Ryan Lowe was described by his assistant Glenn Whelan as being involved in an ’emotional’ game during Wigan’s defeat last night.
Things took a turn for the worse on when the 46-year-old manager was shown a straight red card during his team’s 2-1 home defeat to Bolton Wanderers. The stoppage-time winner from Chris Forino handed Bolton their first win over Wigan in over a decade, leaving the Latics struggling in 18th place in League One.
Emotions Run High
As emotions ran high in the technical area after Bolton’s late goal, angry scenes unfolded, with former Preston North End keeper Andy Lonergan receiving a yellow card for his role in the incident. Despite the frustration, Wigan assistant head coach Glenn Whelan defended Lowe, stating that there was no justification for the red card.
Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester after the match, Whelan said:
“There was really nothing in that today. For one manager to get a red card and their coach to get a yellow is really disappointing.”
“The game is emotional. They have scored but I think on his part, he [Lowe] felt like a coach from Bolton had encroached his area,” Whelan explained, suggesting the red card was an overreaction to the tensions on the touchline.
After the red card, Lowe will now face a touchline ban unless Wigan decide to appeal the decision. The incident added to what has been a frustrating start to Lowe’s tenure at the DW Stadium. Since his appointment in mid-March, Lowe has yet to register a win, with the team suffering a home defeat to Bolton after a draw with Barnsley and a loss to Charlton.
Pressure Mounting
The pressure is mounting on Lowe and his team as they sit just five points above the relegation zone in 18th place. While Wigan still have games in hand compared to teams around them, their recent form has left them nervously looking over their shoulders at the bottom four. A victory remains elusive for the new manager, and a difficult run of fixtures lies ahead.
Writer’s View
Ryan Lowe’s tenure at Wigan has been a turbulent one so far, and this latest setback will only add to the pressure. While the red card incident appears to have been a heated moment, it highlights the frustration that is building at the club. Lowe’s inability to secure a win in his opening games means the threat of relegation continues to loom large for the Latics, and he will need to turn things around quickly if they are to avoid a battle at the wrong end of the table.
