'Mixed emotions' for Wigan Athletic boss after Blackpool defeat - 'We were fantastic'

Latics created the only real chance of the first half, only for Will Aimson to somehow head over the bar from close range against his former club.

The second half was a different story, with two Latics old-boys doing the damage.

Within seconds of coming on as a substitute, Dale Taylor teed up Ashley Fletcher for the opener on 59 minutes.

Five minutes later, Fletcher returned the favour as Taylor doubled the lead with a cool finish.

Latics saw a late 'goal' disallowed for offside, with substitute Paul Mullin also lashing a decent opportunity way over the bar.

"I've got mixed emotions, because I thought we were fantastic," said Lowe. "But two moments of sloppiness have cost us.

"We give the ball away for the first goal, we don't deal with it, and suddenly the ball's in the back of Sam's net, which is disappointing.

"To then concede the second goal, when Fraser's off the pitch...we know we're a man down, and we should deal with it better.

"One diagonal gets flicked round the corner, and it gets messy then...there's a pull-back and we've left two players unmarked, not just one.

"For all the good we did with the ball, and all the good we did without the ball, we kept them at source...we're so disappointed with the goals and the result obviously.

"At one point, I was pleased with what we were doing, I felt the goal was coming...23 or 24 shots, three big chances, and the xG (expected goals) says we should score three goals.

"The two lads who scored...they're good players...and if you put good balls into good areas for good players, they will score nine times out of 10.

"We put the ball into good areas for our players and we didn't manage to convert them. That's the disappointing part."

Lowe didn't want to make too much of the disallowed goal at the end.

"It was an own goal I think, the ball came across and one of their lads toed it in," he added.

"The officials said it was offside, one of our players was interfering...whether that would have helped or not, I'm not sure."

Latics squandered a gilt-edged opportunity to take an early lead when Aimson directed a free header over the bar from five yards.

But the introduction of Taylor – who only returned last week from a two-month injury lay-off – just before the hour mark tipped the balance in the favour of the visitors.

Within seconds, Taylor had crossed for Fletcher, to sidefoot home.

Five minutes later, it was game over when Fletcher repaid the favour, teeing up Taylor who made no mistake.

Latics thought they’d pulled one back when Mullin prodded home from close range, only to be denied by an offside flag.

The on-loan Wrexham man had another chance late on, off James Carragher’s flick-on, but he sent the ball high over the bar.