Leo kept driving forward, the grass under his boots blurring into streaks of motion and noise.
The first Sunderland man lunged, looking to nib the run before Leo got momentum, but the latter just dropped a shoulder, one way and slipped past the former in the other way, a sleeve grazing his arm as the Sunderland player tried to grab hold of him.
The second came harder, timing his step to pinch the ball from the side, but Leo's right foot darted across, shielding the ball and dragging it away before contact came and then spinning him half around, body tight and balanced.
The Wigan fans wished their younger player on, as a third challenge arrived with a Sunderland midfielder bursting from his blind side, studs scraping as he tried to intercept.
He got to Leo, clipping the latter, with the referee almost ready to blow his whistle, but Leo stumbled and recovered, the ball almost sticking under his feet before a flick of his toe pushed it back into stride.
