Latics were left to settle for a point at Bloomfield Road after Owen Moxon's 39th-minute goal cancelled out Olly Casey's early header in this vital relegation encounter with Blackpool in Sky Bet League One.                                                                                                                     

Caldwell took his charges to Bloomfield Road to take on Blackpool FC for this big game at the bottom end of the table, but the Head Coach must have been buoyed by good memories of securing promotion to Sky Bet Championship at the first time of asking during his last tenure. Wigan were cheered on by over 2,200 (a sell-out) supporters. Caldwell made two changes to the side from last week's win with Llyton Chapman coming in for his full debut to replace the injured Morgan Fox and Joe Taylor replacing Dara Costelloe, who dropped to the bench.                                                                                                                              

Blackpool got a dream start when they earned an early free kick and when the ball was flighted into the box CASEY outmuscled Chapman (who was probably unlucky not to have been awarded a foul). The resulting header by the Blackpool centre-half was well directed and Tickle could do little to prevent the opening goal.                                                            

Latics struggled to settle into what was a dour scrappy game but once they did, Caldwell's men, with Fraser Murray looking lively down the right, and Taylor finding little gaps in behind the Seasiders' defence, began to threaten.                                                              

Wigan had a scare in the 18-yard box when Tom Bloxham swung a boot at a loose ball that saw the effort flash just wide of the post, but Latics drew level in the 39th minute.               

An impressive move down the right saw Christian Saydee release Raphael Borges Rodrigues who slipped Taylor in on goal, but as Bailey Peacock-Farrell closed the number 10 down, he took it wide of the 'keeper to set Raphael again. The wide man took one touch and set the ball inside for Moxon, who strode into space and finished nicely into the bottom corner of the net to draw Latics level before the interval. 

Half Time; Blackpool 1-1 Wigan Athletic.

Wigan began the second period with a little more composure in possession, and they almost found a second goal just six minutes into the half. Callum Wright set Taylor free down the left, who raced forward and burst into the 18-yard box. Taylor drew the keeper before curling a close range shot beyond his reach, only to see the shot cannoning off the far post and back into Peacock-Farrell's gloves.                                                                                                 

Taylor then almost turned provider for Wright, who, in a similar position to Taylor, struck at goal, but the keeper blocked well and Blackpool scrambled back well to clear their lines. It took until the 70-minute mark before Blackpool registered their first chance of the second half after a long ball up field from Peacock-Farrell allowed Anderson the opportunity to unleash at goal, but his shot sailed wide after taking a deflection. 

Latics kept pushing and were the better side in the latter stages, with Wright this time receiving the ball from substitute Joe Hungbo and driving at the Blackpool defence before directing the ball through Casey's legs and seeing his shot deflect away from goal.