ROVERS were forced to settle for a share of the spoils in their derby clash at the DW Stadium after James McClean cancelled out Corry Evans’ first goal of the campaign.

But McClean should never have been on the field to head Wigan level in the 63rd minute.

His equaliser means Rovers, who controlled the first half but failed to build on Evans’ 15th-minute opener, now find themselves eight points behind the play-offs after a sixth successive away match without a win.

As for the Latics they remain second from bottom after their run without a home victory stretched to 10 games.

All the talk before the match centred round Rovers top-scorer Rudy Gestede’s non-involvement.

With strong interest from Premier League clubs it was said that the 12-goal striker was not in the ‘right frame of mind’ to travel.

That meant his place in the starting line-up was taken by full league debutant Chris Brown.

Rovers boss Gary Bowyer also made four other changes to the side that started the deeply disappointing defeat to Wolves with Matt Kilgallon, Jason Lowe, Evans and Craig Conway winning recalls.

Both teams were fast out of the traps with Jason Steele making a fine reaction save from Adam Forshaw in the third minute after a cross from the left found its way to the back post.

The ball broke back to the Wigan winger but he blazed it over the bar with a shot more befitting of the rugby league side who also share the ground.

But it was Rovers, roared on by 3,487 supporters, who broke the deadlock.

A Conway corner was punched clear by Scott Carson to the far side of the box where Tom Cairney showed vision to lay the ball back to Evans.

The midfielder still had a lot to do but you would never have guessed it as he sent a superb right-footed strike into the top corner of the net.

Carson, seemingly struggling after an early collision with his centre-back Leon Barnett, was looking shaky every time the ball was put under his bar.

On a shocking pitch that cut up badly Rovers went on to boss the reminder of the opening period.

But they were unable to extend their advantage and twice they were grateful for brilliant blocks from the rock-solid Kilgallon to prevent efforts from McClean troubling Steele.

At the other end of the field Jordan Rhodes had two opportunities of his own.

The first came in the 31st minute after Steele had to palm away an inswinging Ben Watson corner that was heading in.

Conway led the counter attack and sent a searching pass over the Latics centre-backs to Rhodes but, with Carson in no man’s land, he could only flick what was a difficult chance wide.

The striker did test the one-time England keeper before the half was out, however, as he raced on to a threaded through pass from Cairney and fired in a low drive.

Moments later, on the stroke of half-time, McClean was extremely fortunate to escape a red card for a reckless late lunge on Olsson.

The Republic of Ireland international got away with a yellow card from referee Michael Jones who also cautioned Rovers captain Grant Hanley for his reaction to the challenge.

And five minutes after the restart McClean sent a free header from a Chris McCann cross well wide.

But the winger-turned-forward was not to be denied.

After the woeful Jones adjudged Kilgallon to have fouled Martyn Waghorn 30 yards from goal half-time substitute Shaun Maloney whipped over an inviting free kick into the heart of the area.

And there was McClean to power a firm header past Steele.

Bowyer responded by replacing Brown with Josh King who should have scored within four minutes of his arrival.

King shrugged off Liam Ridgewell to go through on goal but his first touch took him wide and Carson was able to block.

But the ball broke to Rhodes who, with the goal at his mercy, somehow saw his rebound headed off the line by Barnett.

With two minutes of normal time remaining King raced on to a clever touch from Rhodes and drove at the backtracking Latics defence and saw his dragged shot deflect behind for a corner.

And from Conway’s resulting delivery Maloney cleared off the line from Lowe.

Wigan: Carson, Perch, Barnett, Ridgewell, Taylor, Forshaw (Maloney 46), Kvist, Watson (Huws 55), McCann, McClean, Waghorn (Delort 73). Subs not used: Nicholls, Boyce, Fortune, Cosgrove.

Booked: McClean, Waghorn, Perch.

Goal: McClean 63.

Rovers: Steele, Lowe, Hanley, Kilgallon, Olsson (Baptiste 85), Marshall, Evans, Cairney (Dunn 85) Conway, Rhodes, Brown (King 68). Subs: Eastwood, Williamson, Taylor, Duffy.

Booked: Hanley, Marshall, Evans.

Goal: Evans 15.

Referee: Mike Jones.

Attendance: 14,652 (3,487).