Dramatic stoppage time winner sees Wigan beat Bristol Rovers in 95th minute
- 95th minute winner sees Wigan snatch three points at Bristol Rovers
- Leam Richardson's side remain in the bottom four but are only one point from safety
- The Latics spoil Joey Barton's first game in charge of 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 who scored a screamer against Lincoln in the Latics last game has been in inspired form since he was recalled from his loan spell at Motherwell in January.
However, Luke McCormick levelled for Bristol Rovers in the 69th minute. He raced on to a Brandon Hanlan pass and cut in from the left to bury a low right-footed drive from 12 yards.
The game seemed like it was heading for a draw however deep into stoppage time Wigan were awarded a free kick. Rovers failed to defend the ball in from Thelo Aasgaard and Scott Wootton was given space to connect 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 just one point adrift of AFC Wimbledon in 20th.
Latics boss Leam Richardson said his can’t experience a much better feeling than their 95th minute winner.
“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. It’s one of them where of late some of our performances haven’t gone with the result that we felt we deserved.
“With winners so late on and having worked so hard, for the winner to fall for them is fantastic and hopefully it breeds a lot of confidence in the dressing room.”
Defender Scott Wootton struggled to hold back his delight 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 who you’re battling with,” he said.
“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 League One table, there is significant importance to the late victory, 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, however they face a tough test as they travel to league leaders Peterborough.