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Wigan 1 West Brom 1 - Report and pictures

Albion missed the chance to return to the top of the Championship after being held to a 1-1 draw at Wigan.

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The Baggies were majestic in their 5-1 thumping of Swansea on Sunday.

But they got nowhere near those heights at the DW Stadium with Slaven Bilic's side under-par throughout.

After dominating the first-half, the hosts opened the scoring shortly after the interval when Sam Morsy hit a fierce effort from 25-yards which Sam Johnstone pushed onto the post.

But unfortunately for Albion and the keeper, the ball then ricocheted against his back and into the net.

The Baggies equalised in bizarre circumstances when Wigan keeper Jamie Jones inexplicably picked up a back-pass from his own player.

That saw Albion win a free-kick on the six-yard line which Charlie Austin fired in after being teed up by Jake Livermore.

But despite that lifeline, the Baggies were unable to go and find a winner.

With the result meaning, they now sit second in the Championship level on points with Leeds but with an inferior goal difference.

REPORT

Having played on Sunday - and with the derby against Blues kicking off at 12.30 on Saturday - Bilic opted to leave a host of star names on the bench for the trip to the DW Stadium.

In total, the boss made four changes from the win over Swansea with Conor Townsend replacing the injured Kieran Gibbs at left-back.

But Grady Diangana, Matheus Pereira and Hal Robson-Kanu were also left out of the starting XI with Kyle Edwards, Filip Krovinovic, and Charlie Austin the men to come in.

It meant the Baggies were able to continue in a 4-2-3-1 system with Austin the lone striker, Krovinovic in the number 10 role and Edwards joining Matt Phillips out wide.

Wigan, also lined up in a 4-2-3-1 system, with Josh Windass up front.

Jamal Lowe operated just behind with Gavin Massey and Michael Jacobs on the wings.

Having failed to win in their last eight outings, the hosts entered the game with manager Paul Cook under mounting pressure.

But they began the game on the front foot with Albion surviving a major scare just 10 minutes in when a brilliant pass from Lowe looked to have played Windass through on goal.

Racing back, Kyle Bartley had to time his challenge to perfection to win the ball and not concede a penalty.

And the 28-year-old did just that despite passionate appeals from the home crowd for a spot-kick.

The Latics faithful appealed for a penalty again a few moments later when Semi Ajayi and Windass had a coming together in the box.

But with Albion continuing to look disjointed, they had a glorious chance to open the scoring midway through the half.

Sam Johnstone failed to hold a low 25-yard strike from Windass with the ball then falling for Lowe.

But while the glovesman should have done better with the first effort, he then leapt to his feet to spectacularly deny the former Portsmouth man.

Incredibly, Albion failed to find any intensity or rhythm for the rest of the half with Cook's side going to create two more decent opportunities to open the scoring.

First, following a dangerous cross from Antonee Evans, Michael Jacobs saw a shot blocked before Lowe then poked the ball straight at Johnstone.

Then just before the break, Lowe headed narrowly over after meeting a whipped Lee Evans' delivery.

Those misses ensured Albion had - just about - survived the half in what had comfortably been their worst 45-minute performance of the season.

Albion looked a bit more like themselves immediately after the re-start with Townsend and Phillips seeing dangerous crosses cleared.

But Wigan then took the lead when Morsy let fly from 25-yards.

The Wolverhampton-born midfielder saw his effort tipped onto the post by Johnstone.

But the ball then hit the back of the goalkeeper and roll into the net for an own-goal.

Moments later, the hosts should have been two up.

After the ball broke for Jacobs in the box, the former Wolves man rattled a strike against the crossbar.

And while the ball then fell for Gavin Massey - he sent a header straight into the arms of Johnstone.

Bilic's side had well and truly been second best.

But they were gifted an equaliser on the hour mark when keeper Jones inexplicably picked up a back-pass.

It meant Albion were given an in-direct free-kick on the six-yard line - with Livermore teeing up Austin who smashed the ball home.

That proved to the striker's last touch of the ball with Bilic having already planned a triple change.

Austin joined Phillips and Nathan Ferguson in making way with Hal Robson-Kanu, Matheus Pereira and Darnell Furlong all introduced.

The changes improved Albion and they had a legitimate shout for a penalty with a little over 10 minutes remaining when Townsend took a boot to the face inside the box.

Bilic was adamant his team should have had a spot-kick but referee Andy Davies deemed otherwise.

Albion were now carrying a threat with Robson-Kanu meeting a free-kick only to see his header sail into the arms of Jones.

Edwards then had the opportunity to play Pereira in one-on-one but massively over-hit his pass.

Wigan, though, were in no mood to settle for a point and they almost won it with five minutes to play when Gary Roberts whipped a cross to the back post.

That delivery was met by Massey who then saw his header, just six-yards out, brilliantly parried away by Johnstone.

And despite five minutes of added on time, that proved to be the last genuine attempt on goal either side could muster.

Wigan: Jones, Byrne (Sterling 90), Robinson, Morsy, Evans, Lowe, Windass (Garner 85), Massey, Jacobs (Roberts 79), Kipre, Naismith.

Subs not used: Gyollai, Macleod, Pearce, Gelhardt.

Albion: (4-2-3-1): Johnstone, Ferguson (Furlong 62), Ajayi, Bartley, Townsend, Livermore, Sawyers, Phillips (Pereira 62), Krovinovic, Edwards, Austin (Robson-Kanu 62).

Subs not used: Bond, Hegazi, Barry, Diangana.

Attendance: 9,444

Referee: Andy Davies.