Assistant manager felt his side could have grabbed late winner but reflected on a “fair point” against Shrewsbury Town on Boxing Day.

Leam Richardson | “If you don’t win, it’s important not to lose”
Assistant manager pleased with point but frustrated to not be awarded first-half penalty
Richardson: “Sebastian [Stockbridge] is a good referee, he’s been around a while. I did question it half-time, though, because Tom [Pearce] was in perfect control of the ball, he was about to have a shot and he got wiped out. I don’t understand the rules sometimes.”

Wigan Athletic assistant manager Leam Richardson says Latics can be content with their point against Shrewsbury Town on Boxing Day, in a game in which they lacked the energy and creativity they have shown at times this season.

Reflecting on Latics TV, Richardson said the draw was probably a fair result, though his side could have grabbed the win late on through Will Keane and Thelo Aasgaard chances.

“It was probably a fair result,” Richardson said. “They came here on the back three really good results so it was always going to be a test with how they play and how they’re built; they don’t give much ground up and it was up to us to take the initiative.

“We had a big chance [at the end]; and I said to the young lads that if you stay in games like that then you will get chances. Thelo [Aasgaard] probably has the best chance of the game in the dying minutes but, on reflection, we’re OK with the point.

“When teams are set up the way Shrewsbury are, then it is important you don’t give them any goals because they’re very good at what they do. It was up to us to find creativity to take the initiative and we didn’t have that spark or energy today but if you’re not going to win, don’t lose and I felt we did that with honesty.”

Latics should have been awarded a penalty before half-time after Tom Pearce was bundled over in the penalty area by former Wigan Athletic striker Leon Clarke.

Pearce was given a penalty early in the second-half when he was fouled after another marauding run down the left side.

And Richardson said it was an area the hosts targeted.

“We felt we could expose on our left side and in the first-half I felt we got into areas where we could be more productive,” Richardson explained. “Thankfully we had a good start to the second-half but then we didn’t really build on it and they put us under a little bit of pressure.

“I am not one to criticise officials because they have a tough job and a million decisions to make within the game; Sebastian [Stockbridge] is a good referee, he’s been around a while. I did question it half-time, though, because Tom [Pearce] was in perfect control of the ball, he was about to have a shot and he got wiped out. I don’t understand the rules sometimes. The second one [that was given] should that be a yellow or red card as well?”

Leam Richardson | "If you don't win, it's important not to lose."