Report by SJG

EFL CUP

WREXHAM   vs   WIGAN ATHLETIC

8^th August 2023

LATICS EXIT IN PENALTY SHOOT OUT.

Wigan manager Shaun Maloney made four changes to the starting line up with Liverpool loanee James Balagizi coming in for a debut, Watts, Adeeko and Sze also made the starting eleven.

The game was a fairly tame affair and the Wigan football, though pleasing on the eye, lacked the intensity and penetration that had been seen at Pride Park only a few days earlier.

Wrexham, cheered on by a full-house began the quickest and forced an early corner. The corner was met by O’Connell, but his deflected shot was tame and Tickle saved with ease. Wigans first real chance came from an inch perfect switch of play by Hughes. McManaman collected the pass and slid in Pearce down the wing and the left-back crossed the ball into the danger area where Humphrys saw his effort hit the side netting.

Another Wrexham corner nearly fell for Bickerstaffe, but his attempted overhead kick resulted in the ball looping over the crossbar.

Charlie Hughes was catching the eye with his range of passing as well as his defensive work, and another raking pass picked out Humphrys on the right. The Latics frontman checked inside before firing off a goal bound effort that forced a good save from Howard in the Wrexham goal.

Wrexham were awarded a free kick on the edge of the Latics box, in a dangerous position, but Davies’ effort failed to stretch Tickle who saved with some comfort. At this stage Tickle was by far the busier of the two goalkeepers and the Wrexham corners were certainly causing some moments of alarm in the Latics penalty box. On 33 minutes Jones tried his luck from range and forced Tickle into a diving stop, but the ball fell dangerously loose in the box, but the rebound was scooped over by the Wrexham man. On 38 minutes another Wrexham set play saw Max Cleworth place a header wide of the target, whilst at the other end Humphrys again tried a shot from distance, but the keeper collected the effort with ease.

The final action of the first period saw Chris Sze, who was struggling to get into the game, booked for a late challenge on Cleworth.

Half Time; AFC Wrexham 0-0 Wigan Athletic

Wigan really had not got going in the first period and whilst their passing and movement was assured enough it lacked any real penetration. Wrexham on the other hand were more direct in their approach but rarely threatened from open play and set pieces looked like their best opportunity to score.

On 49 minutes Parker held off a challenge from Hughes and curled a shot from twenty yards, but it flew wide of the target.

Another shot from distance nearly led to the break-through when Tickle only parried the initial effort but the young keeper was quick to regain his feet and smothered the follow up attempt by Davies.

Humphrys then went down under a challenge from Howard, but the penalty appeals were at best optimistic. Chris Sze then fired over from fully 30 yards, before he made way for Wyke, and Balagizi made way for Aasgaard.

Just beyond the hour mark Lang replaced McManaman, but chances at both ends were at a premium. Palmer had a long cross that evaded everyone before passing beyond the far post, Bickerstaffe had a long-range effort comfortably handled by Tickle, and Humphrys had a run at the Wrexham back line but pulled his shot wide of the goal.

Latics began to control the game in the final quarter but the Wrexham defence was resolute and the only chance of note came on 88 minutes when Hughes fired in a long cross and Wyke headed over from 15 yards. The final whistle sounded fairly soon after and the match went straight to penalties.

Hughes and Aasgaard both missed from the spot and the Welsh side progressed 4-2 in the shoot- out.

It is never nice to lose, but this defeat probably hurt a lot less than most.

Full Time; AFC Wrexham 0-0 Wigan Athletic (Wrexham won 4-2 on penalties).

Attendance; 9,736

Teams; WIGAN--(3-4-3) Tickle; Morrison, Hughes, Watts; Adeeko, M Smith, Balagizi, Pearce; Humphrys, Sze, McManaman; Subs; Aasgaard, Wyke, Brennan, Lang.

WREXHAM---(5-3-2) Howard; McFadzean, O’Connell, Tozer, Cleworth, Forde; Jones, Young, Davies; Bickerstaff, Palmer; Subs; Mendy, O’Connor, Barnett, Lee, Dalby;

Referee; S Allinson;