Match Report: Fulham 2-2 Wigan Athletic

Changes weren't overly forthcoming. I think many of us expected Gary Caldwell to come in and clean the starting 11 bare to the bone and start over. Instead changes were limited to just two with Scot Carson and William Kvist coming into the starting line up. The two changes though proved to be enough, at least for a point.

It was the performance which was the key and what we are all hoping are the signs of things to come for the new regime. It was like the shackles had just been taken off a team which had been told you do not play football. There was, like any time a new manager takes over, periods in the game when we looked shaky; that said we looked much more like the team we want Wigan Athletic to be.

That ability on the ball was coming back, the possession we have always prided ourselves on was there. It was a game dominated by us, and like most of the season we couldn't get the goals to win the game. Instead it was the home side who twice took the lead, and we twice brought the game back to level pegging.

Ross McCormack with the opener five minutes in for Fulham. His low effort saw Scot Carson off balance and the Scotland strikers effort went into the bottom corner to give the home side the lead and them dreaming of finally being safe. That goal would be pegged back by yet another sublime Jermaine Pennat free-kick, the wingers curling effort left Fulham goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli no chance.

1-1 and that is how it looked to be how it would stay before a wonderfully taken strike ten minutes from the half time saw Fulham take a 2-1 lead. Matt Smith with an effort which was out of the top draw curling and chipping the ball from the edge of the box into the top corner over our defence and goalkeeper.

Strikes like that you just don't stop!

Roll on the second half and roll on Wigan possession but clear cut chances, to some degree, came and went just as quickly. That killer instinct is still missing up front and it doesn't look like it is going to be supplied by Marc Antoine Fortune, the striker though led the line very well for the team.

Wigan though did get their equalizer 20 minutes from time. A corner ball was flicked on at the near post by Harry Maguire and the on rushing Jason Pearce got onto it at the back post to volley the ball home and bring us back level. There would be no more goals for either team.

A point was more favourable result for Fulham who are now nine points clear of us and you have to say are safe, that is unless either us or Millwall pull of a miracle. It now comes down to if we can catch Rotherham who are seven points above us. If they fail to win their last four games and we can close the gap then maybe we can get out of this mess.

Next up is a tough trick to the Den to face Millwall. If not for survival the lads are playing for pride on Tuesday, lets hope they go out and get a win!