Fleetwood Town 1 Wigan Athletic 1: Late goal pegs back Joey Barton's players

Danny Andrew’s wonder strike had looked set to prove the difference but Wigan eventually got the goal they had threatened in the final quarter of the game.

They struck in the 91st minute when substitute Oliver Crankshaw headed home from close range after Jayson Leutwiler had beaten away Kal Naismith’s initial effort.

Town boss Joey Barton made just the single enforced change to his starting XI following the draw at Portsmouth during the week.

Sam Finley was forced to drop out through injury but skipper Paul Coutts was a ready-made replacement as he stepped back up from the bench, though Ched Evans’ knock kept him out of contention again.

With the wind at their backs, Town made the early running once the action got underway.

They came close in the fifth minute when Barrie McKay drove a 20-yard effort narrowly off target from Paddy Madden’s pass.

Midway through the opening period, Town threatened again.

Coutts’ corner went to McKay on the edge of the Wigan box, only for his powerful strike to be well gathered by Jamie Jones.

It was a truly special goal that broke the deadlock in the 28th minute.

Madden touched the ball to Andrew and, finding himself in space, he smashed home low and hard from 30 yards.

Clearly buoyed by that wonder strike, Callum Camps tried a speculative effort himself a minute later but his angled shot was off target.

Town had been dominant throughout the opening half but their advantage remained at just the one goal.

Their positive momentum continued into the second period and they threatened again in the 51st minute when Jordan Rossiter’s close-range header was gathered by an alert Jones.

Madden then crossed for Camps on the edge of the Wigan box but his well-struck volley was blocked by Tom Pearce.

After a frustrating afternoon for them, the visitors finally offered a threat just before the hour mark when Naismith headed inches wide from Tom James’ cross.

By the three-quarter stage, the visitors were having a decent spell of possession but the Town defence stood resolute.

However, they failed to hang on for a third straight clean sheet thanks to Crankshaw’s late, late, predatory strike.

Fleetwood Town: Leutwiler, Burns, Connolly, Mulgrew, Andrew, J Morris (Hill 62), Camps, Rossiter, Coutts (Duffy 73), McKay (Whelan 62), Madden. Subs not used: Cairns, Edwards, Saunders, S Morris.

Wigan Athletic: Jones, James, Tilt, Johnson, Pearce, Keane, Merrie, Gardner (Robinson 90), Perry, Naismith, Joseph (Crankshaw 86).Subs not used: Evans, Palmer, Jolley, Aasgaard, Long.

Referee: James Oldham

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