ANOTHER MADLEY MOMENT SAVES HOWE
THIS tie should not be going to a replay. Wigan should be through and hoping for a payday bonanza against a big Premier League club. But once again Bournemouth had a referee named Madley to thank for saving their embarrassment. Bobby Madley let Bournemouth off the hook on St Stephen’s Day against West Ham when he overruled his assistant to award the offside Callum Wilson’s late goal, which made it 3-3. This time, Bobby’s big brother Andy came to their rescue, denying Wigan a penalty before Bournemouth charged up the other end to score in the 92nd minute. Wigan may be renowned for its meat pies, but their footballers were throwing custard ones in Bournemouth faces for most of the first half. The eight team changes Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe had made led to confusion and slapstick defending, and it was remarkable that Wigan only had two goals as Bournemouth trudged off at the break to boos from their fans. All that was missing from this comedy of errors was the Benny Hill music. The first Wigan goal fell to Will Grigg, who beat Artur Boruc with ease. For the second, Nick Powell’s free-kick cannoned off Emerson Hyndman in the wall from 25 yards, and Boruc let it loop into the net. ‘We got the lead we deserved,’ said Grigg, whose strike was his 100th for Wigan. ‘To concede at the end is disappointing.’ Lys Mousset pulled one back but, despite an onslaught, Wigan held firm. Then, in the 88th minute, Ivan Toney was felled by Boruc, Madley waved play on, and the home side went up the other end to score. From a free-kick, Cook outjumped Dan Burn to secure a replay that Bournemouth, given their relegation battle, could have done without. ‘I’ve seen them given. It’s a tough call. I don’t think it was absolutely clear-cut,’ Howe said of Toney’s penalty appeal. ‘Another game is not ideal.’