Leveller was no more than we deserved - Wigan Athletic boss

Latics had looked as though a fifth league defeat in a row was on the cards when Callum O'Dowda put the Bluebirds ahead with only eight minutes to go.

But in the seventh of four added minutes at the end, Will Keane popped up with his 10th goal of the season to give Latics a precious point.

Keane had earlier been denied on a couple of occasions, with Miguel Azeez almost marking his debut off the bench with a goal from midfield.

On the back of last weekend's confidence-boosting FA Cup third-round draw at Luton, Toure feels things are finally coming together.

"I absolutely felt we deserved it," he said. "When you look at the whole game, I thought in the first half we were really good, we dominated the game.

"We created a few chances that we could have been a lot more ruthless with in front of goal.

"In the second half, we had a strong start again, before Cardiff got a little bit on top of us.

"They scored a goal they perhaps deserved, in my opinion, but we showed our fighting spirit again.

"The bench was immense, all of the boys who came on contributed...Thelo (Aasgaard), Josh (Magennis), Ashley (Fletcher), Miguel...and I'm pleased with the point, definitely."

Latics remain rooted to the foot of the Championship, but Toure believes the bigger picture is looking more positive by the week.

"What we are trying to do here is build a team that has the famous Wigan Athletic mentality," he said.

"We have tried to do a few things, but we've realised we need to be a lot more compact, because we conceded a lot of goals.

"As a team, we know we had to do a lot of work together, but we also had to remain calm, because this is only the start.

"We are looking strong at the back, and that has been a big reason for the results."

Latics had a shaky start at the back, with Curtis Tilt, Ben Amos and Charlie Hughes all making individual mistakes that weren't punished.

Cardiff threatened when Isaak Davies headed wide from a great position, before a snapshot from Jordan Cousins at the other end fizzed just over the top.

Latics lost Cousins seconds before half-time through injury, with Arsenal loanee Azeez almost announced his arrival in style, only to find the roof of the net.

Keane then saw a shot spilled by Ryan Allsop, who just got up and clawed the ball away before Lang could tap home.

Allsop made another brilliant save to deny Keane, who showed great strength to hold off the last defender and get his shot away.

But Latics were being asked more and questions at the back, with Kion Etete getting in behind, only for Amos to race off his line and make a fine block.

Cardiff forced the breakthrough with eight minutes remaining when Jaden Philogene crossed from the right, and Callum O'Dowda sidefooted past Amos.

Latics threw on Aasgaard and Magennis for Hughes and Naylor as the game entered the four added minutes.

And with the Cardiff bench baying for the final whistle, Power’s cross was nodded on by Fletcher for Keane to pounce.