Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

READING vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

23^rd December 2023

LATICS LOSE CRUCIAL SIX POINTER.

Lowly Reading delivered a harsh lesson in clinical finishing as Latics signed off for Christmas with a 2-0 defeat. Illness in the camp saw five changes to the starting XI with Charlie Hughes, who had been so impressive in the games to date, being the most surprising.

Youngster Harry McHugh came into the side for his first league start, as Maloney shuffled the pack to try and gain a positive result in a game that could be viewed as a six-pointer with Reading currently languishing in the relegation places. Reading dominated the early exchanges but gradually Latics settled and began to exert some pressure on the home goal. McManaman got free on the right and sent in a dangerous cross but the defence managed to clear before the lurking Wyke could pounce. Latics went close again, this time it was after a long throw, Morrison won the ball and directed his header across the face of the goal but the defence scrambled the ball clear. A Jordan Jones cross was flicked on by Wyke, but Button in the home goal did just enough to palm the ball away from danger. At the other end Azeez was lively and he found space and time to get in a shot that Morrison did well to block. AZEEZ was not to be denied and on 34 minutes a ball fell to him at the edge of the box and he fired in an unstoppable half-volley that found the corner of the net.

Latics should have levelled right on the stroke of half-time when a Shaw cross picked out the unmarked Wyke, but the striker mistimed his header and it passed harmlessly off target.

Half Time; Reading 1-0 Wigan Athletic.

The second half started in scrappy fashion and it was from the first really progressive piece of play in the half that Reading grabbed a second. A cross from the right by Abendou caught the Wigan defence sleeping and SMITH nipped in at the near post to tuck the ball past Tickle.

On 58 minutes Latics had a great chance to get back into the game when McManaman stole the ball off a Reading defender before bearing down on goal, Button was quick to close the space and made a great block to deny the winger, the rebound fell to Wyke but he failed to find the net as he was crowded out by the Reading defence.

Callum Lang curled a free-kick just wide as Latics chased the game, and then the same man saw his shot blocked after substitute Sze played him into space. Another substitute Jonny Smith flashed a shot wide then in injury time Jordan Jones had a chance but his shot failed to find the target.

Full Time; Reading 2-0 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Azeez (34), Smith (50);

Attendance; 11,772

Team; WIGAN---(3-4-2-1); Tickle; Clare, Morrison, Sessegnon; McHugh, Shaw, S. Smith, Jones; McManaman, Lang; Wyke; Subs; J. Smith, Humphrys, Sze;

READING---(4-1-4-1); Button; Dorsett, Abbey, Holmes, Mbengue; Craig; Knibbs, Wing, Azeez, Mukairu; Smith; Subs; Elliott, Bindon, Mola, Savage, Ehibhatiomhan;

Referee; M. Woods.

Next up for Wigan is a home tie against promotion chasing Derby County on Boxing Day. With injury and suspension, the squad is now stretched very thin.