Fulham must endure play-off lottery after failing to kill off Wigan

Fulham and Wigan shared the spoils in a result which ensured neither side could find the outcome they desired on a dramatic final evening in the Championship. 

The Latics took the lead through a close-range Kieffer Moore header before Neeskens Kebano levelled for the Whites with his third goal in two games just four minutes after the restart.

The result means Fulham finish fourth in the Championship and will face Cardiff in the play-offs, whilst Wigan look likely to be relegated following a 12-point deduction – subject to an appeal.

Fulham started with purpose and could have even had a two-goal lead within the opening quarter of an hour. Neat play down the left-wing saw Joe Bryan cut the ball back to Aleksandar Mitrovic alone on the edge of the area, but he lashed wildly over the bar. Neeskens Kebano cut inside from the same flank shortly but David Marshall was equal to his sweet effort from 18 yards. 

But after that, the threat the visitors posed seemed to dry up. Wigan were in desperate need of a result themselves, and looked a threat down the flanks with wing-backs Nathan Byrne and Antonee Robinson causing Fulham real issues. Skipper Sam Morsy came close with a rasping 25-yard drive minutes before Moore had a goal ruled out for offside.

But Moore wasn’t to be denied, and a couple of minutes later he headed a teasing Byrne delivery home from point-blank range to leave Fulham trailing on the half-hour mark. 

Fulham failed to craft anything fluent enough to worry Wigan for the remainder of the opening period, but were level within four minutes of the restart. Kebano picked up where he left off at Craven Cottage at the weekend, bending a sumptuous free-kick into the top left-hand corner with Marshall stranded.

The Whites made attempts to build on their sizzling start to the second half but the Latics stood firm, with desperate defending to thwart another Mitrovic effort just minutes before Leon Balogun saw his point-blank header somehow kept out by a stunning Marek Rodak save. 

But as the game wore on, it was the hosts who looked the likeliest winners as they desperately went in search of the goal which would save them from relegation. Both Naismith and Joe Williams saw long-range efforts drift past Rodak’s post as neither side could find the elusive winner that they both so desperately craved.