Wigan 1-1 Plymouth: Latics inch closer to promotion after Plymouth draw

Jack Whatmough scored his 11th goal of the season in drawing Wigan level against Plymouth

Wigan all but confirmed their promotion back to the Championship after coming from behind to secure a valuable point against Plymouth.

Jack Whatmough's 74th-minute equaliser cancelled out Luke Jephcott's opener against the run of play for the Pilgrims, who were second best for much of the afternoon.

The point keeps the Latics top, three points ahead of Rotherham and MK Dons who beat Oxford and Morecambe respectively.

With one game left to play, the third-placed Dons can only draw level with Wigan on 89 points but, with seven-goal advantage on goal difference, it would take a spectacular collapse in their last two games to deny the Latics a return to the second tier after a two-year absence.

Knowing a win - or MK Dons and Rotherham dropping points - would seal promotion, the Latics began brightly with Tendayi Darikwa warming Plymouth goalkeeper Michael Cooper's fingers with a stinging volley from 20 yards following an early corner.

Jordan Cousins - making his first start since December after recovering from a serious thigh injury - then planted a header from Max Power's cross over the bar.

The lively Darikwa then teed-up Callum Lang for a shot which was parried by Cooper, with Will Keane unable to profit from the rebound.

Wigan's dominance continued after the break with Power glancing a header just wide following excellent work down the right from Lang.

But they were made to pay when Plymouth took the lead from their first shot on target as Latics goalkeeper Ben Amos made a mess of Conor Grant's harmless enough free-kick and Jephcott gleefully tapped home.

Wigan's emotions were back up though 10 minutes later when Whatmough side-footed in at the back post from an inswinging corner.

Late drama followed as Dan Scarr hit the bar for Plymouth while Wigan had an injury-time penalty appeal turned down after claims Lang was fouled in the box.

Despite the disappointment of missing out on sealing their Championship return, Wigan know one more point from their last two games will do it, while a win and draw would guarantee the title.

The fifth-placed Pilgrims' play-off hopes will go down to their final game against MK Dons next Saturday.