Rovers hold out for a 0-0 at the DW but the game was overlooked as the away end felt harshly done by as Bennett was shown a red by the referee.
A slow start to the game as the 2,500+ Rovers fans continued to cheer on the team. The first 20-30 minutes was played in the middle of the pitch with a few half chances for both teams, with both keepers not having a great deal of work to do
At the front end of the pitch for Rovers, Marcus Antonsson was very isolated and struggled to keep hold of the ball and there was very little link up play between him and Dack who was a bright spark in the first half.
In contrast for the home side, Ivan Toney was a menace in the first half taking on defenders and getting a couple of shots away but none really troubled David Raya.
The second half saw Rovers come out on top with the substitution of Danny Graham on for Marcus Antonsson. Graham’s hold up play was effective and linked up well with the Middlesbrough loanee, Harry Chapman – before he pulled up with what appeared to be a hamstring injury towards the end.
Rovers tried to play on the counter attack and it was working. Until a controversial decision. The referee, Darren England, chose to send Elliott Bennett off for what the red judges to be a dive. However, Rovers felt harshly done by as the away end thought it was a foul on the winger.
The referee continuously got stick from the rowdy away end as he had several chants aimed towards him. He gave many fouls in the middle of the park to the hosts and very rarely gave Rovers any to even it out.
The full time whistle went and deservedly, Rovers held out for a good point. We showed signs of holding strong, which is what Rovers have failed to do in previous years.
With everything said I would say that a point is great result with the performance of the referee and having played with 10 and limiting Wigan to very few clear cut chances.
Although we can all direct our angers to the referee, the players deserve a lot of praise. When things went against them, they held on strong. They fought and battled on until the end and it was so pleasing to see.
Onto Fleetwood on Tuesday.
Rovers Chat 