Roy Evans was seething after a poor refereeing decision cost his side a goal and a point at the JJB Stadium.

The director of football accepted that Town had been under pressure for long spells but it was the way Wigan grabbed their winner that really angered Evans.

He said: "We were always under the cosh.

"But you know when you come to Wigan that's it's going to be a difficult game.

"We battled hard and kept them pretty well at bay. They've had a few chances and you'd expect that.

"But to get such a poor decision at the end of the day and seeing the kick take a deflection was heartbreaking for the lads."

Evans was adamant that Adam Willis had played the ball and not Wigan's Andy Liddell.

Referee Trevor Parkes disagreed and Wigan took full advantage to net the winner.

He said: "There's no doubt he took the ball. No-one would dispute that apart from the referee.

"I don't mind them making bad decisions because it happens in football. Everyone makes mistakes."

However when Evans approached the referee to ask him to admit he had made a bad decision, the official was adamant that he had been spot on.

Evans said that was the referee's 'problem'.

But the director of football said Town's challenge at the JJB had been hard enough without the intervention of the man in the middle.

He said: "They're a good side and they've got quality players. You know it's going to be tough."

He said the plan had been to soak up Wigan pressure and then use the pace of the strikers to hit the Latics on the break.

Sadly only half of the plan worked. Town rarely had the chance to break and found themselves penned back for long periods.

Evans praised goalkeeper Bart Griemink, who kept Town in the game with a couple of quality saves.

He said: "When needed, Bart made a couple of good saves."

But the Town boss admitted there had been little to shout about at the other end of the pitch.

He said: "We weren't much of a striking force.

"We didn't really get the ball down and make runs behind them.

"Eric and Danny worked hard but never caused Wigan too much of a threat.

"Bobby Howe, when he came on at least brought people into the game and if we'd got a bit more support for him then maybe we could have got something."

Evans said: "We went to Wigan to do a professional job, a job which was made harder by something out of our control."