Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs WYCOMBE WANDERERS

23^rd January 2024

BACK-TO-BACK WINS FOR THE LATICS AS RELEGATION WORRIES EASE.

This was a game that was for long periods a very forgettable affair. The two sides cancelled each other out and neither really looked capable of grabbing three points, then in the 20^th minute of stoppage time one moment of sublime skill saw Wigans young centre half grab all the headlines.

The game began brightly enough with Jordan Jones again looking the biggest threat on the left wing with his direct style. He delivered a dangerous cross but Wyke was just unable to get a telling contact. On the half-hour Luke Chambers fired a shot just wide from 25 yards after good movement and passing by Jones, Matty Smith and Humphrys had created the shooting opportunity. Hughes left a back pass to Tickle short and Wycombe nearly took full advantage but the Wigan keeper managed to block the effort and clear the danger. Wycombe appealed in vain for a penalty following a set piece and then as half time approached McCleary was only inches from getting onto a through ball for the visitors. The final chance of the half fell to Jones, he checked inside and fired at goal but his shot was straight at the Wycombe keeper.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 0-0 Wycombe Wanderers.

The second half began and it was clear that Wycombe had decided to be more direct. A free-kick by Leahy deflected narrowly wide and then from another set play a overhead kick by Sam Vokes was palmed over the bar by Tickle before the flag was raised for offside. Then ten minutes into the second period the referee became entangled with two players in a bizarre incident that saw him receive treatment before being escorted from the pitch with a replacement official being enlisted. The game had stopped for just over 15 minutes and this led to a large amount of stoppage time being added.

Wycombe continued to have the better of the sparce number of chances and Wheeler headed over when well-placed following a cross from the left. Then a shot by Leahy took a wicked deflection off Sadlier, before flying into the net with Tickle wrong-footed. The goal was however ruled off as Sadlier was stood in an offside position.  Tickle was called into action again to save a shot from 20 yards by Trafazoli.

The best chance of the game fell to Sessegnon just before the 90-minute mark. Hughes played a slide rule pass that split the Wycombe defence but Sessegnon pulled his shot just wide of the target.

The 90-minutes were up but we still had plenty of time to play.

Latics had a good penalty shout as the substitute McManaman appeared to be tripped in the box, but the claims were waved away. Then 11 minutes into added time Wycombe had a glorious chance to win the game. A free kick was met by Kone who fired goalwards, Tickle made himself big and parried the effort but the ball rebounded to Kone but he failed to react quickly enough and the ball bounced off him and ran wide of the goal.

The miss proved crucial as Matt Smith saw an effort turned behind for a corner and then from a Jonny Smith free kick the ball was only cleared as far as McManaman, the winger twisted and turned before floating in a lovely cross and HUGHES produced a scissor kick that threaded its way past a packed defence to find the corner of the net.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 1-0 Wycombe Wanderers.

Scorers; Hughes (90+20);

Attendance; 7,774

WIGAN (3-4-3) --- Tickle; Goode, Hughes, Chambers; M. Smith, Adeeko; Jones, Sessegnon; Aasgaard, Wyke, Humphrys; Subs; Morrison, McManaman, Shaw, Magennis, J. Smith;

WYCOMBE (4-2-3-1) --- Stryjek; Grimmer, Low, Tafazolli, Leahy; Wheeler, Potts; McCleary, Taylor, Sadlier; Vokes; Subs; Campbell, Kone, Kadua, Forino-Joseph;

Referee; Mr  Adam Herczeg (Durham)

Sub Referee; Mr Steve Rushton (Staffordshire)

At 110 minutes the goal will go down as the latest ever in a game that did not go to extra-time. At least when it arrived it was a finish of class that was worthy of the wait.

Latics have now clambered eight points clear of the drop zone and the more optimistic fans are now starting to look upwards towards the play-off battle. Certainly, if it was not for the eight-point deduction they would be right in the mix.