Millwall 1-1 Wigan: Kolo Toure's Wigan share points away at Millwall

Wigan celebrate Will Keane's goal against MillwallImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Will Keane scored the first goal of Kolo Toure's Wigan tenure as his side initially took the lead against Millwall

Kolo Toure's tenure as Wigan manager began with a closely fought 1-1 draw at Millwall.

Will Keane's low strike just after the 30-minute mark opened the scoring for Wigan, his eighth goal of the season.

Zian Flemming equalised seven minutes later with a storming volley from the edge of the box.

Danny McNamara saw a shot fly narrowly over the crossbar for Millwall and Keane also headed just over, as both sides tried in vain to find a winner through the second-half.

Former Manchester City defender Toure was appointed by Wigan only 12 days ago, his first managerial position, and his side travelled to south London without a win in their last five matches on the road.

The Latics started brightly, forcing Millwall keeper George Long into a save inside the first 60 seconds after Nathan Broadhead chested James McClean's cross towards goal.

Yet the best early chance fell to Lions striker Tom Bradshaw, whose stabbed effort was superbly palmed away by a diving Jamie Jones.

Keane finally broke the deadlock after a largely scrappy opening half hour, when Broadhead cut into the box and offloaded the ball into his path.

The first shot was blocked, but Keane's luck was in as the ball ricocheted back into his path and with Long diving the wrong way, he easily slotted it past him.

But Flemming drew Millwall level shortly after, with an excellent strike from the edge of the box after Bradshaw chested the ball to him.

Millwall were looking to bounce back after a thumping 3-0 defeat to Sunderland last weekend and continued to press after the break.

Jones kept out a powerful free-kick by Flemming as well as a shot from Billy Mitchell, while McNamara's effort from distance skimmed just the wrong side of the bar.

Wigan also had their chances to snatch the winner as Keane almost doubled his tally with a header which just missed the target, while Tom Taylor forced a diving save from Long as both teams had to settle for a point each.

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Kolo Toure (right) had a coaching role at Leicester City before being appointed by Wigan

Millwall manager Gary Rowett told BBC Radio London:

"I thought Wigan showed under a new manager that they wanted to be as bright as they could and they were playing to try and get him a result.

"I thought they got a little bit of fortune with the first goal, it's a shot, Longy dives, it gets deflected into the lad's path and he prods it into an empty side of the net.

"We responded quite well, we had some good moments, then the one moment of quality that we showed in the game we ended up scoring - Zian early shot, great finish, we didn't do often enough.

"I think we worked hard, we competed, but when it came down to it we didn't have that zip in our performance on and off the ball and that's something we need to work hard to get back."

Wigan manager Kolo Toure told BBC Radio Manchester:

"It's always tough to come to Millwall and try to get a result. As we know, they've been winning most of their games here.

"I'm very proud of the players. We played the way we wanted to play, we created chances, we scored and then they came back.

"But second half we were still very dangerous and we could have scored the next goal but I think it's a good point and I'm very, very proud of the players.

"The plan that we put on they stuck to that, they were confident on the ball, making great passes, breaking lines, stepping the ball up from the centre-backs."

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