REPORT: Wigan Athletic 1 Blackburn Rovers 1 – Aasgaard gives Latics a share of the spoils
In their only home game of the summer programme, Latics were the better side throughout and Thelo Aaasgaard’s fifth goal of pre-season to level the scores late on was the least they deserved.
Latics should have led early when brilliant skills from Dion Rankine, and a one-two with Josh Stones, saw the new man pull the ball back to Chris Sze, who was denied by the right leg of Aynsley Pears.
Great stuff again from Rankine down the right, this time involving interplay with Baba Adeeko, led to Kai Payne firing over the top.
After Josh Stones somehow won an aerial ball against Hayden Carter, Aasgaard found himself clean through, only for his chip over the goalie to land on the bar.
The first real chance for Blackburn saw Sondre Tronstad unleash a rocket from 20 yards, which Sam Tickle flicked on to the bar, then calmly caught it, like it was all part of the show.
There was a daft of changes at the break, including James Carragher, Mat t Smith, Scott Smith, and a first look at new-boys Toby Sibbick, Silko Thomas and Joe Hugill.
Thomas was quickly into the game, sending over a cross that Scott Smith headed inches past the post.
Blackburn looked like they’d won it against the run of play when Jack Vale finished coolly.
But Aasgaard levelled from close range at the second attempt after his first effort was saved, to continue his rich vein of form
Hull City boss Tim Walter is refusing to be drawn on whether his side are making efforts to sign defender Charlie Hughes from Wigan Athletic.
The Tigers are hoping to make a number of additions over the coming weeks and there are admirers of Latics centre-back Hughes.
It has been claimed that Hull have gone in with a new bid worth up to £7m to take Hughes from Wigan
Wigan would be able to bank between £4.5m and £5m, with bonuses making up the rest, but Walter does not want to talk about potentially signing Hughes.
Asked about interest in a deal for Hughes, Walter told BBC Radio Humberside: “Could be, could be.
