LATICS LEAVE IT FAR TOO LATE!

GARY Caldwell admitted missed opportunities proved costly for Wigan Athletic after Will Grigg’s late equaliser salvaged them a point at bottom club Colchester United.

Yanic Wildschut and Ryan Colclough, either side of Alex Gilbey’s long-range equaliser, put promotion-chasing Wigan ahead at half time.

But Colchester came roaring back and Elliot Lee and a George Moncur penalty put them ahead before Grigg’s late show.

Caldwell said:“When you’re as far ahead as we were in the first half, you have to show it in goals and not just in your performance and put teams to bed.

“We didn’t do that and we paid a massive price.

“Will Grigg was in the right place at the right time but it was too little, too late.

“I’ve said to all of the strikers, we can’t squander chances and they’re not going to keep coming.

“There was only going to be one team that was going to win in it in the last five minutes.

“But you have to take the opportunities when they come along and we squandered too many.”

Colchester boss Kevin Keen was upset they could not claim vital points, but was still pleased with the display.

“It was just really disappointing that we couldn’t hold on for the points at the end,” he said.

“It was a fabulous game of football and a great advert for League One.

“It was top versus bottom and you could see why they are top.

“Wigan are a fantastic team and, in the first half especially, they’re the best team we’ve played against since I’ve been here since Christmas.We did well to stay in the game and had we just held on until half time, it would have been good.

“We made a couple of adjustments for the second half and the boys did themselves proud.”

Colchester goalkeeper Elliott Parish twice denied Grigg early on and also Max Power.

But Latics keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen thwarted Lee and Moncur and United thought they should have had a penalty when Joe Edwards tumbled under Stephen Warnock’s challenge in the area.

But, seconds later, they were behind as Grigg pounced on Tom Eastman’s error to set up Wildschut who finished well, nine minutes before the break.

Colchester were level less than three minutes later when midfielder Gilbey found the top corner with a magnificent 25-yard strike.

However, Wigan restored their lead when Colclough finished cleanly past Parish after good work from Wildschut.

A superb contest continued to ebb and flow and Colchester levelled again just after the break.

After Gilbey picked him out, Lee lashed a fine left-foot strike past Jaaskelainen.

And Colchester went ahead on the hour through Moncur, who scored from the spot after being fouled by Reece Wabara.

Wigan substitute Andy Kellett clipped the top of the crossbar before Grigg smartly converted substitute Craig Davies’ deflected pass to earn the visitors a point.