Latics let two goal lead slip at Ninian Park

Report by John Patrick Heeley

Wigan Athletic won a well earned point at Ninian Park but it could have been so different as the visitors gave away a two goal lead with Cardiff's own Simon Haworth adding to a Pat McGibbon 17th minute strike on 53 minutes.

Cardiff's record signing Peter Thorne, who once spent time on loan at Wigan, pulled one back a minute later and with 7 minutes remaining former Reading striker Paul Brayson denied Wigan all three points with the leveller.

Paul Jewell recalled Derek Stillie in the Wigan goal and Simon Haworth started the game up front alongside fellow Welshman Neil Roberts as Lee Ashcroft sat out the game through injury.

Wigan had the first chance of breaking the deadlock when McGibbon got an outstretched boot to put narrowily wide of Neil Alexander's left hand post.

Then in the 9th minute Simon Haworth got on the end of a clearance from the Cardiff defence to volley inches over the bar with a clever lob against his former club.

Cardiff's first attempt on goal came from Peter Thorne who headed narrowily wide of the post.

Wigan took the lead in the 17th minute after the ball was dragged back for PAT McGIBBON to fired in at the left hand corner of the goal.

Cardiff's Paul Brayson hits the post from 20 odd yards out in the 20th minute beating Derek Stillie who flung himself across the face of goal.

Tony Dinning had an ambitious shot from 40 yards out which went narrowily wide of the upright before going down injured following a clash of heads with one of his own players forcing the Northampton referee to halt play.

Cardiff midfielder Jason Bowen went on a run at goal just after the half hour but his shot on goal was well cut out by the recalled Derek Stillie.

De Zeeuw was forced to head behind for a corner with five minutes remaining in the opening half as Cardiff put the Wigan defence under pressure and Robert Earnshaw then went close from 6 yards from the resulting kick.

Peter Thorne rose in the six yard box to meet a Michael Simpkins cross but his header landed in the side netting at the back of Derek Stillie's goal.

HALF TIME: Cardiff City 0 Wigan Athletic 1

Cardiff earn the first corner of the second half after 3 minutes when a dangerous shot from Willie Boland took a deflection behind for a corner.

Wigan doubled their lead through SIMON HAWORTH in the 52nd minute when he burst into box and hammered it past Alexander.

Cardiff immediately went upfield and pulled a goal back with Robert Earnshaw crossing low for PETER THORNE to get down low to head past a stationary Derek Stillie.

Steve McMillan's injury jinx continued after a collision with two Cardiff players and the former Motherwell player was immediately replaced by Paul Mitchell.

More danger from Cardiff in the 16th minute when Paul Brayson ran forward down the left but the striker fired into the side netting.

Moments later Scott Green was Wigan's saviour as he stuck out a boot to deflect behind for a corner.

A minute later Ian Kilford was denied from 12 yards out by Michael Simpkins on the line after the Wigan midfielder picked up the rebound from an Alexander save.

Paul Brayson brought out a good save from Derek Stillie on 72 minutes with the Wigan keeper saving with his knees and a minute later fired dangerously across the Wigan goal with his shot going narrowily wide of the far post.

More pressure from Cardiff firstly through Peter Thorne after a long throw in on the right was missed by Derek Stillie found the former Stoke City striker but his shot was blocked and then Jason Bowen weaved through the defence only to fire wide.

Tony Dinning found himself in the referee's notebook for the sixth time this season for a foul in the 77th minute.

Kilford chipped the keeper from a tight angle with 10 minutes remaining but his effort sailed over the bar.

Cardiff levelled the game with 7 minutes remaining after constant pressure with PAUL BRAYSON rising to nod home at the far post leaving the game with everything to play for.

The Wigan fans had their hearts in their mouths in the dying seconds when Latics conceded a free kick in a dangerous position yards out but as the ball came across the area the referee's assistant flagged for a foul.

The referee blew for full time seconds later to give Wigan a share of the spoils after giving up a two goal lead. However, they didn't lose so that can't be bad.