Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

WIGAN ATHLETIC   vs   PORTSMOUTH

30^th September 2023

LATICS OUT OF LUCK AS POMPEY CHIMES RING LOUD.

Wigan pushed the league leaders all the way despite being reduced to ten men and getting the worst of the crucial decisions on the afternoon.

It was a cagey start to the game by both sides and it was 18 minutes into the game before either side created anything of substance in the attacking third. Aasgaard, on his 100^th appearance, accepted a short pass on the turn and produced a burst of pace that carried him into the Pompey penalty area, the young Norwegian was sent tumbling by a robust challenge but the Wigan claims for a penalty were waved away. Latics continued to probe for that opening goal and when a free-flowing move that started with Rekik finding Wyke, who flicked the ball inside to Scott Smith, who produced a headed pass to GODO and the youngster scored his first professional goal with a precise curling shot.

Portsmouth struck back quickly when a corner was flicked on at the near post and POOLE timed his run to the back post to perfection and bundled the ball home. Then barely six minutes later another cross into the Wigan area caused confusion and when the ball was not cleared it eventually fell to LANE who produced a hooked shot from close range that gave the keeper no chance.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 1-2 Portsmouth.

Shortly into the second half Wigans hopes of staging a comeback were dealt a body blow when Wyke slid into a challenge with Pack and the referee adjudged the challenge to be reckless and issued a red card. Maloney was quick to make a number of substitutions and Latics still pushed forward looking to find an equaliser.

Pompey were happy to keep possession and to defend in numbers, but their plan nearly backfired when a cross from Lang appeared to be handled by the defence, but to Wigans disappointment the referee again was not interested and waved play on.

On 72 minutes Whyte broke forward for the visitors and forced Tickle into an excellent diving save. The young keeper showed excellent reflexes and palmed the effort behind for a corner.

McManaman replaced the excellent Godo, and the change nearly resulted in instant success. The Latics winger produced a lovely whipped cross that Jonny Smith, his fellow substitute race in at the far post to head goalwards. The effort had the keeper beaten, but passed narrowly wide. In the 84^th minute Pompey nearly put the game beyond Latics but Tickle flung himself to his left to push Robertsons low drive around the post. Latics continued to press but after seven minutes of added time the final whistle sounded and they had lost again.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic   1-2   Portsmouth.

Attendance; 10,358

Scorers; Godo (27); Poole (31), Lane (37);

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

PORTSMOUTH---(4-2-3-1); Norris; Rafferty, Poole, Shaughnessy, Sparkes; Morrell, Pack; Lane, Robertson, Kamara; Bishop; Subs; Saydee, Whyte, Devlin;

Referee, W. Finnie.

After an impressive start to the season Latics are suddenly finding it tough going, not helped by a series of refereeing decisions that seem to have gone against them. The team and the fans are frustrated but it’s a long season and they have to believe that these decisions will even themselves out in the longer term.