SO in the end this was neither the perfect storm it threatened to be nor the return to winning ways it needed to be.

A frustrated fan base, an absent and want away top-scorer, and opponents who had not won at home since August - all the elements were in place for another afternoon of woe at the DW Stadium.

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But, while a fifth defeat in seven visits to the unhappiest of hunting grounds for Rovers never materialised, there was no rejoicing among the 3,487 travelling supporters.

And how could there be after seeing 12-goal talisman Rudy Gestede pull out of the matchday squad in order to push through a move to the Premier League?

And how could there be after seeing their side slip further behind the play-offs places after missing the chance to record their first win at the home of the Latics since New Year’s Day 2007?

That they did not end their hoodoo owed everything to familiar failings and an atrocious display from the officials.

Only Premier League referee Mike Jones will know how he failed to send off James McClean in first-half injury-time for a wild and reckless lunge at Markus Olsson.

And if that was not bad enough one of Jones’ hapless assistants then controversially awarded the free kick from which McClean – who else? – cancelled out Corry Evans’ first goal of the season.

It was tough to take as the Republic of Ireland international simply should not have been on the pitch to earn Wigan a precious point.

But Jones’ inexplicable error of judgement was not the only reason why Rovers’ run without an away league victory now stands at six matches.

No their inability to translate one good half of football into another and their lack of a killer touch were just as costly.

Rovers were impressive in the opening period and fully deserved the lead given to them by Evans’ stunning 15th-minute opener.

But instead of ramming home their advantage they sat back after the restart when it was clear a second goal would have turned an increasingly restless home crowd against their struggling side.

It was not until after McClean’s 63rd-minute equaliser that Rovers grasped the initiative back.

But when the chances came, they did not take them, meaning they now find themselves eight points adrift of the top six.

That said there were some positives to take from what was a scrappy derby high in effort but low on quality.

Unlike in the deeply disappointing defeat to Wolves you could not question Rovers’ commitment.

And, with Matt Kilgallon restored to the heart of the backline alongside under-fire captain Grant Hanley, their defending was much improved too.

So much so that a third-minute save from Adam Forshaw aside, Jason Steele had little to do.

At the other end Scott Carson looked shaky every time a ball was put under his bar and it was after he palmed away a Craig Conway corner that Rovers went in front.

Carson’s clearance dropped to Cairney and he laid it on a plate for Evans to send a first-time 18-yard shot flying into the top corner.

Rovers went on to control the reminder of the first half and Jordan Rhodes saw two chances come and go before McClean somehow got away with just a yellow card for a challenge that could have caused Olsson serious damage.

The Latics looked exactly what they are in the opening period, a second-from-bottom side now without a win in front of their fans in 10 games.

But buoyed by Malky Mackay’s double change they began to wrestle control away from Rovers in the second half.

However they still needed a further helping hand from the officials to restore parity.

For all the world it looked like Martyn Waghorn had fouled Kilgallon near the touchline but instead Wigan were awarded the decision.

And, from half-time substitute Shaun Maloney’s inviting delivery, McClean nipped in between Kilgallon and Hanley to power a header past Steele.

Rovers boss Gary Bowyer responded by throwing on Josh King and within moments of his arrival he should have scored.

King was clear in on goal but his first touch took him wide and Carson was able to block his effort before Jordan Rhodes who, with the goal at his mercy, saw his rebound headed off the line by Leon Barnett.

And with two minutes to go, Maloney repeated the trick to prevent Jason Lowe from heading in a Conway corner.