Millwall 2 Wigan 2 – Shaun Hutchinson scores and makes vital late clearance as Lions extend unbeaten run
BY RICHARD CAWLEY
Millwall extended their unbeaten run to three Championship matches as they twice came back from trailing to Wigan Athletic.
Shaun Hutchinson headed the Lions back on level terms in the first period to cancel out a finish strike by Anthony Pilkington.
And substitute Matt Smith made it a second Den match in a row where he came off the bench to produce an impact – producing a fine header for his fifth goal of the campaign.
That saw Millwall once again quickly respond in the second period after again falling behind.
It took just three minutes for Wigan to take the lead, Pilkington producing a sweet first-time finish as the ball dropped to him inside the penalty area.
Millwall needed a good 20 minutes to settle into the contest and soon after a passing move that carried real intent from the hosts for the first time in the match saw Connor Mahoney air kick a Ben Thompson cross.
The Lions moved back level on 24 minutes – and it was no surprise that it came from a set-piece. Jed Wallace lofted a corner in and Hutchinson met it with a towering header in front of the Cold Blow Lane end for his third goal of the campaign.
Millwall have needed Bartosz Bialkowski to come to their rescue on a number of occasions already this season and the on-loan Ipswich Town keeper made an excellent reaction save to deny Kieffer Moore in the 38th minute.
It proved to be the last notable opportunity of the first period.
The ineffectual Mahoney was replaced by Smith at the break.
Millwall were behind again when left-back Antonee Robinson’s shot squeezed past Bialkowski at his near post – the Wigan defender just beating Mahlon Romeo to Joe Garner’s ball.
Once again the equaliser quickly followed – and it was a masterclass in heading from Smith.
Shaun Williams produced the cross from the left and the summer signing from QPR floated his header past David Marshall in the 61st minute.
Hutchinson – under pressure from Garner – made a vital late interception at the other end of the pitch as he headed Jamal Lowe’s cross off his goal-line.
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