New Wigan Athletic manager John Deehan admitted there was plenty of work to do after John Robertson’s scrambled equaliser rescued a point against out-of-form Fulham at Springfield Park this afternoon.
Deehan professed himself pleased enough by the application of his players after his first game in charge since succeeding Frank Lord but Fulham boss Ian Branfoot’s frank description of this forgettable contest as being ‘total crap’ was much closer to the mark. Spanish playmaker Roberto Martinez was the classiest performer on the pitch but the home side failed to get numbers forward in support of Mark Leonard, whilst Fulham were too short on confidence having failed to win in fourteen games – the worst such run in their history – to exploit the Latics’ limitations.
Nick Cusack, again partnered by Mike Conroy up front, had the clearest chances as the visitors made the early running. His twelfth-minute header from a Gary Brazil cross lacked the power necessary to seriously test Simon Farnworth in the Wigan goal but his miss after ex-Preston striker Conroy had outmuscled Colin Greenhall on the byline was far more glaring as he miscued a shot wide from a promising position.
Fulham did take the lead ten minutes before the break from a corner. Brazil’s ball was flicked on by Duncan Jupp into the path of Conroy and when the Scottish striker’s shot was blocked by Terry Angus, the gangly defender made amends by spinning sharply to force the loose ball home from barely a yard out. But the Londoners’ lead lasted only seven minutes before Wigan equalised from a set piece of their own.
The leveller was just as scrappy as Leonard nodded on Andy Lyons’ corner and Isidro Diaz’s header hit the post, bounced off John Robertson and the woodwork again before the defender managed to scramble home his fourth senior goal. The second half didn’t deliver a single shot on target – with Leonard’s header from a Robertson cross the closest either side came to a winner. Martinez headed wide after excellent wing play from substitute Tony Black, whilst Fulham’s best move saw Simon Morgan nod an inviting cross from Martin Thomas wastefully wide of goal.
WIGAN ATHLETIC: Farnworth; Butler, Ogden, Greenall, Robertson, Martinez (Lightfoot 81), Diaz, Kilford, Leonard, Pender (Black 67), Lyons. Sub (not used): Seba.
BOOKED: Ogden.
GOAL: Robertson (42).
FULHAM: Lange; Jupp, Herrera, Moore, Angus; Gray, Thomas, Morgan, Brazil; Cusack (Hamill 81), Conroy. Subs: Taylor, Barkus, Hamill.
GOAL: Angus (35).
REFEREE: Mike Riley (Leeds).
ATTENDANCE: 2,348.
