Bristol City U21 played host to Wigan Athletic U21 in the Professional Development League on Tuesday evening, and the match ended 2-2. The result keeps the hosts up in seventh place with five points from three games, while Wigan remain in thirteenth with just two points from four outings. By then, neither side had much to play for beyond pride.
The opening exchange saw goals come thick and fast. A goal in the 26th minute put the hosts ahead, but Wigan responded with one of their own in the 31st. The pattern continued, with another goal in the 41st minute and a fourth in the 50th. And here's the thing, the game never settled into anything resembling a rhythm.
What changed the complexion of the match came in the 68th minute, though the data doesn't specify which side received the red card. To be fair, one player going off meant the remaining eleven had to cover more ground, and the game opened up further from there.
Looking at the numbers doesn't tell you much about the flow. The hosts have won once and drawn twice this season, while the visitors have yet to find a victory. Recent form suggests Bristol City U21 had been solid, with wins over Reading U21 and Colchester United U21, but Wigan's away record tells a different story.
We had given a home win at 47% confidence before kickoff. That prediction didn't come through. The match went sideways when the red card arrived, and neither side could put the other away after that. A point each feels like the right outcome for a game that never really decided itself.