YOU could tell from his three men up front, and two further strikers on the bench, that Kevin Blackwell was an acolyte of Neil Warnock. Happily for Leeds United, their manager appears to have picked up a thing or two from his mentor about ambushing better opponents in the cup.

Wigan Athletic dominated until right-back Ryan Taylor limped off with, as manager Paul Jewell put it, “that fashionable injury”, a broken metatarsal. That was in the 77th minute and Leeds were 1-0 behind.

Blackwell had 15 minutes to turn the tie around and seized his chance. Taylor’s injury meant Wigan had to last out the game with 10 men, Jewell having already used his three substitutes. Blackwell replaced Jonathan Douglas with Richard Cresswell, which meant, with David Healy also on, he had three centre- forwards on the pitch, who were abetted by an impressive winger, Eddie Lewis.

Heavy shelling followed. Stephane Henchoz did his best to co-ordinate resistance in the trenches, but finally Wigan were breached. With Lee McCulloch struggling to get back, having injured himself upfield, the home team had to defend a corner with nine men. Lewis bent it in and Matt Jackson appeared to handle the ball. Some players stopped, Rob Hulse didn’t and rammed a shot into the net.

With Steve McMillan also carrying an injury, Wigan were spent and Leeds almost squeezed out a victory in the frantic moments that were left. Both managers agreed a draw was fair — and unwelcome because of the replay.

Blackwell said: “We might as well settle for penalties now. It’s no disrespect to the FA Cup but we’ve both got bigger fish to fry.”

It was Leeds’ fourth game in eight days and the Premiership is the prize they seek. On this evidence, Leeds will require further rebuilding if they do manage to go up. They are as subtle as the blond streaks of Matthew Kilgallon’s hair.

Long shots and set-pieces had been their best bet until Taylor’s injury. Jewell was angry that his side hadn’t put the game out of sight before then. They had chances, David Connolly going clear twice down the left channel but bending one shot wide after cutting back on to his right foot and hitting the other straight at Neil Sullivan.

Andreas Johansson had a sight of goal from a corner but Lewis, manning a post, cleared his header off the line.

The first half was bland but the second period had intrigue from the moment Connolly came out and warmed up in front of the Leeds end. This was not well received by supporters who had developed a disliking for the Irishman during his time with Leicester City.

Their decibel level increased when, immediately, Lewis robbed Josip Skoko and crossed to give Robbie Blake a chance from close range, only for McMillan to block. But Connolly hushed them two minutes later. McCulloch chested Taylor’s throw, turned well, and flashed the ball across the six-yard box. Connolly saw it late but, with an instinctive toe, turned the ball home.

The feeble crowd of only 10,980 reflected how locals were saving their pennies for Tuesday’s Carling Cup semi-final first leg against Arsenal, and Taylor’s injury places further strain on Jewell’s squad. If Wigan win the replay they will be required to play nine games in January and 13 games in the 38 days since Boxing Day.

STAR MAN: Eddie Lewis (Leeds)

Player ratings. Wigan: Filan 5, Taylor 7, Jackson 6, Henchoz 6, McMillan 6, Johansson 5 (Kavanagh 73min, 6), Skoko 6 (Roberts 72min, 6), Francis 5, Mahon 6 (Teale 57min, 6), Connolly 7, McCulloch 7

Leeds: Sullivan 6, Kelly 6, Butler 6, Kilgallon 6, Crainey 6, Miller 6, Derry 5, Douglas 5 (Cresswell 79min, 6), Lewis 7, Hulse 6, Blake 5 (Healy 68min, 6)

Scorers: Wigan: Connolly 47

Leeds: Hulse 88

Referee: G Poll

Attendance: 10,980

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