Curtis Tilt scored a late winner to help Wigan produce one of the narrow football results of the weekend in the Championship. Blackpool striker Gary Madine initially missed Jamie Jones’ right-hand post as Latics, under interim manager Rob Kelly, struggled to get into the game. But once the visitors’ skipper Marvin Ekpiteta received a straight red card after just 17 minutes, Wigan’s cause was aided. They had been counting on Ekpiteta to be the first to the bouncing ball, but due to his hesitation, Charlie Wyke was able to toe the ball over his head. Due to the inevitable collision and the absence of a defending defender, referee Andy Davies determined that a clear opportunity to score a goal was denied.
Callum Lang was given a yellow card for mocking the referee who, in the player’s opinion, had finally granted him a free kick as the home team was trying mightily to gain any momentum. Davies’ role ended there, and a new official took over for the second half. Additionally, Wigan changed its approach after the break and leveled the score nine minutes into the second half. Wyke jokingly claimed he touched the goal line after James McClean’s inswinging corner from the right side went into the net.
The visitors were barely able to keep their opponents at arm’s length before their defense ultimately gave way with one minute left. To the joy of most spectators inside the DW, Curtis Tilt headed home a cross from close range that was beautifully executed by Wigan captain Tendayi Darikwa. With the victory, Wigan overtakes its rivals and moves up to the third-bottom. The Blackpool supporters are vociferously chanting “You’re getting sacked in the morning” in the direction of under-fire manager Michael Appleton, which suggests that another managerial change may be on the horizon.
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