M'voto sending-off blow
Latics were left facing an uphill struggle in their npower League One match at Crawley Town after having centre-half Jean-Yves M'voto (pictured) sent off after only 20 minutes.
They were forced to rejig their side and successfully so as they managed to reach half time on level terms.
High-flying Crawley made a lively start as Latics were forced onto the defensive.
They were forced to rejig their side and successfully so as they managed to reach half time on level terms.
High-flying Crawley made a lively start as Latics were forced onto the defensive.
Twice in the opening 10 minutes, Latics' keeper Dean Bouzanis had to turn away dangerous crosses from Nicky Adams.
Billy Clarke then fired narrowly wide across the face of goal.
Latics' afternoon got worse when M'voto was sent off after a clash with Kyle McFadzean.
The pair tangled when McFadzean was assigned to mark M'voto at a corner.
As McFadzean repeatedly tried to block M'voto, referee Gavin Ward intervened only for M'voto to raise his arms and push the defender in the face before angrily reacting with a further push to another Crawley player.
Mr Ward's response was to book McFadzean and show M'voto the red card for retaliation.
Latics' manager Paul Dickov immediately took off Cristian Montano and replaced the winger with centre-half James Tarkowski.
At 3.28pm there was a standing ovation from both sets of fans in memory of former Latics and Crawley player Ernie Cooksey who died at the age of 28. This was the first-ever meeting of the two clubs and the first occasion they could pay a joint tribute to their former midfield man.
Bouzanis kept the game goalless with an important save with his legs to keep out a fiercely struck low angled shot from Adams. McFadzean blazed the rebound high over the crossbar.
There was a lengthy stoppage just before half time when Robbie Simpson suffered a head injury following a collision with two Crawley players.
Half-time: Crawley Town 0, Latics 0.
Latics' afternoon got worse when M'voto was sent off after a clash with Kyle McFadzean.
The pair tangled when McFadzean was assigned to mark M'voto at a corner.
As McFadzean repeatedly tried to block M'voto, referee Gavin Ward intervened only for M'voto to raise his arms and push the defender in the face before angrily reacting with a further push to another Crawley player.
Mr Ward's response was to book McFadzean and show M'voto the red card for retaliation.
Latics' manager Paul Dickov immediately took off Cristian Montano and replaced the winger with centre-half James Tarkowski.
At 3.28pm there was a standing ovation from both sets of fans in memory of former Latics and Crawley player Ernie Cooksey who died at the age of 28. This was the first-ever meeting of the two clubs and the first occasion they could pay a joint tribute to their former midfield man.
Bouzanis kept the game goalless with an important save with his legs to keep out a fiercely struck low angled shot from Adams. McFadzean blazed the rebound high over the crossbar.
There was a lengthy stoppage just before half time when Robbie Simpson suffered a head injury following a collision with two Crawley players.
Half-time: Crawley Town 0, Latics 0.