Match ends, Fulham 2, Wigan Athletic 2.
Fulham 2-2 Wigan Athletic
- From the section Football
Wigan battled back to earn a point at Fulham but new boss Gary Caldwell was unable to inspire them to a much-needed win in their fight against relegation.
Fulham led twice, first through Ross McCormack's low drive and then Matt Smith's stunning 25-yard strike.
Jermaine Pennant's curling free-kick cancelled out Fulham's opener and Jason Pearce prodded in on 69 minutes to earn a draw.
The result leaves Wigan seven points from safety with four games to play.
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Former Latics defender Caldwell was appointed on Tuesday with the club 23rd in the Championship.
Wigan have endured a torrid season and Caldwell has been assured he will not be judged on whether he succeeds in his daunting task of attempting to keep the 2013 FA Cup winners in the division.
His reign could hardly have got off to a worse start, with McCormack capitalising on Harry Maguire's poor header to fire Fulham in front from the edge of the area.
Pennant's fine free-kick brought Wigan level as the visitors dominated the opening half, enjoying two-thirds of possession without creating any other clear-cut chances.
But they were punished for not capitalising on that superiority 10 minutes before the break when Smith scored with a superb 25-yard drive, his 17th goal of the season.
Wigan, though, demonstrated the battling qualities so often displayed by their manager during his playing career as they fought back after the break, eventually levelling in scrappy fashion.
Maguire flicked on Pennant's corner and Pearce was quickest to react to convert at the far post.
It was deserved reward for an improved Wigan performance, but the result may prove to be of little help in their bid to stay up.
Fulham manager Kit Symons: "We're a point closer to safety and come the end of the season it might be the point that keeps us in the division.
"It's been a tough season, to put it mildly, and realistically it was probably always going to be like that. When we stay up I certainly won't be doing cartwheels, but I'll breathe a sigh of relief."
Wigan manager Gary Caldwell: "I have just said to the players that I feel very proud of them considering we only had two days to work.
"It's crazy, absolutely crazy. An all-consuming job. But I loved every minute of it and can't wait for the next one. I've had a lot of managers texting me saying 'welcome to the madhouse' and I can see what they mean."
Line-ups
Fulham
- 40Bettinelli
- 37Grimmer
- 18Turner
- 33BurnBooked at 27mins
- 24Husband
- 2Hoogland
- 19Tunnicliffe
- 8Parker
- 32KavanaghBooked at 45minsSubstituted forRuizat 73'minutes
- 9SmithSubstituted forWoodrowat 63'minutes
- 44McCormackSubstituted forStafylidisat 90+4'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Kiraly
- 3Stafylidis
- 4Hutchinson
- 10Ruiz
- 11Kacaniklic
- 16Woodrow
- 20Rodallega
Wigan
- 1Carson
- 17BoyceSubstituted forMcCannat 70'minutes
- 4Maguire
- 28Pearce
- 20Bong
- 36Kvist
- 24Perch
- 15PennantSubstituted forMurphyat 83'minutes
- 11McClean
- 16Kim
- 32FortunéSubstituted forWaghornat 57'minutes
Substitutes
- 7McCann
- 10Mckay
- 18Ojo
- 25Barnett
- 26Al Habsi
- 27Murphy
- 33Waghorn
- Referee:
- Mick Russell
- Attendance:
- 15,994
Match Stats
Home TeamFulhamAway TeamWigan
- Possession
- Home38%
- Away62%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away3
- Corners
- Home3
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away6
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Fulham 2, Wigan Athletic 2.
Kim Bo-Kyung (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Konstantinos Stafylidis (Fulham).
Substitution
Substitution, Fulham. Konstantinos Stafylidis replaces Ross McCormack.
Attempt missed. Scott Parker (Fulham) left footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Jack Grimmer.
Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Gaëtan Bong.
Attempt blocked. Cauley Woodrow (Fulham) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Scott Parker.
Chris McCann (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Jack Grimmer (Fulham).
Attempt blocked. James McClean (Wigan Athletic) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Kim Bo-Kyung.
Corner, Wigan Athletic. Conceded by Bryan Ruiz.
Attempt blocked. James McClean (Wigan Athletic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Gaëtan Bong.
Attempt saved. Cauley Woodrow (Fulham) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Scott Parker.
Foul by William Kvist (Wigan Athletic).
Ross McCormack (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Wigan Athletic. Josh Murphy replaces Jermaine Pennant.
Attempt blocked. Jermaine Pennant (Wigan Athletic) header from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by James McClean with a cross.
Attempt missed. Scott Parker (Fulham) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Foul by William Kvist (Wigan Athletic).
Scott Parker (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Fulham. Bryan Ruiz replaces Sean Kavanagh.
Attempt missed. Cauley Woodrow (Fulham) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Ross McCormack with a cross following a set piece situation.
Foul by Gaëtan Bong (Wigan Athletic).
Cauley Woodrow (Fulham) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, Wigan Athletic. Chris McCann replaces Emmerson Boyce.
Goal!
Goal! Fulham 2, Wigan Athletic 2. Jason Pearce (Wigan Athletic) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Harry Maguire following a corner.
Attempt missed. Harry Maguire (Wigan Athletic) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Jermaine Pennant with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Wigan Athletic. Conceded by Dan Burn.
Attempt missed. Dan Burn (Fulham) left footed shot from more than 35 yards is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Scott Parker.
Foul by Gaëtan Bong (Wigan Athletic).
Tim Hoogland (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Jason Pearce (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ross McCormack (Fulham).
Substitution
Substitution, Fulham. Cauley Woodrow replaces Matt Smith.
Attempt missed. Dan Burn (Fulham) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Sean Kavanagh with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Fulham. Conceded by James Perch.
Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Gaëtan Bong.
Attempt blocked. Sean Kavanagh (Fulham) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Tim Hoogland with a cross.
Attempt missed. Sean Kavanagh (Fulham) left footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the left.