• Wigan Athletic came back from 1-0 down to gain an important point at Blackpool in the relegation battle at the bottom of League One.
• The Seasiders went ahead on four minutes from a Jordan Brown free-kick when Oliver Casey headed past Sam Tickle from eight yards.
• Latics drew level on 39 minutes when Owen Moxon fired into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
• The visitors came closest to grabbing all three points when Joe Taylor produced an electric run and shot which hit the far post and rolled along the goal line before being collected by a relieved Bailey Peacock-Farrell.
• Latics are now in 19th place and the Seasiders are in 20th place in the League One table.

Gary Caldwell made two changes to the side from last week’s win over Huddersfield, with Llyton Chapman coming in for his full debut to replace the injured Morgan Fox and Joe Taylor replacing Dara Costelloe.

Blackpool started on the front foot and were ahead after only four minutes when Brown’s free-kick from the right was invitingly delivered for Casey to head past Tickle.

Initially Latics were struggling for any cohesion but they gradually worked themselves into contention. Fraser Murray was posing a threat down the right, and Taylor was keeping the hosts’ defence on their toes.

Latics got back in the game when Raphael played Taylor in on goal, but as Peacock-Farrell closed him down he took it wide and returned it to Rodrigues again.

The wide man took a touch and set the ball inside for Moxon, who finished into the bottom corner of the net to draw Latics level.

Very early in the second half Latics went closest to taking the lead.

Taylor produced an electric run and shot which hit the far post and rolled along the goal line before being collected by a relieved Peacock-Farrell.

Taylor then almost turned provider for Wright, who, in a similar position to Taylor, struck at goal, but the Seasiders managed to clear.

Blackpool had a rare strike at goal on 70 minutes after a long ball upfield from Peacock-Farrell allowed Karoy Anderson the opportunity to shoot but his shot sailed wide after taking a deflection. 

Substitute Joe Hungbo produced a couple of dangerous crosses but no Latics player could capitalise.

Ian Evatt’s team enjoyed some late possession but they didn’t look like penetrating the Latics rearguard and the points had to be shared.

Overview

Latics weren’t at their best at Bloomfield Road but they showed good resilience after going a goal behind and battled well for a point.

They started the game tentatively and allowed the Seasiders an early advantage but as the first half progressed they came more into the game.

Moxon’s goal gave Latics a boost and they created a couple of good opportunities in the second half with Taylor predominant.

Unfortunately Saydee and Raphael had limited impact and were withdrawn in the second half. Both players will need to improve significantly if they are to keep their places in the starting XI. Saydee won very few headers and was unable to link up play and Raphael made some basic errors and gave the ball away too often.

Caldwell will be pleased that his team came away from the seaside with a point and they maintained their advantage over Blackpool in the League table but he also recognised that they must continue to improve if they are to stave off relegation.

Post-match comments

Speaking to the media afterwards, Caldwell said, 

“It was a really hard, well-earned point. It was a disappointing start after we said about starting the game well, and I thought we looked a little tentative and gave a poor goal away from a set-piece, which we have to get better at.

“I thought we scored a brilliant goal just before half-time and created the better chances in the second half, but I think the reaction to going a goal behind, the players deserve a lot of credit, and a point is probably a fair result.” 

On the supporters, after they brought energy and showed their support for the players:

“They were brilliant. They want to come and see their team win, but we did everything to give them something. They showed their appreciation to the players at the end, and we thank them for their energy and the noise they brought today.

“It’s a quick turnaround – I said it to the players – they need to recover, our supporters need to recover and come out again on Tuesday night.” 

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