Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs CHARLTON ATHLETIC

31^ST October 2023

CLINICAL ADDICKS END THE WIGAN WINNING RUN.

Latics were blown away in the first half by a Charlton side who took full advantage of every opportunity that fell their way in the opening period.

The visitors had the first effort at goal in the opening minutes when the lively May checked inside before drilling a shot just beyond Sam Tickle’s far post.  Jordan Jones supplied a good cross that found Aasgaard in the centre, but he was quickly closed down before he could get a telling shot away. Charlton again came forward and Taylor-Blackett saw his deflected shot from 20 yards brilliantly tipped over by the Latics keeper. On 15 minutes Aasgaard was fouled just outside the area and up stepped Callum Lang to try and repeat his free-kick heroics against Oxford. The shot beat the wall and the diving keeper but the crossbar came to the rescue for the visitors.

On 21 minutes Charlton opened the scoring, a corner from the right was initially cleared, but when the ball was returned into the box it found MAY unmarked and only six yards from goal. The initial header was somehow saved by Tickle, but the ball rebounded to the striker who bundled it home. Ten minutes later it was two when MAY picked up the ball near the edge of the box before firing a low hard shot beyond Tickle’s outstretched left arm and into the corner of the net.  Latics tried hard to work their way back into the game with Aasgaard and Pearce trying to find pockets of space, but the final ball was not up to standard and with three minutes to go to the break the visitors stretched their lead when Dobson found Leaburn who laid the ball back to BLACKETT-TAYLOR who fired home first time into the bottom left corner.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 0-3 Charlton Athletic.

Maloney made three changes at the break as he searched for a formula that would be able to find a way back into the game. However, it was Charlton who had the first chance as Campbell unleashed a shot from a tight angle that thudded against the post.

Humphrys tried to get into the game, checking inside he set off on a typical powerful run but his shot from distance was straight at the keeper who collected with relative ease.

Campbell again found space in the Wigan area and he forced Tickle into another smart save low down by his near post. McManaman provided a deep cross that searched out Aasgaard who on the stretch could only direct his effort onto the crossbar. On 72 minutes the young midfielder went close again when his far post header was saved by Maynard-Brewer.  Then on 84 minutes AASGAARD scored the goal he deserved when he collected a short pass from Godo before firing into the roof of the net.

Five minutes later and HUMPHRYS rocketed in a second from just inside the box, his shot found the top corner as he recorded his third goal in as many games.

Wigan were suddenly pushing for a leveller and when they won a corner deep in injury time Tickle went forward to join the attackers. The corner was initially cleared but it fell to Tickle on the edge of the box and he volleyed the ball goalwards. Unfortunately, the effort was too high and there was not to be any last-minute heroics.

The damage was done in the first half and despite a valiant effort the hill was just too steep.

Now the team can turn their attention to the F.A. Cup, and a long trip down to Exeter.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 2-3 Charlton Athletic.

Attendance; 8,486

Scorers; Aasgaard (84), Humphrys (89); May (21), (31), Blackett-Taylor (42);

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

CHARLTON---(4-3-3); Maynard-Brewer; Aslimwe, Hector, Jones, T. Watson; Camara, Dobson, L. Watson; May, Leaburn, Blackett-Taylor; Subs; Campbell, Fraser, Thomas, Kirk, Tedic;

Referee, Mr. Paul Howard (London).