LATICS SMILES BETTER AT LAST
Tilt strike soothes fan agony
WIGAN skipper Tendayi Darikwa was as pleased as punch to finally give the club’s frustrated fans something to smile about.
The Latics sacked manager Leam Richardson in midweek after eight defeats from their last 10 league outings left them second from bottom.
But a battling derby performance at home to 10-man Blackpool was embroidered by a James McClean equaliser and a Curtis Tilt late winner – his first goal for a year – as Wigan claimed their first win in a month.
“Hopefully the fans left proud and happy,” said Darikwa. “They’ve kept with us, as they always do. The fans really gave us a lift when we needed it and stuck with us.
“It was important to get the three points after the run we’ve been on.
“It was massive for us to go out there and show some intensity to win the game. We’ve been on a tough run – we know that ourselves – and we’ve been working hard each and every day to get the three points, even more so in a local derby.
“It was really pleasing to walk off the field with a win. Hopefully we can kick on now after the break for the World Cup.”
Victory helped Latics climb one place, just a point short of hauling themselves out of the relegation zone. They don’t play again until December 10 and that will give them time to appoint a replacement for Richardson – or give caretaker boss Rob Kelly the chance to see if he can build on this victory.
“We knew it was going to be difficult but I thought we responded well after they scored and had gone a man down,” said Kelly, after the club’s first home league win over the Seasiders since August 2014. “It was a relief for everybody to get the win.”
The Seasiders had the worst possible start when defender Marvin Ekpiteta was sent off after only 17 minutes for fouling last man Charlie Wyke.
But striker Gary Madine fired the visitors ahead with a fierce right-foot volley to stun the Latics.
However, McClean’s inswinging corner somehow evaded everyone and levelled matters for the hosts nine minutes after the restart.
And then Jamaican defender Tilt was the home side’s unlikely hero as he headed home with two minutes left to clinch a precious win.
“The result is hard to take and it’s really difficult to take their late goal considering the effort and endeavour the players have shown,” said Blackpool boss Michael Appleton, whose side have now lost four on the spin.
“I really thought we were going to see out the match, but unfortunately one big moment has cost us dearly.”