Report by John Patrick Heeley

Wigan face a trip to Nottingham next Tuesday following their inability to finish off Notts County after Lee Ashcroft had given them the lead just before the hour in this FA Cup Second Round Tie.

Notts County's leading goalscorer Mark Stallard took the game to a replay with his 14th goal of the season.

Wigan Athletic and Notts County must do it all again in a week's time after they finished a dour game, played in torrential rain, 1-1.

Wigan, who had not played since their 2-2 draw at Brentford 10 days ago, didn't look like the revitalised side that they should have been after their enforced rest but were in fact lacklustre at times.

In fact if County striker, Australian Danny Allsopp had been a bit more clinical with his finishing then Wigan could have been looking at a sound thrashing.

22-year-old Allsopp, in his second spell on loan from Manchester City had at least three clear cut chances but the woodwork, Roy Carroll, and a hair's breadth, all denied him from getting his name on the scoresheet.

Wigan started the game brightly enough and with less than 5 minutes on the clock Liddell raced down the right to the byeline and lobbed in a testing cross which was cleared by a 6ft Notts County defender with little Brian McLaughlin waiting eagerly at the back of the area.

Allsop's first attempt on goal came in the 17th minute when he hit a screamer from 20 yards out but Carroll did well to tip over the bar with a great save at almost full stretch.

Five minutes later a long ball down the middle from Brian McLaughlin found Andy Liddell in acres of space but Darren Ward came out well to block his shot from 12 yards and send behind for a corner kick.

On 25 minutes Liddell turned provider, setting up Lee Ashcroft who charged into the County penalty area before having the ball whipped from his feet by defender Richardson.

Andy Hughes fired wide of the mark at the other end three minutes later and just after the half hour mark Wigan's loan signing Keith Gillespie went agonisingly close when he hit a low, curling shot around Ward in the County goal but the ball clipped the outside of the post and rebounded to safety.

Roberto Martinez let one fly from 30 yards out and watched as his effort sailed over the bar and into the North Stand.

In the 38th minute Bidstrup aimed a shot on goal from 20 yards but two deflections saw the ball tamely end up in Ward's arms.

County then went closest to breaking the deadlock with five minutes of the half remaining.

Roy Carroll was at his best to deny Ian Richardson's header from close range but the rebound found Danny Allsopp but he somehow managed to fire the ball against the underside of the bar.

It was Notts County's Number 29 Allsopp again in action in the dying seconds of the first half when he fired narrowly wide of the right hand post.

HALF TIME: Wigan 0 Notts County 0

Ashcroft was superbly denied by Ward in the 53rd minute after Keith Gillespie had set him up for a thunderous close range shot on the half volley but the County goalkeeper stood up well to push the ball out for a corner.

Notts County cleared the corner and immediately sent Allsopp clear, one-on-one with Carroll but the striker fired the ball wide of the post from 12 yards but somehow the referee awarded a corner and he must have been the only person in the stadium that thought Carroll had got anywhere near the ball.

Wigan eventually opened the scoring on 57 minutes courtesy of the striker's goal that Wigan manager Bruce Rioch has been screaming for.

Andy Liddell was sent clear down the right wing with calls for offside from the visiting side going unheard.

He reached the line and fired a low shot across the face of goal with LEE ASHCROFT racing in to blast in his third goal in two games from close range.

Pearce for Notts County found himself getting booked in the 65th minute, dragging down Andy Liddell on the edge of the box almost giving away a penalty.

Then the action moved back to the other side of the park with County pulling level through MARK STALLARD after he weaved his way into the penalty area and fired a low shot under Roy Carroll and into the back of the net.

Wigan defender Gareth Griffiths saw a shot on the turn rattle the left post before Allsopp, yet again, was sent clear into the Wigan area but Carroll narrowed the angle and got down well to block his shot from inside the area.

Latics made a couple of substitutions after 73 minutes in a bid to alter the pattern of the game - Brian McLaughlin and Roberto Martinez came off and were replaced by Darren Sheridan and Pat McGibbon.

Gillespie fired straight at Ward on 77 minutes from 20 yards and 10 minutes later Ian Richardson's downward header five yards out had to be pushed over the bar by Carroll as the game fizzled out into the night with both teams seeming happy with the draw.

FULL TIME: Wigan 1 Notts County 1