10th November 2013
A controversial goal twelve minutes from time from Marc Antoine Fortune gave Wigan Athletic all three points against Yeovil at Huish Park today.
Fortune’s tap in followed a cross from sub Grant Holt, produced after he had seemingly controlled the ball with his hand wide on the touch line. The goal followed a sustained spell of pressure from the Latics but manager Gary Johnson will feel hard done by; another improved performance leading to an ultimately fruitless afternoon.
Johnson made three changes to the line up that started the last game at Leeds. Ed Upson’s suspension kicked in meaning he missed the game and both Sam Hoskins and Liam Davis dropped to the bench. Replacing them were Paddy Madden, Sam Foley and Luke Ayling.
Yeovil began at a good tempo but Wigan had the first two efforts on goal. Fortune pulled his shot wide before on loan Man United star Nick Powell flicked a header that departing keeper Wayne Hennessey got down well to save.
Madden, looking for his first goal of the season, tried chipping keeper Lee Nichols but didn’t get enough lift on the ball and two minutes later, he went close with an angled shot that whistled Narrowly past the angle of post and crossbar.
Craig McCann just missed with a rasping left foot shot and Maddens half hit shot was easily gathered by Nicholls as the game took on an ebb and flow nature in the chilly late autumn conditions.
Joe Edwards topped off a flowing move involving the impressive Joel Grant with a shot that scooted wide but in the closing stages of the first half , Wigan pressed with both Shane Duffy and Ayling clearing efforts off the line and Marc Albright ignition, on loan from Premier League Aston Villa, skimmed the top of the crossbar with a fierce shot.
Wigan came out much more adventurous in the second half and although they tended to be more direct than the hosts, they were better at creating chances and had five clear opportunities to take the lead by the hour mark.
Fortune headed over when he could have done better, Powell and Ben Watson shot well wide and Emmerson Boyce, stretching to reach a cross, hit his shot into the side netting. Hennessey, making his last appearance before going back to parent club Wolves, tipped an Albrighton shot around for a corner.
Another scramble saw Byron Webster and Luke Ayling save Yeovil’s skin with desperate clearances but it wasn’t all one way traffic. Grant set up Madden whose shot lacked power and Nicholls did well to save a Joe Ralls free kick.
Latics boss Owen Could threw on burly sub Grant Holt for Callum McManaman and within sixty seconds he’d created the winner. Despite looking to have controlled the ball with his hand, he got out of a tight spot on the touch line and crossed for Fortune to tuck in at the far post. No amount of Yeovil protests could persuade ref James Linington to change his mind though the assistant referee on the liane was better placed to judge.
Johnson brought on Liam DavIs and Sam Hoskins for Kevin Dawson and Sam Foley but despite the extra attacking options, it was Joel Grant who went closest sending his shot into the keeper’s midriff.
So the Glovers go into the two week break bottom of the division having slipped to another single goal defeat, at the hands of another controversial decision.