they failed to clear their lines and presented Clifton with the chance to curl his strike in off the post.

Latics fightback commenced when debutant loan signing Joe Taylor produced a bit of magic to find the top corner of the net on the hour mark.

The hosts went close again when George Broadbent tested Tickle but Latics revival continued soon afterwards as substitute Wright finished from close range from Murray’s cross.

It was end to end stuff now as both sides created good opportunities.

The match could’ve gone either way but with two minutes of normal time remaining Moxon headed the equaliser from Murray’s corner to cap a remarkable Latics comeback.

Overview

This was a crazy game at Doncaster’s Eco-Power Stadium that will live long in the memory. 

It could prove to be near the end of Ryan Lowe’s tenure as manager or it could be a turning point in the season.

Latics could’ve been two goals ahead in the opening six minutes but after 21 minutes they were two nil down and it could easily have been more.

Latics had been overrun in midfield and had defended shambolically.

Things got worse at the start of the second half as Rovers went 3-0 up.

It looked like there was no way back for Latics and Lowe’s tenure in charge looked even more tentative.

A large section of the away supporters were expressing their frustration about Lowe and his tactics.

“Lowe’s getting sacked in the morning” they chanted. 

It was not looking good for the team or the manager.

Whatever your views on Lowe and the players’ performances, chanting negative comments against the manager and team isn’t helping Latics’ cause.

On this occasion Latics defied the odds and produced a remarkable and spirited comeback. 

The players had shown great skill and determination to get back in the game. Loan signings Joe Taylor, Owen Moxon and substitute Callum Wright had been critical to the comeback.

Was this just a stay of execution for Lowe or was it the start of a revival with new loan signings Moxon and Taylor at the forefront. Only time will tell. 

Next up for Latics are Wycombe Wanderers away on Tuesday night.

Post-match comments

It was a crazy afternoon of League One football to say the least, and Lowe was pleased with his side’s reaction, not accepting their fate and rescuing a point. 

Afterwards Lowe spoke to the media.

“Wow, where do I start?” Lowe said.

“I thought we started brightly, and had a great chance. Harrison (Bettoni) went around the goalkeeper, and on another day, that chance goes in.

“We conceded two sloppy goals – one where the lad runs off the back of someone, and the second comes from a set play.

“To be done by a wide free-kick and someone gets across their man – the game had swung in their favour, and we were nowhere near it after that.

“It wasn’t us, it didn’t look like us, and we were nowhere near the levels. 

“I am really disappointed- we are trying to get messages to the players. They settled down and had a spell where they kept the ball, and didn’t do much with it.

“We made a couple of tweaks at half-time. I brought Harrison off, who found it tough today in the pockets. He’s only a baby, and sometimes that happens, though. 

“To concede another calamity goal at the start of the second half – I can’t put my hat on it. 

“We found ourselves 3-0 down, but the lads reacted and did what they should and can do. 

“It was a crazy game, but I am pleased we got the goals and came away with a point. At 3-0 down, we were dead and buried, and that’s not good.

“The lads have to take a lot of credit for that because they showed guts, desire and determination to get a result, which I am pleased with.

“The fight is there. They are a good and honest group who are probably too nice at times.

“There are no real nasty ones in there, but they are a great group to work with. They give us everything.

“They give me everything as manager and try and give our fans everything every single day. 

“There is disappointment, which I understand. We shouldn’t be where we are, but we have to keep fighting and climbing the table.

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