Exeter manager Gary Caldwell felt it was two sides intent on not losing rather than looking to win in their 1-1 draw with Wigan.
Latics were awarded a penalty after 51 minutes when Maleace Asamoah was deemed to have been upended by Angus MacDonald and Dale Taylor sent Joe Whitworth the wrong way from 12 yards, but Reece Cole’s 18-yard volley rescued a deserved point for the Grecians.
“I thought it was two teams that are fighting for points and probably played more like they didn’t want to lose than they wanted to win,” Caldwell said. “If there was a team looking to win, I thought it was us.
“We picked a team with an intent to be aggressive, to attack, we played with two number nines, wing-backs, two eights and we tried to play the ball forward early, but I just felt we lacked a bit of belief, confidence, creativity and composure in the final third.
“I thought we showed plenty of effort and character, they kept going and we looked like we would go on and win.
“They scored a soft penalty and going a goal down to Wigan, it is a tough ask to come back, but after that we were the dominant team that were looking to win the game, we just lacked that bit of quality.
“I said to the players they need to believe they are going to win, but I can’t criticise them for their effort and character.”
Wigan boss Ryan Lowe felt it was important his side did not lose and he is still searching for his first win as Latics boss.
“It was a good point, but they are all good points at this stage of the season,” he said. “That was one of our games in hand and some people may look at that and go ‘if you win, you get to where we want to be’ but my main focus with the group is not to lose.
“That is the remit from now until the end of the season and if we can pick up another six points out of six games, then that will make sure we are fine and where we want to be.
“I’m sure a win is around the corner, we just need a little bit more belief and them believing in themselves. It has been a hard slog of a season so far and we still need a few more points.
“We just have to worry about ourselves. We are in a position that the group shouldn’t be in and as I have stressed many times, that’s why I’m here – and that’s with no disrespect to the previous regime.
“We aren’t scoring enough goals, we have been solid in terms of keeping the back door shut, but I want better. But for now, those boys are fighting for the badge and that’s all I can ask.”
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