Carlisle United earned their second point of the League One season with a gritty comeback against Wigan Athletic.
For much of the first-half it looked as though Carlisle would be swept away by a relentless, smooth Wigan outfit who looked a class above.
But Carlisle hung-in to stay in the contest and by the end the game could have gone either way with the Cumbrians earning high praise for their response.
Wigan’s off-field financial problems presented them with an eight point penalty and they have clearly been in a hurry to get out of minus territory.
With two wins already, they set off like the proverbial train and Carlisle were clearly second best – at times third best as Wigan passed and moved impressively.
Tellingly, though, they could manage only one goal. A strong run by Baba Adeeko ended with him slipping the ball through to ex-United striker Charlie Wyke, and he cleverly dinked the ball over Tomas Holy into the net.
Wyke hit the bar and Charlie Hughes planted a header against the post as Carlisle were extremely fortunate to take the half-time break and only trail by a single goal.
But what a difference manager Paul Simpson extracted from his players after a half-time discussion as the Blues proved more durable and effective opponents in the second half.
What had been virtual one-way traffic now became a true contest as United started to ask their own questions. Eleven minutes into the second half Carlisle were level.
After a mistake by Wigan keeper Sam Tickle, Owen Moxon drove in the equaliser from close range – and changed the course and narrative.
Ryan Edmondson almost got in on 75 minutes with a back post header while the lively man of the match Jordan Gibson continually asked questions of the Wigan defence.
In an end to end conclusion there was an opportunity for Wigan’s Callum Lang but he just couldn’t get on the end of a low ball across the box.
