Dramatic stoppage time winner sees Wigan beat Bristol Rovers

Wigan secured a dramatic 2-1 victory at The Memorial Stadium with an injury time winner from Scott Wootton.

The Latics secured three vital points in their battle against the drop and made it a losing start for new Bristol Rovers boss Joey Barton

After a solid first half showing, Wigan took the lead in the 52nd minute when a Luke Robinson corner was nodded on by Will Keane for Callum Lang to head in his fourth goal in five games.

Lang scored a screamer against Lincoln in the Latics last game and has been in inspired form since he was recalled from his loan spell at Motherwell in January.

Luke McCormick levelled for Bristol Rovers in the 69th minute, racing onto a Brandon Hanlan pass and cutting in from the left to bury a low right-footed drive from 12 yards.

The game seemed like it was heading for a draw until deep into stoppage time Wigan were awarded a free kick. Rovers failed to defend the ball in from Thelo Aasgaard and Scott Wootton found space and connected with a sweet volley at the near post.

SCOTT WOOTTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/HqzFqDdfzb

— Wigan Athletic (@LaticsOfficial) February 23, 2021

The win takes Wigan level on 27 points with Rovers, and just one point adrift of AFC Wimbledon in 20th.

Latics boss Leam Richardson was delighted.

“I don’t think there is anything better than a 95th minute winner, is there?” he said.

“I thought the lads worked terribly hard in the first half. The game was a little bitty in the second half but I thought on application and certainly how they played on Saturday, they certainly deserved that. The lads take full credit for the win.”

“Some of our performances recently haven’t given us the result we felt we deserved. With winners so late on and having worked so hard, for the winner to fall for us is fantastic and hopefully breeds a lot of confidence in the dressing room.”

Defender Scott Wootton struggled to hold back his joy at his last minute winner.

“It’s an incredible feeling. You don’t get many of those last minute winners in your career, especially away from home in the position we’re in and against a team you’re battling with.”

“It’s a new team and everyone is fighting for one thing. We’re all pulling in the same direction and fighting for it every single day.”

With Swindon, AFC Wimbledon and Burton all picking up points around the Latics in the League One table, the late victory takes on extra significance, with just three points now separating the bottom seven teams in the division.

The result is a massive boost for Wigan who are back in action on Saturday, but facing a tough test as they travel to league leaders Peterborough.