Bristol City 2-2 Wigan Athletic: Anthony Pilkington grabs late Latics equaliser
- Published
Anthony Pilkington's injury-time strike was his first goal of the season
Anthony Pilkington grabbed an injury-time equaliser as relegation-threatened Wigan earned a point at Championship play-off chasers Bristol City.
Pilkington tapped in from close range after home keeper Max O'Leary could only parry Leon Clarke's shot into his path.
It was arguably no more than Wigan deserved after they had the better of the opening hour and led at the break through Reece James' stunning 25-yard strike into the top corner.
But Robins boss Lee Johnson made a triple substitution in an attempt to get back into the game which looked to have paid of spectacularly.
First one substitute Niclas Eliasson crossed for Matty Taylor to head home the equaliser before Taylor turned provider for another, Kasey Palmer, to fire home first time.
Bailey Wright sliced wide in a goalmouth scramble as Bristol City went close to a third, only for Pilkington to earn the Latics only their seventh away point of the season.
It was enough to lift the Latics to 19th in the table, but they are now only two points above the relegation zone after wins for fellow strugglers Millwall and third-from-bottom Rotherham.
Bristol City remain in the play-off places, two points clear of seventh-placed Derby, but slip to sixth after Aston Villa, who have played a game more, scored twice in stoppage time to beat Sheffield Wednesday and climb above them.
Until Johnson's triple change, it looked as though Wigan might secure their first away win since 22 August as they had the better of proceedings.
After James' opener, they went close to doubling their lead either side of the break as Chey Dunkley, Cedric Kipre and Joe Garner were all denied in a goalmouth scramble, Josh Windass struck the post and Danny Fox saw his shot pushed away by O'Leary.
Bristol City had chances too, with Jay Dasilva seeing his volley brilliantly tipped over by Latics keeper Christian Walton, who also saved from Famara Diedhiou.
They then struck twice in three minutes to turn the game on its head, but just when they seemed on course for a third straight win, Pilkington scrambled home to deny them.
Bristol City manager Lee Johnson told BBC Radio Bristol:
"(I'm) disappointed, a bit angry, a bit gut wrenched because it's a great chance for us obviously with a minute to go to not concede and get the points but sometimes that happens in football and you have to dust yourself off and go again.
"I thought first half although we had two of three pretty good chances I thought we were lethargic and they were the more energetic of the two sides.
"We done everything right. We had the chance to make it 3-1, we didn't. We have come out of it feeling like a loss.
"They a good side. I like them a lot they got some real quality but unfortunately it wasn't our day today."
Wigan Athletic boss Paul Cook told BBC Radio Manchester:
"I think from a managing point of view, that game kind of summed up our season. We have the ability to have moments of madness in the game to see us go from such a positive position to a negative one.
"Within that I felt we looked a threat all afternoon in terms of creating chances. I genuinely thought a draw was the least we deserved.
"(We need to) just keep going, great results for some of the teams around us, great credit to them. With six games to go we're pleased with a point here it's a tough place to go to."