Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

OXFORD UNITED vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

13^th February 2024

DEFENSIVE FRAILTIES SURFACE AS LATICS FLOUNDER.

Wigan settled quickly into the game on a wet night at the Kassam stadium, and created the first real chance of the game when an in-swinging free kick from Lee Chambers was met by Charlie Goode, but on the stretch, at the back post, he was unable to direct the effort on target. United then had a free kick of their own and Brannagan’s shot was denied by Aasgaard who headed the ball behind.

Aasgaard and Jones were linking play well on the Latics left and when they found Godo he set up Chambers who unleashed a strong shot from distance that forced Cumming into a diving save.

Brannagan then rattled the Wigan crossbar with a dipping shot from 20 yards that had left Tickle rooted to the spot. Wigan responded to the let off well and JONES checked in off the wing to fire a low shot that found the net via a deflection off an Oxford defender. The lead was just about deserved but as Latics tried to see out time before the break disaster struck. MURPHY, who had been the hosts stand out player in the first period was left in space and his well struck effort found the corner of the Latics net.

Half Time; Oxford United 1-1 Wigan Athletic.

The second period began with Chambers finding Kelman in a wide position but the forwards low cross was intercepted by the home defence before Smith could get the final touch.

Oxford grabbed the lead on 55 minutes when a BRANNAGAN strike from 20 yards took a wicked defection off the unlucky Matt Smith to leave Tickle wrong-footed and helpless in the Wigan goal. Maloney introduced four substitutes on the hour mark and two of the new men quickly linked to nearly grab a leveller. Jonny Smith tricked his way down the right before crossing to Magennis and the Northern Ireland man planted a downward header against the foot of a post.

The miss proved costly as two minutes later two Oxford substitutes combined to extend their lead. Goodrham fired in a shot from distance that struck the post but the rebound fell kindly for RODRIGUES who could not miss from close-range.

Latics refused to let their heads drop and on 80 minutes Jonny Smith broke on the left before crossing into the area for AASGAARD to head firmly home and set up a grandstand finish. With the game back in the balance Latics pushed forward in numbers with McManaman forcing a good save from Cumming in the home goal. With more space on offer to the Oxford frontmen the game was put beyond doubt when GOODRHAM fired home a volley from the edge of the box via yet another deflection.

Latics will now look to bounce back at Gay Meadow on Saturday.

Full Time; Oxford United 4-2 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Jones (41), Aasgaard (80); Murphy (45+3), Brannagan (55), Rodrigues (76), Goodrham (90+4);

Attendance; 7,320

WIGAN (3-4-3) --- Tickle; Hughes, Goode, Chambers; Jones, M. Smith, Adeeko, Clare; Aasgaard, Godo; Kelman; Subs; J. Smith, Sze, Magennis, McManaman;

OXFORD UNITED (3-4-2-1) --- Cumming; Leigh, Brown, Moore, Long; Matete, McGuane; Murphy, Brannagan, Dale; Harris; Subs; Goodrham, Rodrigues, Bodin, Bennett;

Referee; Mr Jeremy Simpson (Lancashire).

The other results went in Wigans favour and they still retain a six-point buffer above the final relegation spot, the target for safety will be a fifty-point minimum so five more wins from the final fourteen games should be sufficient.