Posh comeback sees Latics lose top spot

Report by John Patrick Heeley

It's easy to see why Wigan manager Paul Jewell was upset after the match with his side throwing away a two goal advantage in a game that they should have won at a canter.

Latics were cruising following Nathan Ellington's third goal in 4 days but somehow allowed Peterborough to claw away at their lead and deny them all three points with the lead at the top of Division Two going into the bargain.

Wigan were without the injured Ged Brannan who had suffered a calf strain midway through Tuesday night's game at Prenton Park but new loan signing Nicky Eaden was thrown straight into the starting line up and moved into the right back position that Brannan had been looking after of late.

Apart from that the line up was identical to the one that had won at Tranmere with Jason Jarrett and Paul Mitchell continuing their partnership in the centre of midfield with McCulloch and Scott Green on either wing.

The first half started slowly and it wasn't until the 10th minute before we saw any chance on goal of note with Peterborough's Adam Newton making a decent run into the area but was thwarted with a perfectly timed block from Jason De Vos.

John Filan's goal was put under threat 9 minutes later when a right wing ball to the far post was opening itself for Jason Lee but Latics' favourite Antipidean stretched to tip away from the former Nottingham Forest striker.

Debut boy Eaden had a decent effort from 10 yards deflected behind for a corner in the 23rd minute and a minute later Ellington volleyed over from 6 yards out.

The game appeared to be head to the interval goalless when Lee McCulloch was adjudged to have been fouled in the Peterborough and the young referee immediately pointed to the spot giving ANDY LIDDELL the chance to hit his 6th goal of the season, an opportunity that he took with both hands.

Ellington went close to increasing Wigan's lead 3 minutes later when he battled his way into the Peterborough area and despite the close attention of two defenders managed to get a powerful shot on goal which keeper Mark Tyler could only collect at the second attempt.

The interval saw Barry Fry introduce striker Bradley Allen, recently signed from Grimsby Town, to the action in place of Francis Green.

Wigan doubled their lead within 3 minutes of the restart when a Scott Green corner was headed down by De Vos for NATHAN ELLINGTON, and the Wigan striker turned on the ball and tapped home from three yards out for his 5th goal of the season.

Few would have bet against Wigan picking up all three points but Peterborough had other ideas and after ADAM NEWTON pulled one back after 62 minutes things started to looky shaky for Paul Jewell's side.

Jimmy Bullard caught the Wigan defence sleeping as he sent the ball through to former West Ham defender Newton who rounded John Filan to score his first goal since he arrived from Upton Park during the summer.

Ellington went on a blistering run down the left before cutting inside, making his way into the area, but was eventually dispossessed by the Peterborough defence with his final touch on the ball proving too much for him with 20 minutes left on the clock.

Jason Jarrett saw a powerful shot from 15 yards go blazing wide of the mark before Clarke fired over from distance.

Prior to the game Wigan had boasted the meanest defence in the Nationwide League but they were caught napping yet again with 14 minutes of the game remaining with Newton again instrumental in the move as he sent the ball across to ANDY CLARKE who fired home from close range.

As the game entered the final 10 minutes Filan had to push the ball behind from what originally appeared to be a tame shot from distance and 4 minutes later Liddell burst through into the area at the other end of the field but with nobody in assistance he had to go alone and lost the ball to the defence who cleared the danger.

Stoppage time saw Wigan go close to snatching the winner. Substitute Mike Flynn and Scott Green seemed to be in dispute over who was going to take a throw in down on the left wing with the more experienced Green winning the argument before he sent his long throw into the box.

Peterborough cleared but only as far as Flynn who chipped the ball over to the far post where Ellington rose high above the defence but his header went narrowily over the bar.

Paul Jewell was correct in his thoughts after the game when he described the result as two points dropped and hopefully they won't prove too costly come the end of the season but games like these are ones that Wigan should be winning.

Queens Park Rangers' excellent win at Ashton Gate meant that Wigan dropped a place into second on goal difference but there are now 4 teams lined up on 20 points at the top of the table as the race for promotion begins to hot up.