Wigan denied victory at Mansfield by referee error, claims Ryan Lowe

Wigan manager Ryan Lowe believes his side were denied victory at Mansfield by a wrong decision to disallow a Will Aimson goal in a 1-1 draw.

Mansfield went in at the end of a tight first half with a 1-0 lead thanks to Will Evans’ 32nd-minute goal.

But the Latics came back out all guns blazing and were furious when referee Seb Stockbridge spotted a foul when Aimson found the net in the 53rd minute.

Ollie Cooper did equalise six minutes later but the Stags then took over and threw the kitchen sink at Wigan in vain.

Lowe said: “I thought the lads were excellent today, especially second half.

“We should have won – I am not going to beat around the bush.

“We were done by a decision that was never a foul.

“It was a well-delivered, well-executed set play.

“I have just asked the referee to have a look at it and I hope he sends me a message to say it wasn’t a foul.

“The lads showed real desire and determination to get back into the game and then keep the back door shut as we knew they were going to throw loads at us.

“It was like the Alamo at the end – they were throwing everything at us.

“We showed fighting spirit which bodes well.

“I can’t complain as it’s a point in the right direction, though we wanted all three.”

In a half in which neither goalkeeper made a real save, Stags went ahead when Evans received a Nathan Moriah-Welsh cross on the left of the box and rifled home low from 15 yards.

Aimson thought he had levelled from a Fraser Murray corner, but Stockbridge felt there had been a push.

Latics levelled when Morgan Fox threaded a pass to his right and Cooper drilled home low past Liam Roberts.

Mansfield went up the gears and Regan Hendry saw a deflected shot hit a post as Wigan defended for their lives to secure a point.

Stags boss Nigel Clough said: “I think we deserved to win that over the course of the game.

“I thought we controlled it for about 75 minutes.

“But the key period was the 15 minutes after half-time when they came out and really pressed us.

“We couldn’t cope with it for 15 minutes.

“I don’t think we got away with anything for their disallowed goal as I think it was a foul on Stephen McLaughlin.

“He told the ref a couple of times that their lad was just bowling into him.

“After 65-70 minutes it was just us camped in their half and with a break and a little bit of luck or better finishing we’d have got a winner.

“At least the point keeps the unbeaten run going against a dangerous side with a lot of quality.”