Blackburn 2-2 Wigan: Max Power free-kick seals draw for Latics at Ewood Park

By Charlotte Marsh

Sunday 4 March 2018 14:29, UK

A free kick from Max Power saw Wigan seal a 2-2 draw against Blackburn in their feisty Sky Bet League One encounter on Sunday.

The hosts had raced into a 2-0 lead at Ewood Park in the first half, with Adam Armstrong (6) powering home before Elliott Bennett added the second nine minutes later.

But Wigan came surging back into the tie in the second half, with Michael Jacobs hammering past David Raya (63) before Power (73) curled home a free kick ten minutes later to complete the comeback.

Blackburn remain top of Sky Bet League One on 73 points - five ahead of Shrewsbury - while Wigan go onto 67 points in third although have two games in hand on the Shrews and a vastly superior goal difference.

It took just six minutes for Blackburn to take the lead. After a great, sliding clearance from Darragh Lenihan, Bradley Dack received the ball and burst towards goal before sliding in Armstrong. The striker got in between his markers to latch onto the pass and hammer home from just inside the box.

Wigan responded well, as Gavin Massey's cross into the box just evaded the head of Will Grigg in the middle in the 12th minute and the duo linked up again not long after, but Massey could only turn Grigg's delivery past the post.

But Blackburn doubled their lead in the 17th minute, although it was not without controversy. Dack appeared to pull down Nathan Byrne on the left touchline before darting towards the top of the box. He then slid in Bennett who expertly curled his shot into the bottom corner from the near post.

Wigan goalkeeper Christian Walton made a brilliant save in the 41st minute to keep Blackburn from going further ahead. Ryan Nyambe slotted a ball into the area from the right flank and as Evans tried to chip the ball home, Walton made a leaping, fingertip save to deny him.

But the second half belonged to Wigan, who nicked a goal back in the 63rd minute to send them on their way. After a knockdown from James Vaughan, Grigg slipped in the box and saw his shot blocked, but the rebound fell to the waiting Jacobs. He hit home on the volley, and although it took a slight nick off Grigg's knee at the last, Jacobs was awarded the goal.

Ten minutes later and the Latics added their second with a superb Power free kick. Wigan were awarded the set piece after Armstrong was wrongly penalised for pulling the shirt of Callum Elder on the left-hand side, but it was perfect range for Power who curled home to secure a point for the visitors.

Man of the match - Bradley Dack

Dack was superb for Blackburn, with two assists to his name in the first half to show for his performance. He was a constant menace for the Wigan midfield throughout the game, usually involved in tussles both offensively and defensively, and is continuing his fine recent form for the league leaders.