Bournemouth vs Wigan Athletic. The FA Cup Third Round.
Vitality StadiumAttendance9,894.
Saturday 6 January 2018 18:10, UK
Steve Cook headed an injury-time equaliser as Bournemouth battled back from two goals down to scrape an FA Cup third-round 2-2 draw with League One leaders Wigan.
Eddie Howe's side looked to be heading out of the competition to lower-league opposition for the second successive season before Cook spared their blushes by making it 2-2 at the death.
Lys Mousset's first Bournemouth goal had given them hope after Wigan built a two-goal first-half lead thanks to Will Grigg and an own goal from Emerson Hyndman.
And the two teams will now contest a replay at the DW Stadium the week after next.
Howe made 11 changes when Bournemouth were dumped out of the cup by League One outfit Millwall at this stage last season and, with top-flight survival the priority, that did not deter him from making eight this year.
He saw his side get off to the worst possible start as Northern Ireland striker Grigg was given space inside the box to chest down Gavin Massey's header and convert the 100th goal of his club career into the bottom left corner inside three minutes.
Mousset had a chance to quickly restore parity but he headed straight at goalkeeper Christian Walton before his goal-bound strike minutes later was blocked by his strike partner Benik Afobe.
Wigan, on the back of a 10-game unbeaten run, were competing well and they came close to a second as Nick Powell flashed an effort narrowly wide after Andrew Surman lost possession.
The home fans were growing restless and they had good reason to be unhappy just before the half-hour mark as their side fell further behind.
Former Manchester United man Powell lined up a free-kick on the right corner of the penalty box and his strike took a wicked deflection off Bournemouth midfielder Hyndman to loop over Artur Boruc and into the far corner.
Howe reacted to the deficit with a couple of half-time changes, replacing Brad Smith, who was playing for the first time since September following injury, and debutant Connor Mahoney with Jordon Ibe and Marc Pugh.
The substitutions sparked an immediate revival as striker Afobe stung the fingertips of Walton and defender Cook headed against the crossbar before Mousset halved the deficit 10 minutes into the second period.
Frenchman Mousset swivelled inside the box to lash home and break his duck on his 28th Bournemouth appearance.
Wigan beat Bournemouth in a replay at this stage of the competition five years ago en route to lifting the trophy at Wembley and substitute Ivan Toney could have sealed their progression when he went through on goal, only to appear to slip as he rounded Boruc.
Wigan boss Paul Cook was enraged his side were not awarded a penalty and he had more reason to be unhappy moments later as Steve Cook rose highest to nod home in the second minute of added time.
