Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

BURTON ALBION   vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

3^rd October 2023

IS IT TIME TO GET WORRIED?

After what was a good performance against Portsmouth it was something of a surprise to see six changes made to the starting XI. The inclusion of Magennis for the suspended Wyke was perhaps not a surprise but the other changes seemed to have a hint of desperation about them. In came the experienced Lang, McManaman, Clare and Pearce and, also starting his first Latics league game, Liam Shaw.

Wigan started brightly enough, and they had a glorious chance to take an early lead in the first minute, when Hughes played a lovely ball over the Burton back line, Magennis was the first to reach the ball but the strikers first shot was blocked and after the ball bounced back to the Northern Ireland man his second effort deflected narrowly wide. The resulting corner saw Hughes poke the ball goalwards before a last-ditch clearance relieved the danger. An encouraging start from the much-changed team.

Burton finally mustered a shot on goal on 18 minutes when Lubala got on the end of a right wing cross but his effort was comfortably gathered by Tickle. A minute later and Callum McManaman broke free on the right but as the angle narrowed his shot was scuffed and passed just wide of the far post. At the other end Burton threatened briefly with Oshilaja heading wide from a Seddon cross, and then Baah firing well over with an effort from 25 yards. Burton were getting on top and Tickle did well to save from firstly Lubala, and then Gordon. The Burton wide man, Lubala, was causing a lot of problems to Pearce at left back and when he got free again his shot was just dragged wide of the Wigan goal.

Against the run of play Wigan scored the opener. A Magennis long throw was only partly cleared and as it fell to HUGHES at the edge of the box, the centre half fired a low effort through a ruck of players that found the bottom corner.

Half Time; Burton Albion 0-1 Wigan Athletic.

Maloney brought Liverpool loanee Balagizi on at half time for Adeeko, who had been booked and was walking a disciplinary tightrope. Latics briefly threatened at the start of the half when McManaman fired at goal after good work from Clare. However, it was the Brewers who were having most of the play and after an appeal for handball had been waved away Powell forced a good save out of Tickle in the Wigan goal. Sweeney headed just wide from the resulting corner, and with pressure mounting it was not a shock when POWELL finally levelled the game with a thunderous shot from fully 30 yards. Maloney brought on a number of substitutes and this seemed to have the desired effect as suddenly Latics looked a threat in attack and Burton were being pushed back onto the defensive.

Humphrys had a strong shot from a narrow angle but his effort passed narrowly over the bar. Then when a long cross was lofted into the Wigan box, the referee and controversy struck. Watts was adjudged to have handled the ball, but replays suggested that he had been pushed and that any contact was purely accidental. Wigan complained, but to no avail, and POWELL made no mistake from the spot. Burton set about slowing the game, and frustrating Wigan, which was working well until Lubala was rather too enthusiastic in the tackle and hauled down Balagizi to receive a second yellow card. Hope briefly flickered for Wigan and Sessignon went close with a curled effort just over the bar.

Full Time; Burton Albion   2-1   Wigan Athletic.

Attendance; 2,527

Scorers; Hughes (44); Powell (68), (84, pen);

Team; WIGAN---(3-4-2-1); Tickle; Hughes, Rekik, Watts, Clare, Adeeko, Shaw, Pearce; McManaman, Lang; Magennis; Subs; Balagizi, Godo, Humphrys, Sessegnon, Aasgaard;

BURTON ALBION---(4-2-2-2); Crocombe; Seddon, Sweeney, Hughes, Hamer; Powell, Oshilaja; Baah, Helm; Lubala, Gordon; Subs; Bennett, Caprice;

Referee, S. Gill.

The manager felt that we deserved something out of the game, and maybe he is right, but Burton are not a side that will be pushing for the play offs, and the supporters would have travelled down to the midlands expecting more from their team. The League table has suddenly taken on a worrying look, with Latics firmly rooted in the relegation pack. Perhaps after the summer upheaval the fans are wrong to expect more, but the talent is there on the pitch and it needs to start producing results, quickly.

Next up for the Tics, a trip to play Stevenage who sit proudly in fifth place after a good start to a campaign where they were one of the favourites for relegation.