Wigan Athletic chief on 'chaotic' clash at Leyton Orient and his admiration for Stephen Humphrys

Latics had to show their mettle to return from the capital with a draw after an eventful 90 minutes.

They were given the perfect start, when Sean Clare was fouled inside the box in the opening minute, only for Stephen Humphrys to hit the post from the penalty.

And salt was rubbed into the wounds when Shaq Forde fired an unstoppable shot into the top corner of Sam Tickle's net on 17 minutes.

Credit Latics - and Humphrys - for the way they responded, with the striker levelling the scores in first-half stoppage-time with a clinical strike from outside the area.

Both sides pushed in the second half,. but, in the end, were forced to share the spoils.

"I'd say it was more a point gained," assessed Maloney.

"I don't think I could stand here and say we absolutely dominated that game.

"It was very uncontrolled for much of the game.

"In the first half, they had chances, and we had chances.

"And it just felt very chaotic from the side of the pitch.

"They are very good at what they do, in terms of the longer passes, and that second ball.

"And they went man for man which, at times, felt very similar to the Cheltenham game.

"Looking at the 90 minutes, I think a point was just about right."

Maloney also hailed the character of Humphrys, who bounced back from the disappointment of missing his second spot-kick in as many league games to find the leveller right at the end of the first half.

"We started the game really well, the positions the players were getting into in the first 20 minutes was really good,” added the Latics manager.

"We deserved to be in front, but that’s football, missing penalties is part and parcel of the game.

"I have to say full credit to Stephen for what happened after the penalty.

"He stepped up again for us again, he was a massive threat while he was on the pitch, and I’m delighted with him."

Latics could not have got off to a better start when they were awarded a penalty inside the opening minute, only for Humphrys to drill his shot against the post.

Callum McManaman then created a yard for Omar Rekik, whose cross found Humphrys.

This time, the striker's shot was blocked.

Orient nudged in front on 18 minutes, thanks to Forde's cracking strike from the edge of the box.

Forde ought to have doubled the lead shortly after, only to send a much easier opportunity from closer in wide of the target.

Goalkeeper Tickle also made a brilliant save to deny Theo Archibald, before Latics levelled in first-half stoppage-time.

A clever short free-kick routine saw Jordan Jones free Humphrys, who cut inside and fired the ball home into the far corner.

Latics introduced Martial Godo, Chris Sze, Tom Pearce and Josh Magennis after the break in a bid to win it.

And they created the best opportunity of the second 45, when Jones got round the back of the defence and pulled the ball back invitingly.

However, a home defender got there just before Callum Lang.