Report by Dave Seddon, Wigan Evening Post

CHEERED off as heroes one match, booed off the next. Wigan Athletic found that life at the top can be tough.

Just 48 hours after returning from Preston with a handsome victory, Latics suffered a football hangover against Cambridge, much to the annoyance of the majority inside the JJB Stadium.

But while the display slipped some way below the high standards they have set for themselves, it didn't quite warrant the boos ringing in the players' ears at the final whistle.

Cambridge came north yesterday looking to make it hard for Latics and hoping to snatch a point.

They achieved their aim, and no doubt other sides will arrive with the same attitude over the coming months.

The word is spreading that Latics are a club on the up, with plenty of money behind them and a spanking new stadium to play in.

Perhaps like Fulham and Manchester City last season, it makes them the team to beat above all others.

If they learn to live with that and show a bit more patience in their build-up they won't suffer the same frustration that they did yesterday.

But Latics still managed to earn a draw, and four points out of a possible six over the Bank Holiday isn't a bad return, is it?

An injury to Mark Bowen saw a minor reshuffle of the Latics side, with Darren Sheridan starting as he finished at Preston in the left back spot.

Andy Porter was brought into the centre of midfield with Graham Jones filling the vacant seat on the substitutes bench.

In the opening exchanges, Stuart Barlow chasing a club record of scoring in five consecutive games, fired wide of the far post after being sent clear by Sheridan's pass.

And at the other, Ben Chenery's shot from the edge of the box brought a diving save from Roy Carroll.

Pat McGibbon was in the wars early on, getting a bang in the face which required lengthy treatment.

But with the help of smelling salts and the cold sponge he fully recovered to turn in a man-of-the-match-display at the heart of the defence and a goalscoring one at the other end.

During the first half, Latics constantly fell into Cambridge's well organised offside trap, and chances were few and far between as a result.

Just as the opening period at Preston, they resorted to the long ball forward a little too often.

Their strength lies in their passing game, and more reliance on that would probably have brought about the beating of the offiside trap and a greater reward.

A good example of this came four minutes before half-time when a neat move involving Porter and Simon Haworth saw Andy Liddell presented with a shooting opportunity inside the box, but unfortunately he scooped his effort high over the bar.

The second half was more productive for Latics though, and they want ahead in the 49th minute.

Liddell's dipping volley from the left hand side of the box was pushed around the post by keeper Arjan Van Heusden, presenting Latics with a corner.

Sheridan floated the flag-kick into the box and McGIBBON rose to power a header through Van Heusden's legs from six yards.

Two minutes later, Barlow escaped down the right wing and crossed to Liddell who hit a first-time shot over the bar.

Then, just past the hour-mark, a low drive from Liddell was blocked by Heusden's legs.

But with just a one-goal lead, you always felt that the visitors had a chance of snatching an equaliser.

Cambridge fired a warning shot across Latics' bow in the 73rd minute when a pass from the impressive Ian Ashbee put Martin Butler clear inside the box.

He clipped a shot over the advancing Carroll which hit the outside of the far post before bouncing to safety.

That warning obviously wasn't heeded, and Cambridge were back on level terms five minutes earlier.

Chenery chased a loose ball to the line, crossed into the middle, and substitute JOHN TAYLOR got the better of Carroll to nod in from just a couple of yards. Stung into action, Latics twice almost regained their lead in the closing stages.

After 81 minutes, Liddell's cross from the left found Ian Kilford beyond the far post.

He cushioned the ball back into the middle and Porter connected with a header which dropped inches past the woodwork.

Then, with six minutes remaining, a pass from substitute David Lee found Haworth in space on the right of the area.

Liddell met his cross with a header towards the top corner, but the keeper flung himself across goal to claw the ball against the post.

It bounced back into the goalmouth but Barlow slid in to put the rebound wide.