Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs PETERBOROUGH UNITED

7^th November 2023

WIGAN SCALE THE HEIGHTS WITH A FINE WIN.

Adeeko, having chalked up five yellow cards, was not available for this game and Liam Shaw was added to the starting line-up. Lang also returned to replace Aasgaard who had picked up an ankle injury at Exeter.

Peterborough dominated the early possession, but it was Wigan who had the first chance when Lang found Godo and the wing man checked inside before curling a shot that was well blocked by the defenders.

Two minutes later Jones whipped a cross in from the left and GODO nipped in front of his marker to steer the ball home from close range. Poku tried to level matters with a long-range effort but his speculative drive passed well over the home goal. Latics then had a chance to double their lead with a fast counter attack. Godo won the ball in midfield and fed Humphrys, who in turn found Lang who struck a strong shot from the edge of the area that was narrowly wide of the target. Burrows forced Tickle into a smart save with a snap shot from distance, then at the other end Humphrys also went close.

On 34 minutes Jones made progress down the left wing before cutting inside and curling a dipping shot that struck the Peterborough crossbar. The ball rebounded to Godo and he placed his shot just wide of the post. Mason-Clark and Ajiboye both had shots that worked Tickle but the Latics back line stood firm and at the interval the hosts had a narrow lead.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 1-0 Peterborough United.

United started the second half on the front foot and Ajiboye had an effort blocked before Katongo flashed the rebound narrowly wide.

On 54 minutes the Posh grabbed a deserved equaliser when the ever-dangerous Ajiboye pulled a cross back to the far post where POKU was arriving late to fire low into the corner of the net. Maloney responded by bringing on Sze and Pearce but it was the visitors who nearly scored when Ajiboye bent a shot just past the far post.

A Tom Pearce trademark free kick caused chaos in the Peterborough area as Lang and Godo had shots blocked before the ball fell to Hughes who lashed his effort against a post.

Then with eight minutes to go a Pearce corner found MCMANAMAN who fired home from the edge of the area with a first- time rising drive that gave the keeper no chance.

Peterborough went chasing a late leveller and Pearce cleared a Randall effort off the line, and then deep in injury time substitute Clark-Harris headed wide at the back post when well placed.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 2-1 Peterborough United.

Attendance; 8,134

Scorers; Godo (7), McManaman (82); Poku (54);

Team; WIGAN---(4-2-3-1); Tickle; Sessignon, Hughes, Morrison, Rekik; S. Smith, Shaw; Jones, Lang, Godo; Humphrys; Subs; McManaman, Pearce, Sze, Stones;

PETERBOROUGH---(4-2-3-1); Bilokapic; Kioso, Knight, Edwards, Burrows; Kyprianou, Poku, Mason-Clark; Jones; Subs; Collins, Clark-Harris, Crichlow-Noble, Randall;

Referee, O. Yates

The three points have helped Wigan pull away from the relegation zone, and to add to the good feeling at the club seven players have been called up for international duty.

Sam Ticke (U21 England), Liam Morrison (U21 Scotland), Charlie Hughes, Martial Godo (England Development squad), Baba Adeeko (U21 Eire), Jordan Jones, Josh Magennis (Northern Ireland).