Posh Beaten In Five-Goal Thriller
If it is goals and entertainment you are after, the ABAX Stadium is the place to be. In the last three fixtures, there have been a whopping 18 goals scored and the latest goal fest was an enjoyable watch in terms of the quality on show.Peterborough United found themselves 2-0 at the break due to in no small part to naive defending but still created plenty of chances with Jon Taylor striking the post and Gabi Zakuani firing off target on a number of occasions from corner kicks.
The introduction of Jermaine Anderson in the second half pepped up the Posh midfield and Erhun Oztumer halved the deficit on his return to the starting line-up after a three match ban.
Substitute Souleymane Coulibaly levelled following an excellent Posh move, but less than 60 seconds later, Max Power, a man with a name many would love to have on their birth certificate, fired home to give the visitors all three points.
Manager Graham Westley paid tribute to his side's character and ability in his post-match press conference, but bemoaned the naivety which cost Posh goals.
Westley's men made a bright start to the contest and came close to the breakthrough on five minutes as excellent approach play by Conor Washington created a chance for Jon Taylor, but his shot clipped the outside of the post.
However, it was the visitors who opened the scoring and it was a fine individual strike by the powerful WILDSCHUT who ran at the Posh defence and fired low past Alnwick and into the back of the net.
The Latic's doubled their advantage moments later as a James shot flicked off Will GRIGG and squirmed into the corner past Alnwick.
Taylor was inches away from an immediate reply after a forceful run, but his powerful shot went inches past the post. Zakuani headed an Oztumer corner wide of the near post as Posh again came close on 18 minutes.
Zakuani volleyed a Taylor free-kick over the bar as Posh continued to create chances without testing the Wigan goalkeeper.
Forrester had the ball in the back of the net on 26 minutes after a slick move, but Washington was adjudged to have been offside earlier in the move.
Angol met an in-swinging cross from Taylor on 31 minutes, but it didn't have enough power to beat Jaaskelainen, while the former Bolton keeper was not called upon to stop a skidding Forrester effort from range, which went just past the near post.
Alnwick was called upon to beat away a Grigg effort after Posh gifted the visitors the ball in their own area.
Conor Washington produced an excellent first touch to take down a pass from Elder, but his toe poke finish went wide of the target. Alnwick was well positioned to catch a McCann effort after he was afforded time and space on the edge of the penalty box.
On the stroke of half-time, Grigg wasted another chance to make it 3-0 after a slick one-two but he dragged his shot wide. Forrester was cautioned early in the second half for a fairly blatant obstruction.
Alnwick produced a fine stop to push a Michael Jacobs free-kick around the post after Almeida Santos was penalised for a foul on the lively Wildschut.
Max Power was a whisker away from a third goal after Wigan toyed with the Posh defence on the edge of their own box.
Washington fired over on the volley after a clever reverse pass from Oztumer on 58 minutes. Posh made a change on the hour with Jermaine Anderson replacing Santos, Bostwick moving back into the defence.
Not long after that introduction, Posh had halved the deficit as Anderson, Washington and Angol all combined with the loose ball falling to OZTUMER who rammed the ball home with his left-foot into the corner.
Former Norwich City and Aston Villa front man Grant Holt was introduced for Grigg moments later as Wigan made a switch.
Angol sent a volley wide of the target at the near post after good work from Elder as Posh began to pin their opponents. Washington then fired a cross-shot across the box which just eluded the sliding Angol at the back post.
Anderson headed wide from an Elder cross after excellent work from Washington as again Posh came close to finding an unlikely leveller.
Bostwick received his eighth booking of the campaign for a late tackle as the game moved into the final 10 minutes. On 81 minutes, Posh drew themselves level and a better move you will not see, Anderson, Forrester and Oztumer all involved with the latter picking out substitute COULIBALY who fired home from 10-yards.
However, the joy turned to despair moments later as POWER was allowed a free run at goal after an intelligent lay-off from Holt and he fired past Alnwick.
Taylor fired over at the back post as six minutes of added time was indicated by the fourth official.
Posh: Alnwick, Smith (sub Coulibaly 78min), Zakuani, Almeida Santos (sub J. Anderson 60min), Taylor, Bostwick, Oztumer (sub Vassell 85min), Washington, Angol, Elder, Forrester. Unused subs: Henry, Fox, H. Anderson, Collison.
Wigan: Jaaskelainen, James, Perkins, Daniels, Power, McCann, Grigg (sub Holt 61min), Jacobs (sub Chow 66min), Morgan, Barnett, Wildschut (sub Davies 75min). Unused subs: O'Donnell, Cowie, Love, Hiwula.
Half-time: Peterborough United 0-2 Wigan Athletic
Full-time: Peterborough United 2-3 Wigan Athletic
Attendance: 4,765 (260 Wigan fans)