Wigan 1 Pompey 1: Cook made to pay by a familiar routine
Saturday, 26th Aug 2017 19:12 by pompey-fans.com staff

Conor Chaplin was so often brought off the bench to rescue Pompey during Paul Cook's reign. Today Kenny Jackett used the same tactic to save a point against Cook's new team Wigan at the DW Stadium.

Chaplin nodded in Brandon Haunstrup's left-sided cross 14 minutes from time to pull Pompey level against a Latics side who earlier had looked capable of winning this tussle with some ease.

They led 1-0 at the break. Nick Powell and Gavin Massey were involved in a slick eighth-minute move that ended in Ivan Tovey putting Wigan ahead. And it could have been more by the break had Cook's men turned pressure into goals.

Pompey were below their best in the first half but perked up after the interval and Jamal Lowe, back in the side after serving a three-match ban for his opening day red card, should have done better with a close-range effort.

There was a turning point around the hour mark when Chey Dunkley inexplicably lashed out at Brett Pitman and was shown a red card. That gave Pompey heart and new belief they could salvage something.

Chaplin did just that after coming on and for a short time it looked like Pompey might go on to claim all three points.

Their one-man advantage was cancelled out late on when Gareth Evans was ordered off for his second bookable offence.

Afterwards Jackett told the Pompey website: 'It was a very good point for us because if you finish above Wigan this season, you’ll probably get automatic promotion. They’re strong in every position and take some stopping. But our keeper was outstanding and contributed to a decent result. He kept us in it with some fine saves.'