Championship
WiganWigan Athletic1BirminghamBirmingham City1

Wigan Athletic 1-1 Birmingham City

Clayton Donaldson (left)
Clayton Donaldson (left) saw his penalty saved before David Davis scored on the rebound

Wigan Athletic rescued a late point through Craig Davies to deny Birmingham City a second consecutive victory.

The visitors had led in the first half when David Davis reacted fastest to tuck in the rebound after Adam Bogdan saved Clayton Donaldson's penalty.

Earlier, Donaldson had hit the post for Blues, and David Cotterill nearly made it 2-0 after half-time but hit the bar.

Wigan went close through Nick Powell before Davies turned in from close range, but the Blues remain unbeaten.

Despite Wigan controlling possession, Birmingham created the better chances and could have gone ahead when Jacques Maghoma's shot was palmed out by Bogdan into the path of the on-rushing Donaldson, but the Jamaican's instinctive effort struck the woodwork.

After the Wigan keeper brought Donaldson down in the area, he got down low to save the striker's resultant spot-kick but Davis was too quick to the rebound and coolly finished.

Powell was then denied by Birmingham stopper Tomasz Kuszczak after half-time and the Blues looked set for their second away win in four days, before Davies' late leveller.

The result leaves Blues one point above the Latics in the table and without a defeat in seven league games, having drawn six of them.

Wigan manager Gary Caldwell:

"There was one team that tried to win it. They got gifted a goal from not our doing and we had to chase a game against a team that likes to pack the defence and counter attack which is never easy. I thought we controlled the situation really well and if anything deserved to win the game so it's a bit of frustration."

"The rule is you can't go in the box until the ball's hit, it's clear. I would just like them to own it up at times to say 'I've made a mistake'. It would help.

"It's the sheer defiance that there's nothing wrong when really there is something wrong. A goal could have been avoided. I felt he was marginally offside as well. You can't get that many things wrong in a football match as important as this."

Birmingham City manager Gary Rowett:

"I couldn't see it, I wish he had (encroached) because I'm sure Clayton would have scored with the retaken one.

"Eight weeks ago the goalkeeper would have been sent off but now it's the double jeopardy rules. A point I think was a fair reflection of the game. They are a good side Wigan, I think they'll have a good season. I'm sure.

"I'm quite enthused at the start. There will be a lot of teams that will panicking a little bit after three games and wondering what work they need to do in the final few weeks of the transfer window. I'm quite pleased with the way we've started the season."

Line-ups

Wigan

Formation 5-4-1

  • 1BogdanBooked at 43mins
  • 29BurkeSubstituted forJacobsat 48'minutes
  • 20MorganBooked at 49mins
  • 33Burn
  • 23Warnock
  • 4PerkinsSubstituted forMacDonaldat 61'minutes
  • 7Gilbey
  • 6PowerBooked at 44minsSubstituted forDaviesat 84'minutes
  • 25Powell
  • 31Wildschut
  • 9Grigg

Substitutes

  • 15Flores
  • 16MacDonald
  • 17Jacobs
  • 18Chow
  • 21Davies
  • 22Jääskeläinen
  • 27Colclough

Birmingham

Formation 4-1-4-1

  • 29Kuszczak
  • 23Spector
  • 28Morrison
  • 5Shotton
  • 3GroundsBooked at 90mins
  • 6Kieftenbeld
  • 11CotterillSubstituted forAdamsat 69'minutes
  • 26DavisBooked at 64minsSubstituted forStewartat 83'minutes
  • 8Gleeson
  • 19MaghomaSubstituted forSolomon-Otaborat 84'minutes
  • 9DonaldsonBooked at 75mins

Substitutes

  • 1Legzdins
  • 4Robinson
  • 7Tesche
  • 10Fabbrini
  • 14Adams
  • 17Solomon-Otabor
  • 20Stewart
Referee:
Jeremy Simpson
Attendance:
11,182

Match Stats

Home TeamWiganAway TeamBirmingham
Possession
Home71%
Away29%
Shots
Home20
Away6
Shots on Target
Home6
Away3
Corners
Home10
Away2
Fouls
Home15
Away10

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Wigan Athletic 1, Birmingham City 1.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Wigan Athletic 1, Birmingham City 1.

  3. Post update

    Attempt missed. Yanic Wildschut (Wigan Athletic) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Dan Burn with a headed pass.

  4. Post update

    Corner, Wigan Athletic. Conceded by Greg Stewart.

  5. Post update

    Shaun MacDonald (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  6. Post update

    Foul by Clayton Donaldson (Birmingham City).

  7. Post update

    Attempt missed. Dan Burn (Wigan Athletic) header from the right side of the six yard box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Michael Jacobs with a cross following a corner.

  8. Booking

    Jonathan Grounds (Birmingham City) is shown the yellow card.

  9. Post update

    Corner, Wigan Athletic. Conceded by Tomasz Kuszczak.

  10. Post update

    Attempt saved. Michael Jacobs (Wigan Athletic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Craig Davies.

  11. Post update

    Shaun MacDonald (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  12. Post update

    Foul by Jonathan Grounds (Birmingham City).

  13. Post update

    Foul by Alex Gilbey (Wigan Athletic).

  14. Post update

    Greg Stewart (Birmingham City) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  15. Post update

    Foul by Michael Jacobs (Wigan Athletic).

  16. Post update

    Greg Stewart (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  17. Goal!

    Goal! Wigan Athletic 1, Birmingham City 1. Craig Davies (Wigan Athletic) right footed shot from very close range to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by William Grigg.

  18. Post update

    Foul by William Grigg (Wigan Athletic).

  19. Post update

    Ryan Shotton (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  20. Post update

    Foul by Stephen Warnock (Wigan Athletic).

As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Brighton32106067
2Norwich32105147
3Huddersfield32105327
4Fulham32104227
5QPR22005056
6Brentford32014226
7Bristol City32014316
8Wolves31204225
9Birmingham31203215
10Wigan31115324
11Aston Villa31114224
12Ipswich31114404
13Sheff Wed311123-14
14Derby311112-14
15Burton31027703
16Barnsley21014403
17Reading210112-13
18Nottm Forest310247-33
19Cardiff201102-21
20Leeds301226-41
21Rotherham301228-61
22Newcastle200213-20
23Preston300314-30
24Blackburn200217-60
View full Championship table

Elsewhere on the BBC