Crewe 2-3 Wigan: Latics bounce back to beat Railwaymen

Wigan twice came from behind at Crewe before Yanic Wildschut's brilliant goal gave them a 3-2 victory in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

Latics, who are in this competition for the first time since 2002, levelled on two occasions through Jordy Hiwula's brace and Middlesbrough loanee Wildschut then rifled into the roof of the net from 25 yards in the 76th minute.

In a frantic opening 10 minutes there was a saved penalty, another attempt which came off the bar and a goal at either end.

Wigan forward Sanmi Odelusi was guilty of missing from 12 yards out having won the spot-kick himself only to hit a poor penalty to Ben Garratt's right.

Four minutes later the hosts went ahead, Ryan Colclough winning the ball on the byline and steering across for Canada international Marcus Haber to apply the finishing touch.

However, that lead lasted only four minutes. Wigan had already hit the crossbar direct from one Andy Kellett corner and another set piece proved Crewe's undoing as Wildschut headed back across goal for Hiwula to hook in.

Crewe almost went ahead again when George Cooper was foiled by Jussi Jaaskelainen.

However, more poor defending from Latics before the interval allowed Colclough to squeeze a right-foot shot under the Finnish goalkeeper.

Substitute Grant Holt emerged in the second half for Wigan, making his first appearance since December following a knee injury, while the Alex were forced into a change of their own when George Ray injured himself attempting a header and was taken off on a stretcher.

That may have rocked the Railwaymen, who found themselves pegged back again with 20 minutes to go, Hiwula turning in Kellett's cross after Donervon Daniels had lashed a left-footed try against the woodwork.

Wildschut then stepped on to the ball on halfway on a counter and ran at pace until unleashing a fantastic shot directly into the top corner.

Haber almost lifted a third Crewe goal over Jaaskelainen, who then thwarted the striker from 10 yards in the 10 minutes of injury time, with substitute Laurri Dalla Valle heading the rebound over.