The Latics were thwarted by their inability to finish off an average Wycombe Wanderers side at Adams Park. The visitors dominated the majority of the possession for three quarters of the game but once again their lack of finishing power let them down. Latics manager Dave Penney said, "It's disappointing that we've conceded so late on. It would have been a long time since Latics had come back from a goal down to win. That said, when you get back home and sit down and look at the personnel we had missing, the team we had to put out, then you have to give credit to the players. I thought they were excellent for long periods."
The Latics were awarded a glorious opportunity to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty after five minutes but Paul Heffernan embarrassingly hit his kick straight at the home goalkeeper. To make matters worse, the Chairboys converted their own late penalty to rub salt into the wound to claim what was a point that they should not have got. Penney went on, "It's a penalty at both ends though, they're saying Heff' is offside, but it's a penalty and Danny's not complained about it at our end so that's probably one too. It's disappointing to be in winning position and to have played so well, Heff's had a great chance to make it three, as has Ryan Brooke. But we've played good football on a tricky pitch, I'm not sure it's 100% playable to be honest."
John Akinde was dismissed midway through the first half so the Latics should have taken full advantage of playing against ten men. Penney admitted, "I'm not sure, has he thrown a punch? I was looking the other way, but they didn't seem to complain so I guess it's the right call.” Akinde did indeed throw a punch and deserved his red card but again the Latics failed to take full advantage. Danny Whitaker scored a fine goal from18 yards with a powerful shot but the hero became villain when he hacked down a Wycombe player to gift them a point with a late penalty. Whits also missed a header that looked easier to score than miss and Heffernan could have sewn it up in the second half after his powerful strike hit both uprights and landed nicely for the home keeper to pick up the ball. Substitute Ryan Brooke also had a glorious one on one opportunity but his lack of experience let him down and the chance was missed.
Reuben Hazell scored a neat header to put the Latics 2-1 up and this is where they should have capitalised on the situation. Wycombe were there for the taking and Joe Colbeck was causing all kinds of trouble with his clever wing play and he contstantly roasted the home left full-back. It came as a shock to the 200 or so travelling faithful when he was substituted. It just wasn't to be again and the Latics allowed the hosts a route back into the game. Penney concluded, "It's another point against a team around us and it was important not to get beat today. But a win would have been even better and now we have to look to Tranmere, which is just as important, it's important we pick points up against them."
In reality, it was two badly needed points needlessly thrown away with the perpetrator Whitaker conceding a totally unnecessay penalty as the player he hacked down for the kick was moving away from the danger area. Man of the match was Sean Gregan (pictured) who again lead the team by example. A home win against Tranmere is now a must. It could be classed as a six pointer as they won on Saturday to close the gap on the Latics who could now be in the top half of the table instead of in 19th. Place. What a difference two points can make!