Match Report: Wigan Athletic 3-3 Fulham

Wigan took the lead through an Adam Forshaw spot kick. Fulham equalised on the half hour mark through Lasse Vigen Christensen. The Cottagers then went ahead 6 minutes later, Bryan Ruiz found himself free to chest in a Ross McCormack cross. Roger Espinoza put Wigan back on level terms with a superb effort. Fulham were then reduced to 10 men when Ross McCormack was shown a second yellow for raising his hands to James McClean. Shaun Maloney then give Wigan the lead 8 minutes from time. Bryan Ruiz put a rain on Wigan's parade late on from 12 yards after Leon Barnett brought down Hugo Rodallega just inside the area leaving referee James Adcock no choice but to send the former Norwich man on his way.  

The two sides went into the game just a point apart with both teams with slight changes of fortune. Wigan claimed their first win in 9 last week against Derby whilst Fulham had won 4 out of their last 7 fixtures but both lurking precariously close to the bottom 3. Wigan made a bright start and were rewarded just 9 minutes in when on loan Bayer Leverkusen left back Kostas Stafylidis brought down the ever dangerous Callum McManaman in the box, with no hesitation James Adcock pointed to the spot. Adam Forshaw stepped up and dispatched the penalty giving Wigan an early lead. Fulham gradually obtained a foot hold in the game and equalised when Lasse Vigen Christensen shrugged off Leon Barnett, rounded Scott Carson and finished into an empty net. Carson was then called upon to keep out former Wigan man Hugo Rodallega on his second visit to the DW Stadium after his departure to Craven Cottage in 2012. Things turned sour quickly for Uwe Rosler as Fulham took the lead just 6 minutes later. Ross McCormack sent an inviting curling ball to the back post where Bryan Ruiz found himself in front of Maynor Figueroa to chest home his first of the Afternoon.

After the break Wigan improved and squared the game up at 2-2 through Roger Espinoza. The former Kansas City man controlled Maynor Figueroa's knock on, Espinoza rifled the ball home on the half volley from a full 25 yards past a helpless Marcus Bettinelli in the Fulham net. After receiving a careless booking from a late challenge on James Tavernier, Ross McCormack saw a second yellow for a scuffle with James McClean. Wigan then went ahead 8 minutes from time, Roger Espinoza as provider this time with a delicate reverse ball to Shaun Maloney who with his first lashed home Latics' third of the afternoon. Uwe Rosler's side shut up shop which proved costly as a misjudged clearance from Rob Kiernan came through to Hugo Rodallega who stole in and was brought down on the just inside the box by an oncoming Leon Barnett. The Norwich man saw a straight red and Bryan Ruiz calmly slotted home the spot kick to earn Fulham a point going into the Midweek games.

Uwe Rosler believes there is a change in his Wigan side despite losing a winning position twice when he spoke to BBC:

 "We should have got the three points. When you go into the lead inside the last 10 minutes, you should win the game.

"But there was no pressure on the ball, we stayed high and let people in get behind us.

"At this level you shouldn't be talking about making mistakes like that.

"The good thing is we came back from behind like we did at Derby last week. We have more grit in the side and we are mentally stronger than we were."

The result leaves Wigan in 18th, above Leeds on goal difference and behind Rotheram and Milwall by a point. Tuesday sees a gruelling trip to Brighton where a much needed 3 points could see the Latics go as high as 15th as well as some extra morale and confidence going into the derby on Friday.