Wigan Athletic maintained their unbeaten European record with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Rubin Kazan this evening.
The visitors took the lead against the run of the play when Alexander Prudnikov collected Chris Mavinga's pass before firing it past Scott Carson at his near post.
Wigan levelled things up five minutes before the break when Nick Powell's powerful low strike found the bottom corner.
The Latics came close to winning it in the dying seconds as Powell flicked Callum McManaman's cross towards Marc-Antoine Fortune at the back post, but the Wigan striker saw his shot brilliantly saved from point-blank range.
You can read how an entertaining 90 minutes unfolded with Sports Mole's live coverage below.
Good evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for a huge Europa League match between the top two teams in Group D as Wigan face Rubin Kazan at the DW Stadium.
Wigan have made an unexpectedly bright start to their first experience of Europe, picking up a win and a draw from their two games so far. This will be their toughest test yet, however, and if they are still unbeaten by the end of tonight's match then they will be one step closer to qualifying from their group.
Rubin Kazan have struggled domestically this season, but few have been able to match them in the Europa League so far. They sit top of the group with two emphatic wins from their opening two games, scoring nine goals in the process. Another win tonight would all but see them through to the next round.
KICKOFF: Rubin Kazan get us underway in this one as Wigan look to prove that they do belong at this level. Kazan are among the favourites to reach the latter stages of this competition, so this will be a real test for the Latics tonight.
Decent start from Wigan, who look like they have settled down quickest here. They are not in great form overall in the Championship, sitting down in 13th place, but their home form is impeccable. They are unbeaten in their last seven at the DW Stadium, while they have won all of their last four.
Rubin Kazan are unlikely to be intimidated by a half-full (that could change to half-empty for Wigan fans at the end of the night) DW Stadium, however. They beat the mighty Barcelona in the Nou Camp a few years ago, if you will remember. They certainly have plenty of experience at this level, especially in comparison with Wigan.
The Russians don't come into this match in great form, however. They are already 16 points behind Zenit in the league and sit in 10th place having picked up just 16 points from 13 games.
SHOT! Wigan have made a very bright start to the this match, and they have the best opening of the game so far. A free kick is only cleared as far as Powell, whose first effort is well blocked by Mavinga. The ball bounces back out to the youngster, but he doesn't quite catch it right this time and it is comfortable for the keeper.
The hosts will certainly be buoyed by this start. Rubin can't get themselves into the match at the moment and they are losing the ball almost immediately after getting it again. An early goal would be huge for the Latics here.
Wigan's confident start here is made all the more surprising by the fact that they were beaten 1-0 by Blackpool in their last outing. Owen Coyle's side look eager to bounce back from that defeat as soon as possible, and there wouldn't be many better ways to do that than a home European win.
M'Vila, who reportedly has no less than 60 scouts watching him tonight, sends a ball through for Prudnikov to race on to. He looks to have a clear run on goal, but the chance is denied by the linesman's flag. That was very close.
GOAL! Wigan 0-1 Rubin Kazan (Alexander Prudnikov)
Oh what a blow that is for Wigan! Rubin Kazan take the lead with their first meaningful attack, and it is Prudnikov who gets the goal. It is a strike full of quality, as Mavinga sends a very good cross into the striker from deep. His first touch is perfect before he squeezes it past Carson at the near post.
That was good play all round from the visitors, and a reminder of the quality that Wigan face in this competition. They had enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges, but all Rubin Kazan needed was one chance and they took it.
It has been a decent response from the hosts, who have re-assumed control of this match. They need to take their chances when they lead in this game as, as we have already seen, Rubin have the ability to strike at any time.
Mavinga pounces on a loose pass out of defence from Wigan, but the Frenchman can't make the most of it as his square ball is cut out by Boyce. The Latics can't afford too many mistakes like that.
Lovely football from Rubin Kazan as Eremenko is slipped in on the left of the penalty area. He chooses to pull the ball back to the edge of the area instead of putting it into the middle, and Ryazantsev's first-time effort bounces wide.
CHANCE! That is Wigan's best chance of the match so far. Watson does really well to win the ball in an advanced area before getting a pass to Holt. Holt squares it once more, but his pass is behind Powell, who leaves it for Jordi Gomes steaming in behind him. The Spaniard tires to curl his effort towards the far corner, but gets it all wrong a balloons his effort well over. That was a big chance.
More promising play from Wigan, but again Holt's pass is lacking accuracy, played too far in front of Beausejour and out for a Rubin throw in when Wigan had men over.
Beausejour is released down the left flank and has a chance to cross for the first time tonight, but his delivery is too high and is clawed away by the keeper. He may have been better suited drilling a low cross in there.
Holt is indignant about a free kick being given against him after being sandwiched by two defenders. His physical presence could be the most likely route to success for Wigan tonight, but it would be against their footballing ethos to simply pump long balls forward to him.
Route one stuff from Wigan as Carson's goal kick bounces all the way through to the opposition area, causing havoc as Holt misses it and then Beausejour challenges the keeper in the air. The keeper's punch only falls as far as Holt, but he can't connect properly with his volley and the chance goes begging.
Beausejour does well to buy a free kick in a good position on the edge of the box having been brought down by Eremenko. It is right on the edge of the area and, if anything, could be too close to get it over the wall and back down in time.
Watson is the man who goes for goal, but the keeper doesn't have to move a muscle as the curling effort goes straight at him. He makes a comfortable catch, and another decent chance goes begging for Wigan.
Incredibly, this away European match is a close-range encounter by Rubin Kazan's standards. Their 2,500-mile trip to Wigan is dwarfed by the 10,000-mile round trip that they face for their next 'domestic' game.
UPDATE: In the other match in Group D tonight Maribor have come from a goal down and now lead Zulte-Waregem 2-1. Wigan will have one eye on that result as they are likely to be battling it out with those two sides.
GOAL! Wigan 1-1 Rubin Kazan (Nick Powell)
Superb strike from Nick Powell, and how important could that goal prove to be? The youngster collects a pass on the edge of the box before drilling a snap shot low towards the near post. He only has a fraction of the goal to aim at, but he puts the ball perfectly in that space and beyond the despairing dive of the keeper. That was a very good strike.
Prudnikov has a half-chance to restore his side's lead straight away. Rubin win the ball back high up the field and immediately the young striker gets on his bike. He is played through but needs to take the shot early and slices it side.
YELLOW CARD! Barnett becomes the first player in the book for a robust aerial challenge on M'Vila. He didn't win the ball and certainly made contact with the Frenchman, but that was a harsh card.
Eremenko won't want to see that one again! Boyce makes a poor clearance which gives the ball straight to the Rubin Kazan midfielder on the edge of the box. He has chance to shoot from a good position, but slices his effort all the way out for a throw!
There will be a minimum of two minutes added time at the end of this first half.
Holt flicks the ball on and for a moment Gomez looks like he might latch on to it, but he is not on his toes and the ball rolls through to the keeper.
Great play from Beausejour as he beats Kuzmin with ease before sending a superb pass to Holt, who has space inside the box. His first touch lets him down, however, and defence get back to clear the danger. That would have been a real chance is Holt's control was better there.
HALF TIME: Wigan 1-1 Rubin Kazan
The referee brings an end to what was a successful half from Wigan as they look to maintain their unbeaten record in the Europa League this season. They have played some good, attacking football against a side of real quality and, if you were to offer them the same scoreline at full time, I think that they would take it.
There have been glimpses of the difference in quality between these two sides, but for the most part Wigan have matched and even bettered their more illustrious opponents tonight. The Latics were the better side at the start of the match and Rubin Kazan's goal came very much against the run of play. They also finished the half on top and certainly deserve to be level at the break.
Their goal came courtesy of a fine strike from Nick Powell, who hit the ball early and enough power to beat the keeper from the edge of the box. The on-loan Manchester United man continues to impress, particularly in the Europa League. That is his third goal in this competition already this season, and he could be key to the Latics if they are to qualify from the group.
Rubin Kazan have looked dangerous at times and certainly look to have enough quality to take advantage of any lapses from the Wigan defence, who will need to be in top form in the second half. Their goal was very well worked, with Prudnikov controlling Mavinga's pass brilliantly before slotting it past Scott Carson.
A draw against Rubin Kazan really would be an impressive result for Wigan. As things stand, with Maribor beating Zulte-Waregem, Wigan would remain second in the group, two points clear of the Slovenian side.
KICKOFF: Wigan get us back underway for the second half. Can the Latics hold on to this scoreline, or could they even go on to record a famous victory? No changes for either side.
UPDATE: Maribor have made a brilliant start to the second half in Belgium. They have just extended their lead over Zulte-Waregem to 3-1.
YELLOW CARD! Shotton is shown a yellow card and he can have no complaints with that one. It was a clever foul as he prevented a good chance, but he got nowhere near the ball and was rightly booked. Rubin have a free kick in a good position here.
Eremenko is teed up from the free kick on the edge of the box, but he hammers his shot into the end of the wall and Wigan are able to clear the danger.
Holt has been really poor so far today. He has had a number of chances to continue promising attacks for Wigan, but each time his final ball has been poor. This is probably the worst of the lot as he gives it straight to a defender when looking for Beausejour. He just looks so sluggish at the moment.
The DW Stadium rise as one to appeal for a penalty on Boyce, but the referee is having none of it. Watson delivery from deep was knocked down into a dangerous area before Boyce went tumbling to the floor. That was the right decision from the ref.
YELLOW CARD! Powell and Torbinski both fly into a tackle with two feet raised, but the referee gives the foul Wigan's way and books Torbinski. That one really could have gone either way, to be honest.
Wigan have been the better side in this second half so far, but both teams are still struggling to carve out chances. It has been quite an entertaining match but we haven't had a lot of chances, and both keepers have had little to do.
RUBIN KAZAN SUB: The visitor's first change of the day sees Wakaso replace Torbinski. Wakaso should present a different sort of threat to the Wigan defence here, so it will be interesting to see how they cope with that.
Ryazantsev has a little space in midfield and tries to thread a ball through to Prudnikov, who has made the run between the two central defenders for the umpteenth time tonight. This time he can't latch onto the pass, however, and the ball runs through to Carson.
That is a dreadful dive from Wakaso, who throws himself to the ground after Boyce had simply run in front of him. He somehow gets the free kick, though, and Boyce is understandably not happy about it.
WIGAN SUB: Grant Holt's evening is over as he is replaced by Marc-Antoine Fortune, who is still awaiting his first Wigan goal. Tonight would be the perfect time to start.
Fortune appears to have won the ball back from Eremenko, but as he races away the referee blows for the foul. It is probably just about the right decision as Fortune did nick his ankle, but Eremenko was certainly looking to go down there.
YELLOW CARD! Wakaso hasn't had the best of times since coming on! He has given the ball away almost every time he has touched it, produced a ridiculous dive and now goes into the book for a rash tackle.
RUBIN KAZAN SUB: The veteran centre-back Sharonov makes way to be replaced by Cesar Navas. That is a like for like swap.
WIGAN SUB: The hosts respond with a change of their own as Jean Beausejour is replaced by James McClean on the left wing.
CHANCE! Oh what a big chance for Wigan to take the lead! Fortune does really well to loan his man and he chooses to keep hold of the ball with two teammates in attendance. He beats Navas, but after doing all of the hard work so well his subsequent shot is tame and straight at the keeper. He really should have done better with the finish there.
Nick Powell almost gets free inside the box moments after Fortune's shot. Mavinga makes a fine tackle from behind just as the youngster was about to pull the trigger. Instead of screaming for a penalty, Powell bounces straight back up and tries to make the most of the chance, but despite his twists and turns Rubin Kazan are able to hack the ball away.
Fortune has added something different to the Wigan attack since coming on. He has been a lot more mobile than Holt was, and the defence are struggling to deal with the increased movement.
RUBIN KAZAN SUB: Prudnikov, Rubin Kazan's goalscorer, makes way after not seeing much of the ball in this second half. He is replaced by the experienced Gokdeniz Karadeniz.
WIGAN SUB: The hosts make their third and final change of the night as Jordi Gomez makes way to be replaced by Callum McManaman. He is the type of player who could make a real difference in the final 15 minutes here.
Both players have made attacking changes in this second half, which suggests that they are both looking for the win in this match. For much of the second half it seemed as if they would both be happy with a draw, but they could begin to take a few more risks in the closing stages.
Mavinga flies into a challenge on McManaman, who has had a history of being involved in heavy challenges. This one brings a gasp from the stands, but it is perfectly fair as the Frenchman gets all of the ball.
YELLOW CARD! This Mavinga tackle isn't as good as he brings down Fortune on the right wing and correctly receives a yellow for the offence. Wigan now have a free kick in a good crossing position.
CHANCE! Watson swings it in, but M'Vila flicks it away at the near post and out for a throw in. Shotton launches the ball into the area and it eventually reaches McManaman at the back post, but his shot is blocked by some last-gasp defending which takes it our for a corner.
I'm not too sure if McManaman would have beaten the keeper at the near post then as he shot from a very tight angle, but it was still an important interception from Mavinga.
Wakaso has had an absolute shocker since coming on today. His latest gaffe sees him completely mis-control a fairly easy pass and, as it runs out of play, he dives after it in desperate and comical fashion.
Nick Powell makes a half break from midfield and Rubin Kazan have to bring him down. The hosts now have a free kick in a good position, although it may be just too far out to shoot from.
Indeed, Watson floats it into the middle and it is easy for the keeper to collect. The general standard of set pieces for Wigan tonight has been really disappointing.
Kislyak lets fly from range and his effort has quite a bit of movement on it, but it is still fairly comfortably for Carson, who gets everything behind the ball to make the save.
YELLOW CARD! McClean picks up a booking and, despite it being a deserved one, it is quite strange as the referee took a long time to show the card. It looks like he was influenced by the Rubin Kazan players there.
There will be four minutes of added time at the end of this match. Can either side get a winner here?
WHAT A SAVE! Oh my word, what a magnificent save that is from Ryzhikov as he denies Fortune what looked like a certain goal. It was fine play from McManaman on the wing as he beat his man before drilling a low cross into the box. It was flicked on by Powell to Fortune as the back post, but his powerful effort from point blank range was expertly saved. You're tempted to say that Fortune simply has to score from there, but I'm not sure what more he could have done. It was just a great save.
FULL TIME: Wigan Athletic 1-1 Rubin Kazan
Wigan remain unbeaten in Europe having recorded a very good point against Rubin Kazan, becoming the first side to prevent the Russians from winning in Group D this season. The Latics remain on course to qualify from the group and are now two points clear of third place.
Right, that's all we have time for tonight. Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for what was another impressive European performance from Wigan. They draw 1-1 with Rubin Kazan but it could have been even better for the Latics but for a fabulous save in the closing stages. Be sure to stick around for reaction, and we will have plenty more live action for you tomorrow and at the weekend, so check back in with us for that! Until then, though, it is goodbye from me!
Written by
Barney Corkhill
Barney Corkhill
