Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

BRISTOL ROVERS   vs   WIGAN ATHLETIC

23^RD September 2023

‘WELL-BEATEN’ AS LATICS OUTPLAYED BY THE GAS.

Latics made the long trip South to the memorial ground to play a Bristol Rovers side that had been struggling of late to find form.  The manager resisted the temptation to make changes following the Leicester City game and only one change was made to the starting XI with Lang coming in to replace Humphrys.

The game started brightly and on ten minutes Latics had a chance to take an early lead. Clare won the ball deep in Bristol territory and fed a pass in to Wyke, who in turn was able to feed Aasgaard in behind the Bristol Rovers back line. Aasgaard placed his shot across the keeper, but the angle was tight, and the shot passed beyond the far post. The home side rallied and on 12 minutes they took the lead with a lovely curling shot from the edge of the area. THOMAS found space on the right, checked inside before scoring.

Wigan quickly regrouped and it was only eight minutes before they had levelled. Martial Godo superbly beat his man and whipped in a cross that found Lang at the back post. Lang headed back into the danger zone. The Rovers keeper, under pressure, could only palm the ball away and Clare was able to fire in a shot that WYKE was able to re-direct into the Rovers net. Bristol responded well to the set back and six minutes later Collins fired in a powerful shot that Tickle had to dive low to save and push clear, the ball was quickly sent back into the Wigan box and HUNT, coming in late, somehow bundled the ball over the line from the narrowest of angles.

After the flurry of goals Latics probed for another equaliser and despite plenty of attacking intent from Wyke, Lang and Aasgaard they were unable to find it before the half-time whistle.

Half Time; Bristol Rovers 2-1 Wigan Athletic.

Wigan made one change at the interval, bringing on the more attack minded Pearce to replace Rekik. However, the home side quickly added to their advantage as they caught Latics on the transition.  Finley found space and time in midfield and clipped a neat ball over the Latics back-line that COLLINS ran on to and collected well before driving his shot past Tickle.

Maloney made more attacking substitutions but it was the home side who were winning all the important battles and Tickle was called upon to make a fine save when he shovelled a powerful long-range effort by Evans away from goal.

Latics continued to chase the game but when Hunt broke on the wing and delivered a perfect cross MARQUIS clinically headed the ball home at the near post.

The home side were now oozing with confidence and it took a smart block by Scott Smith on the edge of the penalty box, to prevent a goal-bound strike by Collins from again testing Tickle.

Wigan continued to push for a second goal, but on the day they had been well beaten by a Bristol side who had been clinical in front of goal.

The trip home to Wigan along the M5 and M6 would not be a happy one and the next game for the Latics was not going to be an easy task as they had a home game against an un-beaten Portsmouth side that currently sit proudly on top of the table.

Full Time; Bristol Rovers   4-1   Wigan Athletic.

Attendance; 8.161

Scorers; Thomas (13), Hunt (26), Collins (53), Marquis (68); Wyke (21);

Team; WIGAN---(4-2-3-1); Tickle; Rekik, Morrison, Hughes, Clare; Adeeko, M. Smith; Aasgaard, Lang, Godo; Wyke; Subs; Pearce, Humphrys, Magennis, S. Smith, McManaman;

BRISTOL ROVERS---(4-3-3); Cox; Vale, Grant, Taylor, Hunt; Evans, Finley, Bogarde; Collins, Marquis, Thomas; Subs; Brown, Hoole, McCormick, Sinclair, Woods;

Referee, G. Eltringham.