Full-time from Bramall Lane and Latics have secured a well deserved point with a 1-1 draw at Sheffield United.
Latics, having led 1-0 at half-time through Clarke-Harris' 6th minute header nearly extended the lead, a Jonson Clarke-Harris free kick was well struck and in turn very well held by George Long in the Blades goal.
The equaliser came on 55 minutes and what a strike it was. Sheffield United awarded a free kick some 30 yards out in the centre of the pitch, up stepped Jose Baxter who hammered the ball beyond the wall and high into Mark Oxley's goal, giving the Latics keeper no chance and levelling the game. Following on from the goal the home side had a period of sustained pressure but the Latics defence held firm.
At the other end, McGinn was booked for halting Petrasso whilst in full flow and David Mellor's resulting free kick caused chaos in the Blades area, George Long fumbling the cross before it was eventually cleared for a corner. Adam Rooney then led a counter attack and his low drive was again scrambled behind after Long could only parry the initial effort.
Tarkowski and Lanzoni both picked up bookings for Latics for mistimed challenges as the game approached the final 10 minutes.
With 5 minutes left Sheffield United made a double change as Lyle Taylor and Ryan Flynn replaced Jamie Murphy and Shaun Miller. Whilst Latics manager Lee Johnson introduced Kirk Millar in place of Mike Petrasso.
Latics suffered 3 late scares within the 4 additional minutes, first Kusunga deflecting Baxter's effort onto the post, then from the resulting corner Latics defended heroically to produce 2 goal line clearances to secure a hard earned and well deserved away point.
Full-time: Sheffield United 1, Latics 1.
Attendance of 19,551 (1,088 Latics fans)