RESERVES: Latics 1 - 1 Sunderland. Mac the knife slices home late equaliser in another dramatic game

LATICS 1
McManaman 90
SUNDERLAND 1
Cook 23

In another amazing game at Robin Park which saw three red cards and two missed penalties, Keith Bertschin's Latics salvaged a late late point against league leaders Sunderland with a goal with virtually the last kick of the match from substitute Callum McManaman.

McManaman was on the field following the early withdrawal of leading scorer Tomasz Cywka with a knee injury when he poked in an injury time cross from fellow substitute Daniel Redmond deep into stoppage time.

But that doesn't begin to tell the story of another memorable game.

Sunderland threatened to run away with the game in a first period that they dominated. They went ahead when Jordan Cook powerfully headed home David Brown's cross midway through the half, and had chances to extend the lead.

But Latics came back after the break and forced the better chances, notably after a great turn and cross from Tomasz Kupisz and a deflected shot by Craig Mahon.

In a fiery final 15 minutes, the game exploded into life.

16 year-old goalkeeper Lee Nicholls initially spilled a cross from Jamie Chandler, which led to Adam Buxton bringing down David Meyler. Nicholls made amends by diving low to his right to block Martyn Waghorn's spot kick.

Joe Holt's tremendous turn of pace then immediately led to a penalty at the other end, Sunderland keeper Nick Coglan bringing down last man Holt but only seeing yellow. Holt agonisingly smashed the penalty against the cross bar, however, and Jon Routledge forced a great save from Coglan as the ball rebounded into play.

Then, in an extraordinary few minutes, Sunderland scorer Cook was shown a second yellow after a foul on Lewis Field, before David Brown was shown a straight red for a head butt off the ball.

With a two man advantage, Latics pressed for the equaliser and Erik Edman forced a superb save from Waghorn.

However, Sunderland came out on the break tempting Andrew Pearson to bring down Waghorn and he was shown a second yellow.

Just as it looked as if time was running out for ten man Latics, McManaman sprung into life to earn his team a dramatic point.

Bertschin said: "It's never dull with us at the moment, is it? I thought we were going to get overrun at first, but they fought back really well in the second half against a really good team.

"We could have scored from the spot but full marks to the lads for keeping going until the very end. It shows that if you keep concentrating, you never know what can happen in football."

LATICS
Nicholls, Buxton, Field, Pearson, Edman, Mahon (Redmond 75), Routledge, Hampson, Holt, Kupisz, Cywka (McManaman 25)
Subs: Williams, Mustoe, Redmond, Breeze