MX23RW : Friday, January 4 00:11:29
Dec 29, 2018 at 3pm UK at ​Liberty Stadium (Swansea)
SwanseaSwansea City
2-2
WiganWigan Athletic
Burn (60' og.), van der Hoorn (81')
FT(HT: 0-2)
Garner (10' pen., 34')

Potter takes full responsibility for 'uncomfortable' first half in Swansea

Potter takes full responsibility for 'uncomfortable' first half in Swansea
© Reuters
Wigan went 2-0 up before the break by exploiting a change in formation from the Swans.

Graham Potter apologised to his Swansea team and the club's supporters after they were held to a 2-2 draw by Wigan in their Sky Bet Championship clash at the Liberty Stadium.

Potter's side started the game with an unusual 3-4-2-1 formation, but it backfired in spectacular fashion, with the hosts all at sea in both defence and attack.

Wigan striker Joe Garner scored twice before the break and Potter changed his system for the second half after his team were booed off.

An own goal from Wigan captain Dan Burn and Mike Van Der Hoorn's strike would ensure the game ended all square.

"I take full responsibility for the first half, we weren't able to be ourselves and it was an uncomfortable 45 minutes," Potter said.

"I had an idea of how we wanted to play, but it didn't work. I am disappointed with myself and I apologise to the players and to the supporters for the first half.

"We wanted to have width with Wayne Routledge and Dan James as we thought Wigan would block the centre of the pitch.

"But the response in the second half was fantastic and our supporters throughout the game were incredible. They got behind us in an amazing way and we could even have nicked all three points."

Swansea were all over the place in the first half and when Routledge fouled Kal Naismith in the box, referee James Linington pointed to the spot. Garner tucked home the penalty.

Wigan could have scored five or six before the break, but did turn around 2-0 to the good after Garner grabbed his second by converting Reece James' corner.

Potter changed things around for the second half.

He reverted to a back four with Jefferson Montero and Kyle Naughton replacing Cian Harries and Courtney Baker-Richardson. It made an immediate difference.

Swansea dominated the rest of the game and Matt Grimes' corner was bundled into the Wigan net with Latics captain Dan Burn getting the final touch.

Potter's men equalised when another corner – this time from Bersant Celina – was volleyed home by Swansea captain Van Der Hoorn.

The corner was given after an offside flag had incorrectly gone up following a Swansea throw-in. The Wigan defence stopped before conceding what in the end proved to be a vital set-piece.

Wigan manager Paul Cook said: "The most sensible thing for me would have been to take the throw-in again and we could all have had a little laugh at the linesman.

"It was a good game. We were excellent first half and Swansea were excellent in the second half. At the end of the day I think a draw was a fair result.

"At half-time we were in the ascendancy and I could only see ourselves winning the game, but before the game, of course, we would have taken a point. Our lads are very disappointed, but they should take heart from this.

"It's disappointing to concede from two set-pieces, but we couldn't handle Swansea's substitutes."


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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds26156544281651
2Norwich CityNorwich26147548341449
3Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd26145745281747
4West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom26137654342046
5Middlesbrough261110528181043
6Derby CountyDerby2612773832643
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest26912539291039
8Birmingham CityBirmingham26912538281039
9Queens Park RangersQPR2611693334-139
10Aston Villa2691164940938
11Bristol City2610883228438
12Swansea CitySwansea26106103531436
13Hull City26106103633336
14Stoke CityStoke2681173031-135
15Blackburn RoversBlackburn2681083341-834
16Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds2688103242-1032
17Preston North EndPreston2678113843-529
18Brentford26610103636028
19Millwall2677123341-828
20Wigan AthleticWigan2675142540-1526
21Rotherham UnitedRotherham26510112541-1625
22Bolton WanderersBolton2657141738-2122
23Reading2648142841-1320
24Ipswich TownIpswich2629152146-2515

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