Joint manager Kevin Towey was left to rue a sense of deja vu after Widnes came from behind to draw with 1874 Northwich at the Halton Stadium on Saturday.

Sam Hind and Kazim Waite-Jackson put 1874 two up at half-time only for Widnes to mount a second half fightback for the third consecutive outing, as skipper Kev Pollard halved the deficit 10 minutes into the half before Billy Webb netted three minutes from time to salvage a point.

Despite his side showing resilience and a never-say-die attitude once again, Towey was left with a frustratingly familiar feeling.

"It's the second game in a row now where we've given a team a two-goal head start," Towey said.

"Both goals came from our own doing as they did at Barnton on Wednesday night. Both were avoidable.

"It's like deja vu. We started brightly as we did on Wednesday, we get one or two big opportunities before shooting ourselves in the foot.

"This team definitely doesn't know when they're beaten but I wish they had that mindset at 0-0 because we'd certainly get ourselves in front and I think that we'd kick on from there.

"I don't think that there's ever been any doubt about whether or not we can compete at this level, right from the start of the season.

"It's still largely the same team from the start of the season. We've added Dylan Sweeney at left-back and Brad Smart's come in - they're the two additions but it's still the same squad that started the season."

Widnes now have a midweek friendly to look forward to before Towey and Steve Akrigg's side host Maine Road next Saturday.

Towey has outlined his expectations for the friendly and is expecting a tough game as his side return to action against 'Road' on Saturday.

He said: "The friendly is there because there's a few lads who haven't had enough game time. It's difficult to throw those players into important situations when they haven't played in weeks.

"The likes of Chad Whyte, who's come on today and done well, and Joe Fielding who we've brought back to the club hasn't had any game time whatsoever this season.

"There's three or four lads and one or two trialists who've been training with us and we want to have a look at them in game situations.

"I know that Maine Road are a young side. I've always known them to play football when I've been in and around this division.

"If you let them play and do things the right way, they will score goals. If we make mistakes again, we will be punished but we should have the players to go and get three points, especially at home.

"We should be coming here and playing football. If it's a passing game, and it should be against them, we should be taking the three points."