Cook happy to take point after Wigan outplayed by Bristol Rovers

Posted Wednesday, April 25, 2018 by PA

Paul Cook admitted his promoted Wigan side had been outplayed after grabbing a battling point in a 1-1 draw with Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium.

The Latics boss sent his congratulations to Blackburn for clinching automatic promotion with victory at Doncaster and praised his own players for getting a result from a below par display.

“All the plaudits go to Bristol Rovers for the way they played,” said Cook.

“We didn’t deserve anything tonight, but we took a point and all credit to the lads for that.

“Well done to Tony Mowbray and Blackburn. I hope they party all week and give us the chance to clinch the title!

“We can still reach 100 points and it’s great still to have that target. But we didn’t play well and Bristol caused us no end of problems.

“It was probably one of our toughest games of the season. When Darrell Clarke has his best team out, they are a match for anyone in League One.

“After the weekend we had, it was always going to be tough tonight and we’re delighted to be going home with a point.”

Rovers grabbed a 28th minute lead when the ball broke to Liam Sercombe in centre field 25 yards out and the midfielder strode forward to net his 12th goal of the season with a low right-footed shot.

The hosts could have extended that lead, but were pegged back 10 minutes from time when substitute Ryan Colclough’s shot from the left corner of the box beat the dive of Rovers goalkeeper Sam Slocombe, who should have saved.

A match played in pouring rain saw Rovers hit the woodwork twice through Kyle Bennett in the first half and Lee Brown in stoppage time.

Wigan goalkeeper Christian Walton made a brilliant double save after 43 minutes to keep out shots from Sercombe and Byron Moore.

Home boss Clarke said: “I am not doing cartwheels over a home point because I like to win.

“We have conceded a very soft goal and should at least have seen out the game to win 1-0. That is why Wigan, who were not at their best, are where they are and we are not a top six team.

“The performance was very good, but we have to be more clinical. What we showed again was that we can match the best sides, especially on a decent surface.”

Clarke revealed that long-serving full-back Brown would be leaving the club at the end of the season.

“Lee has had family problems this season and needs to move nearer to his London home,” he said.

“I totally respect that. He will be given the captain’s armband on Saturday for our home game with Gillingham and I know our fans will give him a great send-off.”