Ten-man Latics hold high-flyers
Ten-man Latics produced a battling display to draw 1-1 at npower League One high-flyers Crawley Town.
In a dramatic match, both sides ended with 10 men.
Jose Baxter (pictured) gave Latics the lead midway through the secind period before Kyle McFadzean equalised with 11 minutes left.
Latics were also indebted to keeper Dean Bouzanis who gave a man-of-the-match display to deny the hosts victory.
In a dramatic match, both sides ended with 10 men.
Jose Baxter (pictured) gave Latics the lead midway through the secind period before Kyle McFadzean equalised with 11 minutes left.
Latics were also indebted to keeper Dean Bouzanis who gave a man-of-the-match display to deny the hosts victory.
It was clear from the restart that it would be a long 45 minutes for 10-man Latics, one in which they would be forced to show defensive grit and hope to strike on the counter attack.
Hope Akpan shot narrowly wide within one minute of the kick off.
Billy Clarke then had a goalbound shot brilliantly blocked by Jonathan Grounds. From Nicky Adams' inswinging corner, Bouzanis had to claw out the ball from under the crossbar.
The numbers were evened up in the 62nd minute when Crawley had midfield man Akpan shown a straight red card following a high challenge on Robbie Simpson.
Hope Akpan shot narrowly wide within one minute of the kick off.
Billy Clarke then had a goalbound shot brilliantly blocked by Jonathan Grounds. From Nicky Adams' inswinging corner, Bouzanis had to claw out the ball from under the crossbar.
The numbers were evened up in the 62nd minute when Crawley had midfield man Akpan shown a straight red card following a high challenge on Robbie Simpson.
Latics made the all important breakthrough five minutes later.
Lee Croft cut the ball back from the right and Baxter's shot was deflected high past keeper Paul Jones.
Latics came within a whisker of adding a second goal in the 72nd minute.
Matt Derbyshire latched on to a bad back pass from McFadzean. He rounded Jones, but the keeper manager to get black to deflect his goalbound shot for a corner.
Crawley equalised in the 79th minute after a spell of sustained pressure.
Substitute Jonathan Forte's effort was kicked off the line by James Tarkowski before Bouzanis pulled off a breathtaking save to turn Josh Simpson's shot round the post for a corner.
From the resulting dead ball, the kick was played to McFadzean on the edge of the box and the central defender rifled home a shot low to the right of Bouzanis.|
Manager Paul Dickov made his second change when captain Dean Furman was introduced for Baxter with nine minutes left to reinforce the midfield.
Lee Croft cut the ball back from the right and Baxter's shot was deflected high past keeper Paul Jones.
Latics came within a whisker of adding a second goal in the 72nd minute.
Matt Derbyshire latched on to a bad back pass from McFadzean. He rounded Jones, but the keeper manager to get black to deflect his goalbound shot for a corner.
Crawley equalised in the 79th minute after a spell of sustained pressure.
Substitute Jonathan Forte's effort was kicked off the line by James Tarkowski before Bouzanis pulled off a breathtaking save to turn Josh Simpson's shot round the post for a corner.
From the resulting dead ball, the kick was played to McFadzean on the edge of the box and the central defender rifled home a shot low to the right of Bouzanis.|
Manager Paul Dickov made his second change when captain Dean Furman was introduced for Baxter with nine minutes left to reinforce the midfield.
Crawley had great chances to snatch a winning goal.
Gary Alexander stabbed a shot narrowly wide from inside the six-yard box and moments later had a goalbound header brilliantly saved by Bouzanis.
Claude Davis then headed over as Latics lived dangerously in the latter stages.
Full-time: Crawley Town 1, Latics 1.
Gary Alexander stabbed a shot narrowly wide from inside the six-yard box and moments later had a goalbound header brilliantly saved by Bouzanis.
Claude Davis then headed over as Latics lived dangerously in the latter stages.
Full-time: Crawley Town 1, Latics 1.