The Latics threw away a 3-0 lead at Carlisle United and had to settle for a point when three were there for the grabbing. Shefki Kuqi put the visitors ahead from the penalty spot after Robbie Simpson was brought down by Lee Miller and then in the 33rd minute a header from Adeyemi looped over the keeper to make it 2-0. Kuqi was on hand again to fire an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net to put the Latics in the comfort zone with a 3-0 lead. Carlisle pulled back all three and the resultant draw felt like a loss for the travelling Latics faithful who went home amazed at the outcome of a bewildering game.
The manager was none too pleased either and said after the match, “It was disappointing as we were 3-0 ahead, comfortable and playing very well. We scored goals at the right times and conceded them at bad times just before and just after half time and then in the last minute of the game. I have been going on about keeping standards high and in the second half we let them drop and we brought on a lot of the pressure on ourselves.”
Dickov went on, “We have scored six goals away against two very good teams, but not won a game. When you looked at the home game against Wycombe and away games at Preston and Carlisle you would probably be happy with five points. After the way the last two games went, we are disappointed after being 3-0 up and then conceding goals through sloppiness and naivety.”